Son managing stuff for his old folks... (insurance)
Discussion
...this always been tricky as I sort out their utilities, car insurance and house insurance etc They dont have newfangled internet, computers or email addresses for the best deals etc and my old dad cant really hear on the phone now. Its always a pita though passing security etc
So (and sadly) its now best he stops driving but the car policy is still in his name with mum as named driver. I fear if I'm totally honest with the insurer when I call and ask them to honour the NCB and hand it over to my mum they wont talk to me and I really don't want to worry my mum with it. I just want to get it sorted with their best interests at heart and also ensure accuracy for the policies.
Any advice guys as he cant even hear on the phone to even initiate some token handover authority to me (let alone the fact that he lives 100 miles away)!
So (and sadly) its now best he stops driving but the car policy is still in his name with mum as named driver. I fear if I'm totally honest with the insurer when I call and ask them to honour the NCB and hand it over to my mum they wont talk to me and I really don't want to worry my mum with it. I just want to get it sorted with their best interests at heart and also ensure accuracy for the policies.
Any advice guys as he cant even hear on the phone to even initiate some token handover authority to me (let alone the fact that he lives 100 miles away)!
Pretend to be your dad. I often will pretend to be my partner (and her me) if one of us isn't in and we need to sort something which is in the others name. She sounds like a softly spoken girl, and I sound like someone with throat cancer. But no one on the phone questions it - guess they don't want to come across as rude. Makes life simpler for all.
photosnob said:
Pretend to be your dad. I often will pretend to be my partner (and her me) if one of us isn't in and we need to sort something which is in the others name. She sounds like a softly spoken girl, and I sound like someone with throat cancer. But no one on the phone questions it - guess they don't want to come across as rude. Makes life simpler for all.
Are these the recorded calls on which contracts are based?V8 Fettler said:
Are these the recorded calls on which contracts are based?
No these are things like - the broadband isn't working, please send someone out to fix it. It's not an every day occurrence. But I wouldn't have any problems with my partner doing things like renew my mobile contract or take out some insurance for me if it was required. Technically it might be naughty - but in reality whats the problem? I'm yet to hear about anyone being found out for sounding different one call to the next. TooMany2cvs said:
At some stage, you're going to need to think about Power of Attorney. Might as well get it in early, then you can wave that as required for things like this.
Or just do it all in writing, and get him to sign the letter.
I think a PoA is a good idea, but not sure how used to dealing with a PoA an insurer would be - generally they're only used once the grantor has lost capacity, and therefore probably shouldn't be driving. Nevertheless worth investigating as they can save a lot of pain and hassle later.Or just do it all in writing, and get him to sign the letter.
photosnob said:
V8 Fettler said:
Are these the recorded calls on which contracts are based?
No these are things like - the broadband isn't working, please send someone out to fix it. It's not an every day occurrence. But I wouldn't have any problems with my partner doing things like renew my mobile contract or take out some insurance for me if it was required. Technically it might be naughty - but in reality whats the problem? I'm yet to hear about anyone being found out for sounding different one call to the next. That is partly why I posted V8fettler. I am in effect deceiving them if I use the phone. Not that there is any malice or gain in it - in fact they are likely to get better and more accurate info. But it does leave you potentially a bit open...
Its one of the big insurance companies so I doubt I'd get anywhere by phone+common sense, so I'm going to just tell my mum to haggle and renew (she'll say one of the Meerkat quotes were £65 cheaper...
). I'll continue to blag it with the utilities companies etc and say I still fly Spitfires which is why my voice sounds younger ;-)
Power of attorney is quite a step as the old boy's OK...just a bit, well, older. It also seems quite pricey for a few forms. Will research more.
Thanks for the input
Its one of the big insurance companies so I doubt I'd get anywhere by phone+common sense, so I'm going to just tell my mum to haggle and renew (she'll say one of the Meerkat quotes were £65 cheaper...
). I'll continue to blag it with the utilities companies etc and say I still fly Spitfires which is why my voice sounds younger ;-)Power of attorney is quite a step as the old boy's OK...just a bit, well, older. It also seems quite pricey for a few forms. Will research more.
Thanks for the input
chriscpritchard said:
Power of Attorney ONLY applies when the person that it is for lacks capacity.
You're thinking of an Enduring PoA, since replaced with Lasting PoAs which become effective upon registration.In this case Dad could even grant a 'normal' PoA, but I'd suggest a Lasting PoA, and register it now so the OP can act when useful/expedient.
Actus Reus said:
You're thinking of an Enduring PoA, since replaced with Lasting PoAs which become effective upon registration.
In this case Dad could even grant a 'normal' PoA, but I'd suggest a Lasting PoA, and register it now so the OP can act when useful/expedient.
Ahh! Thanks for that I was only aware of the former 'about to become mentally incapable but is ok now, just, to sign this PoA doc' one! Will research. Cheers.In this case Dad could even grant a 'normal' PoA, but I'd suggest a Lasting PoA, and register it now so the OP can act when useful/expedient.
Actus Reus said:
chriscpritchard said:
Power of Attorney ONLY applies when the person that it is for lacks capacity.
You're thinking of an Enduring PoA, since replaced with Lasting PoAs which become effective upon registration.In this case Dad could even grant a 'normal' PoA, but I'd suggest a Lasting PoA, and register it now so the OP can act when useful/expedient.
The only thing I would add to what AR has said was that when my Dad was 60 I thought that doing the above was a bit awkward. But, once it's done, it's done.
As it happened a couple of years later, my Dad was abroad and I needed to sort something for him, and we were very glad we did it.
Indeed, also as it happened, a couple of years after that his health worsened dramatically over a period of days. He was diagnosed with a cancer everywhere, but also a large tumour in the brain which affected his judgement.
What having the PoA meant was that Dad could tell me how he wanted his affairs sorted and I could do that, legally, on his behalf. Indeed, when the time came where he was unable to think for himself which unfortunately came rapidly, I could do things on his behalf and also make the necessary decisions.
There were a lot of bad memories of that time, however, probably the thing I was most glad for was the PoA in place early as it made the situation a lot more manageable.
I deal with mine, my wifes and my daughters car insurance, when I set up my daughters they asked to speak to her, verified her name, DOB etc and asked if she was happy for me to deal with it. she said Yes, they logged it on the policy and away we went.
Get "your dad" to write to them authorizing you to deal with it
When I cancelled my wifes policy (because we went to somewhere cheaper) they wouldn't take my instruction on the phone, my wife was out so they said she could email them. My email address was the ones that was registered so I emailed them, typed her name at the bottom and sent it - they were happy about it. (I did tell her I'd done it!)
Get "your dad" to write to them authorizing you to deal with it
When I cancelled my wifes policy (because we went to somewhere cheaper) they wouldn't take my instruction on the phone, my wife was out so they said she could email them. My email address was the ones that was registered so I emailed them, typed her name at the bottom and sent it - they were happy about it. (I did tell her I'd done it!)
john2443 said:
I deal with mine, my wifes and my daughters car insurance, when I set up my daughters they asked to speak to her, verified her name, DOB etc and asked if she was happy for me to deal with it. she said Yes, they logged it on the policy and away we went.
Get "your dad" to write to them authorizing you to deal with it
When I cancelled my wifes policy (because we went to somewhere cheaper) they wouldn't take my instruction on the phone, my wife was out so they said she could email them. My email address was the ones that was registered so I emailed them, typed her name at the bottom and sent it - they were happy about it. (I did tell her I'd done it!)
Same here.Get "your dad" to write to them authorizing you to deal with it
When I cancelled my wifes policy (because we went to somewhere cheaper) they wouldn't take my instruction on the phone, my wife was out so they said she could email them. My email address was the ones that was registered so I emailed them, typed her name at the bottom and sent it - they were happy about it. (I did tell her I'd done it!)
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