Hearse Chasers
Discussion
(A flash of a TV programme prompted this so if the mods think it belongs in the other section so be it.)
Never mind ambulance chasers but hearse chasers or 'people-who-track-down-relatives-of-the-dead-for-a-chunk-of-the-winnings' seem to be a little further down the food chain. I know the estates would otherwise pass to the Crown but having watched (due to a combination of being on hold on the phone and channel flicking) a few minutes of 'Heir Hunters' this morning I couldn't help be struck by the ghoulish nature of these people.
No idea how much their take is but I'd be willing to bet it's somewhere north of 40% and their staff are on par with the sort of people that get caught on spy cameras selling wonderbeds to susceptible old people. One of them spouted to a relative they'd dug up "It's never going to cost you money, you'll only ever receive it"
I'm sure someone will defend them but there's something that just doesn't 'sit' right with me.
Never mind ambulance chasers but hearse chasers or 'people-who-track-down-relatives-of-the-dead-for-a-chunk-of-the-winnings' seem to be a little further down the food chain. I know the estates would otherwise pass to the Crown but having watched (due to a combination of being on hold on the phone and channel flicking) a few minutes of 'Heir Hunters' this morning I couldn't help be struck by the ghoulish nature of these people.
No idea how much their take is but I'd be willing to bet it's somewhere north of 40% and their staff are on par with the sort of people that get caught on spy cameras selling wonderbeds to susceptible old people. One of them spouted to a relative they'd dug up "It's never going to cost you money, you'll only ever receive it"
I'm sure someone will defend them but there's something that just doesn't 'sit' right with me.
I've caught this a couple of times and very often the living relative is so far removed from the original person that the chances of them tracking down the money themselves (or indeed knowing anything about it) are pretty low.
Would be interesting to know what their cut is - as you say, probably pretty high!
Would be interesting to know what their cut is - as you say, probably pretty high!
My dad had a call from them, they started by asking for 40% but settled for 20% after negotiations including my dad having worked out who had died from the family tree, only a few grand for each relative but they won't specify the amount of the estate until you've signed.
Edited by 4mo on Thursday 12th August 10:15
Was watching the one yesterday, and they had traced relatives on dad's side, quite removed and were about to start the paper work on them, when it was mentioned on a program, and some woman was watching them talk about her dad, seems he had enjoyed a bit of bigamy, it had all come out years ago, and she hadn't seen her dad since, because of the shame it would bring, it just never got mentioned.
She ended up being the only heir, as she was the only offspring he had had, so the distant relatives got nothing, but she gained a whole new family because of it, they hadn't even known she had existed.
Sometimes it's nice to hear the stories of families being reunited due to the efforts of the heir hunters.
She ended up being the only heir, as she was the only offspring he had had, so the distant relatives got nothing, but she gained a whole new family because of it, they hadn't even known she had existed.
Sometimes it's nice to hear the stories of families being reunited due to the efforts of the heir hunters.
When I read the title of this topic I thought it would answer a dilemma of mine.
Is it socially acceptable to overtake a hearse? Providing road conditions etc are all suitable.
I have never had the balls to commit to an overtake, but should I feel so reluctant to overtake a stiff in a box? I have referred to the high way code but alas no mention.
Is it socially acceptable to overtake a hearse? Providing road conditions etc are all suitable.
I have never had the balls to commit to an overtake, but should I feel so reluctant to overtake a stiff in a box? I have referred to the high way code but alas no mention.
moanthebairns said:
When I read the title of this topic I thought it would answer a dilemma of mine.
Is it socially acceptable to overtake a hearse? Providing road conditions etc are all suitable.
I have never had the balls to commit to an overtake, but should I feel so reluctant to overtake a stiff in a box? I have referred to the high way code but alas no mention.
Excessive revs and horn blowing is the appropriate action.Is it socially acceptable to overtake a hearse? Providing road conditions etc are all suitable.
I have never had the balls to commit to an overtake, but should I feel so reluctant to overtake a stiff in a box? I have referred to the high way code but alas no mention.
moanthebairns said:
When I read the title of this topic I thought it would answer a dilemma of mine.
Is it socially acceptable to overtake a hearse? Providing road conditions etc are all suitable.
I have never had the balls to commit to an overtake, but should I feel so reluctant to overtake a stiff in a box? I have referred to the high way code but alas no mention.
I would say no, not acceptable even if road clear, unless you're an emergency service vehicle. It's a matter of respecting the dead, old fashioned maybe but one I believe we should still adhere to.Is it socially acceptable to overtake a hearse? Providing road conditions etc are all suitable.
I have never had the balls to commit to an overtake, but should I feel so reluctant to overtake a stiff in a box? I have referred to the high way code but alas no mention.
You're right though, this isn't what I was expecting when I opened the thread.
I am torn with this, saves money going to government, yes they are making a living out of someones death but the people who recieve the money wouldn't have got it without them. They can often put a lot of effort in and nothing come of it or the people decide to continue themselves.
Seems to reunite a lot of people.
I guess the answer is make sure you have a will, problem solved.
I watched it this morning and they seem to be fairly reasonable, they usually only deal with estates that have no obvious heirs and otherwise the money would land up going to the treasury.
So far from being Hearse Chasers they seem to deal more with long lost relatives who weren't aware of the death, on occasions the families choose to do the work themselves in making the claim. If you didn't know your great aunt had died without a will then you wouldn't be looking to make a claim unless you had an idea that you could be eligible. They do seem to only pick high value estates though, which is the commercial aspect.
So far from being Hearse Chasers they seem to deal more with long lost relatives who weren't aware of the death, on occasions the families choose to do the work themselves in making the claim. If you didn't know your great aunt had died without a will then you wouldn't be looking to make a claim unless you had an idea that you could be eligible. They do seem to only pick high value estates though, which is the commercial aspect.
k right off.NoNeed said:
So they take the trouble to find out which estates are going to the state, then for a fee of about 20% of said estate track down the nearest living relative who knew nothing of the estate so they can all benefit.
Where is the problem? I just don't see it
I'm with you, so long as the fee's were not a total rip off (which they probably are) then i think it would be a job i would quite enjoy!Where is the problem? I just don't see it
I would much rather do this than be a traffic warden!
Hedders said:
NoNeed said:
So they take the trouble to find out which estates are going to the state, then for a fee of about 20% of said estate track down the nearest living relative who knew nothing of the estate so they can all benefit.
Where is the problem? I just don't see it
I'm with you, so long as the fee's were not a total rip off (which they probably are) then i think it would be a job i would quite enjoy!Where is the problem? I just don't see it
I would much rather do this than be a traffic warden!
Being the one that delivers the news (for a fee of course) must also be good.
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