Can i set up on-line banking for mum without POA?

[Buskitten]

Hi all,
Back down seeing mum in Hereford from Scotland and all seems relatively OK apart from a few letters with ' Ask Elizabeth' ( that's me ) on them. One is for an annoying lawn care company for 140 pounds - it's probably legit, as mum instructed these strange people to 'care ' for her lawn - but I need to see what's going on. Mum pays a direct debit to them for a small monthly amount but they've obviously done some other 'work' to her lawn ( it looks horrific) for an additional cost.

Anyway, my question is, can I set up online banking on my computer with mums permission so I can see what's going on financially for her? We have POA papers but haven't been to her solicitor yet for the next stage as she fell and broke her ankle in Jan so unable to get there there is no car here and bus stops miles from solicitor.

Sorry to ramble - am I able to get the banking for her or is that a totally illegal thing to do?

Thanks in advance for any advice xxx

 

[nitram]

Your Mum would be breaking her agreement with the bank.
Best thing is to get the POA up and running.
In the meantime you could enquire about a third party mandate, this may not allow internet access.

 

[Buskitten]

Thanks Nitram I will go to her bank tomorrow and ask for third party form. I have bought a little car to leave at mums but came by train yesterday as such a long drive. A car will make a difference as she lives in country - then I can get her out and about much more easily. She got so cross when I ordered a taxi last time to visit her solicitor

 

[Beate]

If your Mum still has capacity, I don't see why she can't give you permission to help her with her financial affairs via online banking. However, it's always better to get the POA registered to avoid any accusations. You do not need a solicitor though to do the application, and I'm not sure what you mean by "the next stage". Once the forms are filled in and. signed, you simply need to send them to the OPG for registration.

 

[canary]

If your Mum still has capacity, I don't see why she can't give you permission to help her with her financial affairs via online banking. However, it's always better to get the POA registered to avoid any accusations. You do not need a solicitor though to do the application, and I'm not sure what you mean by "the next stage". Once the forms are filled in and. signed, you simply need to send them to the OPG for registration.

We got our POAs sorted out with a solicitor (Im aware we could in theory have done it DIY, but it was the only way I could get OH to do it) and it was done in two steps - first was an appointment to tell the solicitor what you wanted, then the solicitor sent the POA in draft form and if we were OK with that then we made another appointment to sign it in front of witnesses, then once it was all signed it got sent to be registered.

Im guessing that @Buskitten and her mum need to go back to sign it.

 

[Sirena]

I was going to say the same as Canary - when the LPA is done by the solicitor, the witnessing is often set up in his office, hence the second appointment.

I had similar thoughts about setting up online access before I started using the LPA, but didn't do it. You need to ensure you do everything by the book.

 

[Lady M]

Hi everyone, a quick question re EPA /LPA!
This is done and registered with OPG.
However, when I mentioned this to DWP and other agencies I was told has to be certified?????
Not sure what that is! I believed once in place that was it!!advice please and thanks in advance!

 

[nitram]

Just checked a random bank (Lloyds) for internet access with third party mandate and found it not allowed, although telephone banking is allowed.

You would need a general power of attorney, both third party access and general power require your mum to have capacity.
https://www.lloydsbank.com/help-gui...ne-to-manage-your-affairs/types-of-access.asp

Rules vary between banks.

@Buskitten

 

[nitram]

when I mentioned this to DWP and other agencies I was told has to be certified?????

Are they by any chance referring to copies which do need to be certified, never send the original by post.

 

[Beate]

Hi everyone, a quick question re EPA /LPA!
This is done and registered with OPG.
However, when I mentioned this to DWP and other agencies I was told has to be certified?????
Not sure what that is! I believed once in place that was it!!advice please and thanks in advance!

Copies you send them need to be certified as being a true copy of the original.

 

[wilson1973]

Hi everyone, a quick question re EPA /LPA!
This is done and registered with OPG.
However, when I mentioned this to DWP and other agencies I was told has to be certified?????
Not sure what that is! I believed once in place that was it!!advice please and thanks in advance!

I had to go back to the solicitors and pay them to sign it on each page that cost me £25,when you send them off to banks etc,send a cover letter explaining that the copy is yours and you need it to be returned after they have copied/scanned it,I still had one company that didn't return but complained and they found it and then it was returned.
I asked them to re staple it too,as in an office setting they have large staplers to do this,as they often remove staples to scan/copy

I believe if the donor still has mental capacity they can certify the lpa themselves,to save money going to the solicitor

 

[Sirena]

@Lady M Do you have the original LPA? Never let that out of your hands.
My mother's solicitor kept the original LPA and just sent me as many certified copies as I asked for. A solicitor will certify a copy by stamping/signing every page. I think mine cost £25 per copy. I got several, because if you send them in the post you don't always get them back - I've had three not returned to me (the DWP did return my copy promptly, but I wouldn't depend on it).

 

[Bod]

Hi everyone, a quick question re EPA /LPA!
This is done and registered with OPG.
However, when I mentioned this to DWP and other agencies I was told has to be certified?????
Not sure what that is! I believed once in place that was it!!advice please and thanks in advance!

For DWP Take the original to a Job Centre, They will photocopy and stamp copies to be sent off to Government depts. at no cost.
Banking, take the original into a branch, they will copy and stamp, and often send the copy to the central office for you.
In all cases, be absolutely certain that all the original pages are returned to you, before you leave.

Bod

 

[Buskitten]

Thank you for the valuable advice - I'm going to ask her at her bank tomorrow as best to just ask them!

Yes, I do mean the next stage of signing the documents and the solicitor sends them off and mum pays him loads of money - she wanted it done 'properly'.

She does still have capacity although her memory is bad; no one looking on would see anything wrong but I bet that's the case with a lot of our loved ones

Thanks again for your help, as always.

 

[Canadian Joanne]

It's a good thing you are getting all that done now, it will save a lot of trouble later. Are you getting the Health & Welfare LPA also (don't know what it's called in the UK)? I think it's best to do so.

 

[Buskitten]

Yes Joanne all of it x
Best way I think

 

[Canadian Joanne]

Excellent! Big thumbs up!

 

[Banjomansmate]

The Banjoman ended up in hospital when it was time to sign his LPAs and as we had no idea how long he would be in there and his mental capacity was deteriorating his Solicitor arranged for a colleague from another branch local to the hospital to take them in for him to sign. Of course on that very day he was discharged from hospital before the agreed time for signing! Sod’s Law! But maybe your Mum’s Solicitor could arrange for her to sign at the hospital? Then you know it has been completed.
I too keep a couple of Certified copies of the LPA’s at home to post here there and everywhere while the originals reside with the Solicitor.

 

[Sirena]

That's a good idea @Banjomansmate
My grandfather was housebound so the solicitor came to his house to do the LPA for him.

 

[Buskitten]

Ah! I didn't think to ask if the solicitor would come to see mum at home, great idea!