General Chat

Thank you Linda, this is very reassuring. I'm pleased to hear that we can both have a cheque book and Dad can continue to cash his cheques. He doesn't have a cash card as I know he would lose it and would certainly forget the pin number.

I think it's best if I get the ball rolling and register the EPA and then visit Dad's bank with him when I am next in the UK.

I've been searching all over the Internet for some practical advice, so I'm glad I thought to ask on here, I knew that someone else must have been through this!

Thanks again.

Yes he can. I have enduring power of attorney for my mum, only because she is old and can't be bothered with things. She does not have any confusion at all.
We both have a cheque book and we both have a bank card and either of us can sign cheques or use the cards.


The cheque books says " my name" attorney for Mrs (her name) so she can sign as well
Both cards have the same pin number and although my name is on them,she is allowed to use it.

If you set up internet banking, make sure you do it in your name and you will be given your own log in details. You are not allowed to log in under his name as they count it as fraud. I didn't realise this and used to log in under my mums name. Obviously that was fine as long as I was just on line, but I had a problem and had to phone them. They realised that I was not a very old lady and got very stroppy and froze my access to the account until I had set up my own internet details, which took ages.
If your dad is showing signs of confusion, it may not be a good idea for him to have a cash card, perhaps you could just restrict it to a cheque book and if the bank has his signature on file, he could cash a cheque there.

Thank you, Elisabeth. My main question is really whether if I register the EPA, could my Dad still sign his own cheques as well as me?

I have set up all his bills as direct debits so the only thing he needs to do is go into his branch to cash a cheque for his spending money. But if I register the EPA I don't want that to stop him being able to cash his cheques! He is showing signs of confusion but can still get out and about.

As you say, I think I need to speak to the branch, although getting through to a human being on the phone seems almost impossible, and when you do they are not actually located where they should be (if you know what I mean) and rarely understand what you are asking!

Thanks again - logging off til the morning....

Frances,

We haven't actually had to use the Enduring Power of Attorney we have in place for Mum, but my husband now has access to her bank accounts, simply by her signing some forms at the branch and giving him permission to do any transactions for her. She still does much of her own banking, but at least my husband can keep a check on direct debits etc, and move money around between her saving and current accounts.

It would probably be best to discuss the matter with the branch concerned, taking in documentary evidence of everything being signed up already. I would think they would have to accept the evidence if it is properly drawn up.

Elisabeth

Edit: Sorry, I have just re-read your post and see you are overseas. Maybe the best course would be to ring the branch and ask advice.

Hello,
Does anyone here have actual experience of registering an enduring power of attorney? I have a practical question regarding banks, have searched the internet but can't find the answers I need. Would phone the bank but I live overseas and thought I might get advice from someone here?!