P of A application issues

The small state strikes again, IMO. This is the result of too few civil servants, badly trained plus inadequate computer systems. If we want efficient public services we have to employ more people etc.

It seems to me that all our public services are suffering from austerity!

What I fail to understand is where all the taxes go that have been collected. Apparently we pay more tax than ever before.

Ours are taking ages too.
A few weeks ago I received 20 letters through the postbox all saying similar things. One about each of the 4 POAs (Health and Finance for 2 people) for all 3 of us as attorneys for each other and copies forums as donors. These could've been condensed into an email each.
We have now received one registered section and are waiting for the other 4.

That's spooky. Another registered part has just this minute dropped through the letterbox. Two more to go.

The Tories hate civil servants because they tell them things they don't want to hear and which don't fit their loony Right preconceptions about the world and ordinary people. The Tories attack civil servants as a diversion from their own failings and in my opinion civil servants are increasingly reluctant to speak truth to power in case they get abused.

Once you have the registered PoA forms and submit the. To banks etc, they don’t know what to do with them!

Took 18 months for our POAs to be completed! Staff on their helpline are hopeless, that’s if you can get through. Was on hold for ages, only to be cut off more than once. Incorrect advice given. But with much persistence, forms finally came through. Good luck with it.

I have completed the POA and my son living here and my daughter in UK are registered to assist in matters regarding health and welfare and for my financial affairs. They hold them but I have no copy for myself nor did I think to give the banks in UK a copy. So thank you for the heads up. I recall that when my husband died I hasd about 20 copies of his death certificate as I had to send one to companies he had held investments with. Many did not return the copies to me so I made sure I had some in reserve. Getting old is no joke!

I strongly advise against becoming a PLA . My husband agreed readily to take on this task for an elderly relative. It became very difficult as we lived many miles away and driving to London and arriving at a late hour to help out was difficult. This lasted for seven years. My husband was happy to attend to the relatives needs. She pleaded with him to keep her out of a home and he protected her assets. When she died unfortunately some relatives came crawling out from under a stone demanding that what he did was fraudulent by charging for food,and paying himself for his time,not allowed under the rules. Naive? Yes. He paid back what he owed. Now these so called relatives want to take him to court, they live around the corner from the deseased yet did nothing to help her. Don't take it on . Hire a solicitor then they will charge for every minute. Keep out. A warning.

You can’t charge for your time if you have power of attorney, unless you are acting in a professional capacity. I don’t know why your husband thought he could. The reason he shouldn’t have taken it on is the distance involved.

The government website very clearly states that you cannot charge for time but can charge for expenses and should keep records for this. Your husband's mistake should not deter other people. I'd far rather my family made decisions for me than a solicitor who doesn't know me

I had a bad experience with them as well. I did a finance and health one at the same time. After months probably around 5 I got the finance one back but this was after at least 4 emails. The health one just kept saying bring processed. Eventually after several more months and numerous emails and phone calls they finally admitted they had (not lost) misplaced it! After me ranting about what would have happened if I got ill and nothing in place they sent their computer copy with lots of certification holes and stamps and a covering letter. No apology .

I set one up last year - - took months - then returned as the signatures were signed in the wrong order datewise! I went all through it again with another application which then took another 4 months - - its not for the faint hearted !!

Agreed eddiecat. And I doubt you’d find a solicitor willing to take on a health poa.

I'm about to embark on the process but have one question - Do the people who are to have the POA need to sign and do the signatures need witnessing? My DS and DD both live at a distance, one abroad, so I need to work out the logistics.

jocork

I'm about to embark on the process but have one question - Do the people who are to have the POA need to sign and do the signatures need witnessing? My DS and DD both live at a distance, one abroad, so I need to work out the logistics.

Yes they do and different parts of the application have to be signed. in a particular order or it will be rejected. If you go online there are very comprehensive instructions, or I think there is a separate guide you can print off which might be easier to follow

I’ve been meaning to do mine for a few months now, but reading all this, I’m not going to bother at least not for the foreseeable 🤷‍♀️

Best to do it asap because it can’t be used until registered and it’s the time the registration process is taking that people are complaining about here. It was exactly the same when we made ours seven years ago so unlikely to improve any time soon,

Shinamae

I’ve been meaning to do mine for a few months now, but reading all this, I’m not going to bother at least not for the foreseeable 🤷‍♀️

Shinamae. Take no notice, it’s honestly very easy. Use the gov site, print off the forms, take it slowly and every single section has very clear notes beside it. I had never done one before but sailed through it. They are always at the end of a phone if you have a query anyway. Go for it!

How long, approximately, does it take for the process to be completed? I submitted our forms about a month ago but have heard nothing yet? Also, do I need to notify my bank and GP that I have POAs in place?

We did ours through our Solicitors. I definitely recommend doing this. I think it is worth paying for.

Oh gosh - I haven’t done mine. I thought a Will was the only thing needed 😩

No, that’s no good until you’re dead! You need a poa so someone can manage your finances and make decisions about medical care if you become incapable. Get thee to a lawyer or do it online yourself. Although I was a solicitor we still had ours prepared by one, wills too.

JudyBloom

We did ours through our Solicitors. I definitely recommend doing this. I think it is worth paying for.

Solicitor quoted me £1500ish for both parts. When you think you are giving them all the info to complete the forms anyway then, for me it was a no brainer. I think each part cost me approx £85 so less than £200 in total. People on certain benefits can get it done free.

I definitely wouldn’t pay a solicitor to do that.

Germanshepherdsmum

Best to do it asap because it can’t be used until registered and it’s the time the registration process is taking that people are complaining about here. It was exactly the same when we made ours seven years ago so unlikely to improve any time soon,

Ok,thanks 💐