"Heir Hunters"

[FraserandFraser]

the google earth thing is amazing.

 They already use this technology in the US and you can get some fascinating images, I am not to concerned about invasion of personal privacy though as there are 20 million house holds in the UK why would some one look at yours and what can they do with it. May make identifying a property for value of the estate a little easier.

[patrish]

Please can more than one Probate Company put in a claim to the Treasury if they have signed up several heirs between them 

[FraserandFraser]

Yes but the TS will only look at the first compleat claim, the other companies must then prove there claim to the first firms solicitors. This is where some of the smaller less honorable firmes try to make money.

The sign just 1 heir at a very low fee, race to get the paperwork to the TS,  then charge the estate for the administration of going through the paperwork associated with the other heirs thus they virtually get a fee from every heir even if they have only signed 1.

F&F have it in our paper work that we will not make any additional charges to the estate, unfortunately very few others work this way. Hence the heir can think they are getting a good deal until the final accounts are seen and there are huge additional charges.

[Aulus]

Yes but the TS will only look at the first compleat claim, the other companies must then prove there claim to the first firms solicitors. This is where some of the smaller less honorable firmes try to make money.

The sign just 1 heir at a very low fee, race to get the paperwork to the TS,  then charge the estate for the administration of going through the paperwork associated with the other heirs thus they virtually get a fee from every heir even if they have only signed 1.

F&F have it in our paper work that we will not make any additional charges to the estate, unfortunately very few others work this way. Hence the heir can think they are getting a good deal until the final accounts are seen and there are huge additional charges.

I don't think that's been mentioned "on air" - which is a shame, as it's a very good point.

[patrish]

until the final accounts are seen

Thats interesting..... my husband was never shown any accounts 

[DMCD]

the google earth thing is amazing.

 They already use this technology in the US and you can get some fascinating images, I am not to concerned about invasion of personal privacy though as there are 20 million house holds in the UK why would some one look at yours and what can they do with it. May make identifying a property for value of the estate a little easier.

Yes it is great for that as we have used it to view properties and surrounding area in Canada as we are emigrating and wanted to see houses where we are moving to....However it's also been used by kids for identifying houses with swimming pools who organise illegal "Dipping" parties who gate crash peoples houses when they are away & hols a rave up...so If you have a pool 

Think this is great show by the way.

Is there any reason why you don't cover Scotland? Well in the show you don't seem to & also when they ask for public help during the show Scotland is never covered.

Cheers Dave

[aghadowey]

Scottish legal system is different than that in England so perhaps that's why Scotland isn't covered?

[hume]

Is there any reason why you don't cover Scotland? Well in the show you don't seem to & also when they ask for public help during the show Scotland is never covered.

I did notice ScotlandsPeople being used in one of last week's episodes; however, the narration failed to mention births around the years they were looking for are unavailable online and either you need to send for them (at a cost) or have a researcher on hand at the Register House in Edinburgh. I'm assuming it's the latter on the programme!

hume24

[FraserandFraser]

We do work in Scotland and have a researcher there. The law is diffrent and dont appear on the usual list.

The good thing is in scotland is that there should never be an unclaimed case as we can research as far back through the generations until we find an heir, not just 1st cousins like in the England and Wales