Recent Death,Is Heir Hunter Bogus

[dickiesam]

Just a thought crosses my mind, has a contract with "the Solicitors" been signed authorising them to act, if not, why are bona vacantia accepting them, surely they must have seen a document to this effect.

My thoughts exactly. And apparently "Barrie Hill & Co" is neither a 'law firm' or a solicitor. Is there a Barrie Hill & Co letterhead in existence that can be verified as to address etc?

[tsumi]

Hi Dickiesam,I and a distant cousin looked up the address he gave and this is what we found...
There are many Companys listed at the place ,no-one appears to live there,(we went on Google street),so we a think it,s an accommodation address,Susan has a phone number but he is only there when he tells her to phone.
For what it is worth I and my cousin still think it is a con of sorts, plus according to Fiona of Bona V,he gets the cheque before my cousins friend, so he take,s whatever cut he wants to 10%all the way to 99%,plus expenses.
I welcome as always all your comments and am very grateful for the time and knowledge you and everyone else imparts on this forum.
Take care Tsumi

[dickiesam]

Hi Tsumi,
I don't understand why someone dealing with large amounts of money would have to use an accommodation address. I am still suspicious that this may be a scam. Inheritance tax is payable in the UK on an estate valued in excess of £325,000 at 40% on the excess. https://www.gov.uk/inheritance-tax

If the estate is held by trustees, in this instance Bona Vacantia, the trustees can allow part of the monies held in trust to be disbursed to pay any tax due because the tax must be paid before Letters of Administration are granted. Bona Vacantia can only release the balance once HM Revenue and Customs are satisfied that all tax due has been received by them.

Since Bona Vacantia say they have sent Barrie Hill a cheque for the tax, the tax 'deduction' may be the scam.

[tsumi]

I agree with all your comments,I feel there is a big scam, but don,t quite know what!.If it was all legitimate why do we feel such unease,even Susan herself feels it,but is still seeing the $$$$$$$ signs.
Many many thanks, what would we do without your very wise words.
Tsumi

[MaryA]

still seeing the $$$$$$$ signs.

I think there may be a big difference between the $$$ she should receive and the $$$ she may actually end up with. She should check whether she has signed anything and if not then advise Bona Vacantia so. If she has not given this company authorisation in writing then they would be acting illegally.

[tsumi]

Hi Mary,
Yes she said a while she had signed and sent them Marriage/Birth Certificates,but from the sound of things,she is worried.
I did phone a Police hotline number a while ago and described what was going on ,but they advised she or her family had to contact the Canadian Police and take it from there.
I will let you all know further developments as and when I get them.
Take care Tsumi

[dickiesam]

Thanks for the update Tsumi. Don't think there are any retired 'lawyers' in this firm of solicitors....
link removed for legal reasons MA

The plot thickens?

[tsumi]

Hi dickiesam,I agree "The plot thickens".I will keep you all informed as and when.
Take care
Tsumi

[tsumi]

Hi Everyone,Latest e.mail from my Cousin, and her friend....

Date: March 19, 2014 at 10:00:30 AM EDT
Dear ,

Thank you for your recent e-mail.

As promised in the course of our very earliest telephone conversation, we
will pay for the birth, marriage and death certificates you obtained in
order for the matter to proceed and to prove entitlement to the estate. We
will also pay the oath fees for swearing your certificate of identity and
oath. Please let us have details of these matters in due course. The
amounts will be added to your share of the estate when we account to you

All monies received by us are held in trust to account to the beneficiaries.

The Treasury Solicitor will deduct the official Government charges for
dealing with the estate until the beneficiaries (i.e. your family) became
known and there is nothing that can be done to avoid this payment. In
addition owing to the amount of the estate inheritance duty which is at
the rate of 40% above the tax threshold plus interest is payable and there
is nothing that can be done to avoid this. There are also government
charges in applying for the grant of probate administration.

With regard to the final division of money, on no occasion did I say that
there would be a 1/3 division. I merely said that there were 3 persons who
could make the application. I pointed out to Mr Harrow in my letter to him
that you and your brother would share ½ of the estate i.e. per stirpes.

With regard to actual payment of monies the government regulations here
require us to remit the monies through the banking system. We require in
respect of yourself and your brother the name and address of your bank,
the IBAN number and SWIFT code and the other details essential to enable
the monies to be paid into the account. Also the full address of yourself
(already known) and that of your brother.

In this matter we are acting as solicitors for genealogists whose research
including painstaking and difficult enquiries in Burma unearthed your
entitlements.

Yours faithfully,

Barrie Hill.

Take care everyone
Tsumi

[tsumi]

This is the letter she sent Barrie Hill...

Barrie Hill & Co.
Attention: Mr. Barrie Hill
19 Brantwood Road
Salford M7 4EN

March 17, 2014

Dear Mr. Hill,

I apologize for the late reply to your previous two emails. Unfortunately, we had a flood at the house and this has required my immediate attention.

I have a few questions that I hope you can answer promptly so I may send you the required documents (Mr. Harrow’s affidavit and Authority to claim monies due) tomorrow via FEDEX.
1. In the “authority to claim monies due”, it directs “all monies due to me with interest accrued (less tax) and less the Treasury Solicitors’ costs”. Is it the Inheritance Tax that the “less tax” refers to? What are the “Treasury Solicitors’ costs”? Are there other government probate or estate duty fees to be paid?
2. In Canada, lawyer directions are usually paid to a law firm in trust. However, this authority directs all monies paid to your company. Why?
3. In earlier discussions with you, you had said the Estate was to be split 1/3 each with me, my brother and my cousin. Now, it is I and my brother who share half of the Estate with my cousin sharing the remaining 50%. Is that correct?
4. Will each beneficiary receive the monies directly? In the case of my brother, will his share be paid to me in trust or held?
5. I have incurred costs relating to obtaining certified copies of certificates and legal bills for notarizing documents for which you state that I may be reimbursed. When and how is this done?
6. I am still curious as to how my name came up and how this started. Was it because of the sale of property of late George Angus Hewitt?
7. What are the next steps? What is the expected time line for the next steps?

I realize that you are anxious to file the necessary paperwork with Government authorities and so am I.
I look forward to your return email. If there are any other forms or documents to be sent, other than previously mentioned, please let me know.
Sincerely,

[MaryA]

With regard to actual payment of monies the government regulations here
require us to remit the monies through the banking system. We require in
respect of yourself and your brother the name and address of your bank,
the IBAN number and SWIFT code and the other details essential to enable
the monies to be paid into the account. Also the full address of yourself
(already known) and that of your brother.

THIS I don't like. What is wrong with a cheque?

[tsumi]

Hi Mary,
Very good point,it all seems like smoke and mirrors to me,and whats all this about Burma!this must be where we would have difficulty checking up on her relative,I know when I was searching for details on my Grandfather,and Aunt in Hungary,(still am),difficult would not be one of the the word,s I would use.
Many thanks for your time and continuing help.
Tsumi

[dickiesam]

It was never as complex as this in the real Heir Hunters. So now we have a 'solicitor' acting for a 'genealogist'? I thought it had been established that Barrie Hill & Co solicitors did not actually exist? Although he sure knows his gobbledygook.

I could be mistaken but I thought the requirement for IBAN numbers in relation to bank accounts only applies to money transfers within the EU. It is not a British 'government' rule but an agreed EU directive. And what is wrong with a Bank Draft, safer than a cheque?

And 19 Brantwood Road appear to be a block of apartments.

[MaryA]

I think you should get together a gang of mates and go visit this Barrie. Wonder if he knows he's being posted about regularly on a forum.

[MaryA]

I don't know if it is relevant or not, but he may have been, (or still might be) a Director of a few companies one of which is an estate agent.
http://companycheck.co.uk/director/904101738

[tsumi]

Hi dickiesam and Mary,
Have sent all your comments to my cousin and she will pass them on to her friend.

Kathys comments on the matter are..

"It continues I think she is nuts what is your take???".

I agree wholeheartedly with my cousin Kathy,her friend is well and truly hooked ,but she thinks she is being smart and clever by asking question along the way (to being fleeced) ,the people she is dealing with are masters in the art of deception.
Wise words again dickiesam,you know your stuff indeed, "the requirement for IBAN numbers in relation to bank accounts only applies to money transfers within the EU. It is not a British 'government' rule but an agreed EU directive"
Many many thanks for your continued interest and help it is much appreciated.
I must say Mary, I love the comment about a gang of mates,if only we could get Sky news with one of their cherry pickers and look or storm into the building where they are holed up,the mind boggles,and I bet he has no idea we are all aware of 19,Brantford Road,Salford,LOL .
As always I will keep you all informed of the next installment,fingers crossed she tells him to push off.
Tsumi

[dickiesam]

Where is Roger Cook these days?

[tsumi]

Hello All,Just to say nothing to report about the events,but will do so when we hear anything about this story.
Enjoy the weather.
Take care
Tsumi

[dickiesam]

Thanks for the update Tsumi. As my mother used to say... No news is good news!

[MaryA]

Look forward to any results as and when.