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Is this debt valid?.

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Denson | 11:07 Tue 21st Feb 2012 | Law
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My father passed away suddenly on the 15th December and had been meeting a lady for theatre trips, meals etc.
I am the sole beneficiary of his estate.
This lady first came along and said she had been promised my Dad's house but he could not have done this as I inherited half of it in 2007 when my mother passed away and my fathers half was willed to me. I just told her to go away and closed the door.
Suddenly I have had a letter from a solicitor saying my father borrowed £10,000 from this lady and it states this was witnessed by 7 people.
I have asked for the written evidence but they have stated there was none and the witnesses were sufficient.
I find it difficult to believe Dad borrowed the money as he had £35,000 in an easy access account as well as other money on term deposits.
Also he has not purchased anything needing that sort of money since early 2010.
If she takes me to court is she likely to get anything?.

Sue
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Hi Bednobs

The will did go to probate and as there were no complications at the time it was issued very quickly.
What did surprise me was I informed Dad's bank the day after his death to stop any transactions happening and I got the death certificate 5 days later.
I went back to the bank and they released the money in his account to me straight away ( nearly £2,000 ).
I walked around to the other institutions and by the end of the day I had got nearly £30,000 from his accounts.
I knew how much money Dad had in each of his accounts so I was able to fill in most of the probate form. The only delay was getting his final pension payment from his occupational pension scheme which they paid on production of his death certificate.
Once I applied for probate it came through in 9 days. I got 6 copies and sent off for the rest of the money from his accounts straight away and got it all in 10 days.
Half of his house was in my name and it is now fully in my name.
My husband and myself are thinking of selling our house and going to live in Dad's house but we do not want to rush into this.
Dad's house will obviously go into both of our names.
Dad's accounts have not had any large amounts credited to them since he met this woman except for his pension.
If he did borrow this money where has it gone?.
The only vague possibility is it has gone into an account which I do not know about.
It still does not make sense however. Why would have Dad borrowed £10,000 when he had £35,000 on an easy access account?.

Sue
He didn't borrow it! This woman started by coming to you and pretending he was leaving her the house. The "loan" only came up as an afterthought when the first scam didn't work.
is it a genuine solicitors firm? i have heard of people faking documents on computers an having a relative answer calls...
I agree with Barmaid it is best ignored and wait to see if any action is taken, if it is consult with a local solicitor. The witness statements would probably be enough if they can confirm they saw the money change hands and it was a loan, which from what you say is unlikely. The solicitor acting for the lady friend would accept what he was told and write the type of letter you describe it is doubtful he/she has tested the evidence at this stage, when they have they may well suggest a different course of action. There is a lot of bluff in the law and this may be one of those situations
i think some people dont understand the processes involved in this sort of situation...these grasping people seem to think the person will just take their word for it and say, "oh, ok then, here you go" and hand them a bag of notes...

the so called witnesses have presumably been promised a share and think they will just have to sit round a table somewhere and just nod and say " oh yes i saw it all, she definitely did give it to him, honest"...

very naive...
Poor you having to deal with this obvious grasping scam...do not dignify anything by reacting...she will go away no doubt when you don't roll over to her demands..
I agree with what Murraymints is saying.
I had a lot of people who thought they had claims on my father's estate just because they went to the same club as him.
They were phoning and calling at the house for about 2 weeks but hopefully they have realised they are going to get nothing.
I have just heard 1 of the people who was pestering me along with his wife has passed away. I almost had thoughts of going to his wife to try and get some easy money but I would be lowering myself to their standards.

Martin
Roddles

Happy and Sneezy would have not got involved in this sort of situation.


Martin
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