Heir Hunters

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Shrugging for victory

Original Poster:

570 posts

83 months

Tuesday
quotequote all
I've received a letter from Fraser and Fraser relating to a relative who I have never heard of. I do come from a large family, but unfortunately my Dad and the majority of that side are no longer with us to query it. I've also looked at the previous topics on this subject, but I still have some queries.

I have tried to Google the individual and also used ancestry to try and connect the dots which lead to one potential birth record, but that's as far as it went. I have also tried the government websites and others I.e. Bona Vacatia list and the Gazette and also came up empty.

What other resources could I try? Or should I just sign my life away to F&F?

trickywoo

12,798 posts

243 months

Tuesday
quotequote all
What’s your aim. To cut out the middle man?

Rule out a scam?

Either way I’d go along with it to start with.

Huzzah

27,916 posts

196 months

Tuesday
quotequote all
My MIL had this for an obscure relative.

Seemed quite a long drawn out cokplicated process, all beneficiarys need to be contacted to calculate amounts. ( cousins, children of cousins the list went on and on)

She wound up with a few £k, I can't remember the charges hut they seemed reasonable.

Shrugging for victory

Original Poster:

570 posts

83 months

Tuesday
quotequote all
trickywoo said:
What’s your aim. To cut out the middle man?

Rule out a scam?

Either way I’d go along with it to start with.
TBH, I'm one of life's sceptics, so I thought I would do some checks before engagement, as I could be handing a crap load of data over for nothing.

Shrugging for victory

Original Poster:

570 posts

83 months

Tuesday
quotequote all
Huzzah said:
My MIL had this for an obscure relative.

Seemed quite a long drawn out cokplicated process, all beneficiarys need to be contacted to calculate amounts. ( cousins, children of cousins the list went on and on)

She wound up with a few £k, I can't remember the charges hut they seemed reasonable.
I can imagine it's a long drawn out process. TBH, it could lead to nothing, as my family certainly doesn't come from money.

alscar

6,129 posts

226 months

Yesterday (09:21)
quotequote all
Don't F and F "work" for the Solicitor handling the estate so any costs would come out of the Estate ?
As you knew nothing about this case before contact I don't see what you have to lose by at least talking with them and everything to gain ?

TownIdiot

3,367 posts

12 months

Yesterday (09:32)
quotequote all
I made a similar post this time last year.

The upshot was it was extremely difficult to get anywhere yourself, mainly because the solicitors handling the estate more or less refused to deal with the beneficiary direct.

The firm did confirm the name of the person at some stage which meant we were able to find them on the government website that holds wills and grants of administration.
It won't be on the BV list as if even if they died intestate someone will have been granted the right to administer the estate.

I'm my friend's case there has been absolutely no movement in the 12 months since she got the original letter and subsequently signed up to the service.

mikeiow

6,987 posts

143 months

Yesterday (09:49)
quotequote all
alscar said:
Don't F and F "work" for the Solicitor handling the estate so any costs would come out of the Estate ?
As you knew nothing about this case before contact I don't see what you have to lose by at least talking with them and everything to gain ?
You’d think so. Nothing to lose but 10-25% of what might be coming.
Not sure what deep data they would be stealing from OP, but they look a kosha outfit.

alscar

6,129 posts

226 months

Yesterday (09:58)
quotequote all
mikeiow said:
alscar said:
Don't F and F "work" for the Solicitor handling the estate so any costs would come out of the Estate ?
As you knew nothing about this case before contact I don't see what you have to lose by at least talking with them and everything to gain ?
You’d think so. Nothing to lose but 10-25% of what might be coming.
Not sure what deep data they would be stealing from OP, but they look a kosha outfit.
I wonder whether in which case fee negotiation is possible and ensuring they are in effect "no win no fee " but doesn't change the fact that still "only " receiving 75% -90% of something you knew nothing about and were never likely to doesn't sound too bad !

TownIdiot

3,367 posts

12 months

Yesterday (10:03)
quotequote all
alscar said:
mikeiow said:
alscar said:
Don't F and F "work" for the Solicitor handling the estate so any costs would come out of the Estate ?
As you knew nothing about this case before contact I don't see what you have to lose by at least talking with them and everything to gain ?
You’d think so. Nothing to lose but 10-25% of what might be coming.
Not sure what deep data they would be stealing from OP, but they look a kosha outfit.
I wonder whether in which case fee negotiation is possible and ensuring they are in effect "no win no fee " but doesn't change the fact that still "only " receiving 75% -90% of something you knew nothing about and were never likely to doesn't sound too bad !
In our experience it was a swift no.
The solicitors were not interested in dealing direct either.

In the end our friend saw it as an unexpected bonus and signed up. Has heard nothing at all since.

Unreal

6,652 posts

38 months

We got a letter from one of these companies, or rather my mother did. Thought it was a scam so ignored the first letter. They then came up with a lot of personal information that persuaded us it was legit. Just as well as it turned out. Apparently we have or I should say had, relatives in Cornwall. Mum was end of the line after someone died intestate. Involved a bungalow and field which now has houses on it! I can find out the percentage finder's fee but I don't remember it being excessive. If it had been more than 10-20% I'd have probably pushed back but they did all the legwork and my mother would never have known anything about it. Took eighteen months to two years to get the money. All I recall my mum having to do was produce various proofs of id.