Theft

Turner87

Registered User
Dec 17, 2018
15
0
Found out on Saturday that exactly as we had been expecting my fathers niece had been taking a lot of money for him for some time. We took him to the bank and discovered £8000 had gone missing. Some of it paid directly into nieces account. My father got very distressed and the bank called the police who took a statement and copies of the bank statement. My father remembers being in the bank but doesn’t know what she was doing. She’d taken him into branch about five times in the last couple of weeks. He is also telling us that some of his ornaments are missing and he was taken to a solicitor where he doesn’t remember what happened but that she had to say she was his next of kin.

I just wondered what are the chances of my dad getting his money back? And who do we contact to see what this lady did at the solicitors? I’m not even entirely sure which solicitor it was
 

charlie10

Registered User
Dec 20, 2018
394
0
@Turner87....that's horrible, how upsetting for you and your dad! With regard to tracking down the solicitor she took him to....can your dad remember roughly where it was? Alternatively maybe your local CAB has a visiting solicitor who can help track it down thro the 'network'? I hope you're able to recover your dad's money, and that he isn't too upset by what this family member did....
 

concerned4

Registered User
Jun 3, 2012
80
0
Sadly this is a common occurrence in families, down to greed & exploitation of a vulnerable person, the chances of getting money back are slim, hopefully a lengthy sentence will serve as a form of justice for this wrong.
The solicitor involved do you know which solicitor it is , they have a duty of care to ensure that your father is not being coerced or manipulated, if they have knowingly allowed this to happen & you have recourse through the LCC.
Best of luck but how sad it is that those that are supposed to look out for vulnerable persons & trust them for who they are, exploit for their own greed as the most vulnerable are an easy target.
 
Last edited:

marionq

Registered User
Apr 24, 2013
6,449
0
Scotland
Your best chance of finding the solicitor is when the police interview the niece. Part of their questioning should be about that.
 

Spamar

Registered User
Oct 5, 2013
7,723
0
Suffolk
Surely if father makes yet another will, it would invalidate previous wills? Or doesn’t that apply now?
 

canary

Registered User
Feb 25, 2014
25,018
0
South coast
It may be a POA that the niece has organised, so that she does not need to involve him in withdrawing money.
 

marionq

Registered User
Apr 24, 2013
6,449
0
Scotland
If @canary is right you might have to take him to the bank and shut down that account in case she has opened an online version. The bank could then open a new account for him either in his own name or as a joint account with you.
 

Beate

Registered User
May 21, 2014
12,179
0
London
It doesn't matter who it is, if there has been fraud already, you don't want to make yourself susceptible to accusations from other corners, whether you have the best intentions or not. The only correct way of managing someone else's money is to obtain POA.
 

Turner87

Registered User
Dec 17, 2018
15
0
Hi I took him to the bank which was where we discovered just how much had gone missing. It was the bank who called the police. They’ve put a freeze on his account for the moment so he is only allowed in branch once a week to get £100 and not if this woman is with him. They were very helpful at Lloyd’s and did all they could for us. Police are apparently going to apply for a restraining order against his niece because of her threats and all of this which I hope goes through. I learnt that she had been bringing a large male friend of hers round to shout at my dad and he’s been very frightened. We are getting the locks changed as she has a key. I have contacted the solicitors where he made his Will as they’re the only ones he used to use and they have told me they will investigate the matter. Feel like I need a holiday after all of this.
 

love.dad.but..

Registered User
Jan 16, 2014
4,962
0
Kent
Your poor dad..the whole sorry saga made me feel very sad indeed for him. Hopefully with everyone now involved they will work hard to sort this out and put the neice very firmly back in the place from wherever she crawled out from. Are you able to visit your dad often...it sounds as though he will need a lot of continuing reassurance.
 

Canadian Joanne

Registered User
Apr 8, 2005
17,710
0
70
Toronto, Canada
What a good thing the bank called the police. They are doing what they should.

It sounds like you've got everything under control. I do hope that a strong penalty applies again your cousin. She is despicable.
 

Turner87

Registered User
Dec 17, 2018
15
0
Have heard from the police now that they are dropping the case. They say that she told them the money was a gift, even though my dad says otherwise that he doesn’t want her to have it. All the police have said is that we should take out some form of civil action with a solicitor? Does anyone have any idea what this might be? Small claims court? Maybe
 

witts1973

Registered User
Jun 20, 2018
731
0
Leamington Spa
Have heard from the police now that they are dropping the case. They say that she told them the money was a gift, even though my dad says otherwise that he doesn’t want her to have it. All the police have said is that we should take out some form of civil action with a solicitor? Does anyone have any idea what this might be? Small claims court? Maybe
I think solicitors do a 30 min free consultation,they could tell you where you stand and if it's worth doing in terms of getting a good outcome
 

concerned4

Registered User
Jun 3, 2012
80
0
Find yourself a solicitor who specialises in family law, but be aware most solicitors are running at around £205 + VAT per hour, think very carefully what your next move is as it will cost you financially if you decide to progress, legal aid may also be an option.
All the best.
 

fortune

Registered User
Sep 12, 2014
146
0
I've been through something very similar with my sister. Yes do change the locks and do ensure the bank keep that freeze in place. I'd say your chances of getting any money back are virtually nil. The law is most unhelpful when it comes to these grey areas of competency. If you think your dad is struggling to manage his affairs then someone has to do it for him. The only way is to get a Power of Attorney, and if you decide to take that responsibility then I'd get it done asap. Once your father has clearly lost capacity to manage his affairs he will likely not be able to appoint an attorney, in which case a professional deputy may be appointed instead. They charge for their services.