Death Abroad

[Bigbad]

A British man who lived abroad, has died abroad, but not in the country he lived in.
Next of Kin is dealing with everything, and has had an enormous amount of help from the company the man worked for.

The man’s bank (HSBC) wants NoK to travel to a ‘local’ branch, although it’s not yet clear if this is country of residence or death.
Either way it’s around a 13 hour flight!

It’s not yet known who the beneficiaries are, or whether they live in UK or country of residence.

Surely the bank can’t insist on this?
I thought they were supposed to be “The World’s Local Bank.”

[AuntLydia]

Surely they mean the nearest HNBC to the Next of Kin?

[Bigbad]

Apparently not.
Although the people NoK have spoken too, speak English, the accents are so strong, he is struggling to understand! And he's also explained it would be difficult for him to do so.
I hope it's just someone in a call centre giving out the wrong information.

[AuntLydia]

As next of Kin I would make an appointment at the nearest HSBC branch , take all the correspondence you have, along with two proofs of identity and let them try and sort it. A foreign accent on a phone call to a Bank is pretty normal these days. Best get it sorted nearer home. They may only require proof of identity.

[Bigbad]

Thanks AuntLydia. (You’ve got me singing again)!
I’ll wait to hear from NoK again, and tell him he needs to dig his heels in.

[JJ109]

I think you need to tell us what the problem is with the bank.
HSBC is world wide and even in countries like Thailand where I live, there are branches and affiliates. There is probably a local branch to where the NOK is, in whichever country that you are talking about. There will be no need to take a 13 hour flight.

You have not told us the country of death or where the NOK resides.

All in all, how can we advise you?

[Bigbad]

I’d rather not go into any personal details JJ109.
If I can’t get an answer on the info I’ve given, then so be it.
Thanks anyway.

[bednobs]

does the person have a will?
If so, it may be that the NOK doesnt have to deal with anything anyway

[Flonska]

Banks have dedicated centres that handle all aspects of bereavement.
For HSBC here is a link:-

https://financialplanning.hsbc.co.uk/events/dealing-with-bereavement

I suggest you ask the NoK to get in touch with these people.

[Bigbad]

Don’t know, bednobs, which is why I said we don’t yet know who the beneficiaries are.
I’ve had a quick look at your link, thank you, flonska, but it all looks like run-of-the-mill died in UK stuff to me.
NoK has spoken to HSBC in UK and country of residence, as the deceased had accounts in both.

[Bigbad]

Update:

NoK has now been to a UK branch of HSBC.
The deceased had an account manager (or whatever the correct term is) for both UK and foreign accounts.
The UK one will contact the foreign one.
However, he is still being told that he may have to travel abroad.
Ridiculous!

[JJ109]

Bigbad - the laws in other countries are different to the UK.
HSBC in the UK must comply with UK laws
HSBC in Thailand must comply with Thai laws
HSBC in China must comply with Chinese laws

HSBC UK will, I am sure do theit utmost to help, but at the end of the day, they must comply with local legislation.

[ubasses]

JJ09 has hit the nail on the head.
Also if he has british assets and assets in the country he lived in, there may be 2 Wills to locate. Some countries have strict inheritance laws and will not accept a UK Will.

[Bigbad]

JJ109. I would have thought that in today’s electronic age, as long as someone “official” in the UK can verify details, it shouldn’t be a problem.
I doubt this is a unique situation, nor that everyone in this situation is able to travel for any number of reasons.

NoK need to find out who the beneficiaries are (not prepared to do stuff for a foreigner they don’t know) and if the amount of money is worth it.
Still hoping it doesn’t come to that, though.

[Bigbad]

ubasses. So far, no Will located.
There is a chance that (if there was one) it may have been found by someone in the country of residence, but destroyed if they didn’t benefit. (If you get my drift)!

[Peter Pedant]

just guessing
this isnt to freeze an account is it?
it is to get one's hot little hands on the moolah ?

in which case I am not surprised that they want the person in er person. - I would expect it - I would also expect that probate laws in that country were fulfilled, inconvenient or what ?

I mean this is really a question about probate in two different countries innit ?
I can quite see that the statement - I am the heir to all this under English intestacy laws, might meet with the riposte
well you arent in Gomboolaland - (where all the gomboola moolah is stashed ...)

I mean dont people plan for death or do they just think they are immortal ?

[Peter Pedant]

well done ubasses
mwah mwah by the way
got this thread back on track

[JJ109]

Bigbad - you are being very cryptic - and I still don't know what the problem is. Who registered the death certificate with the banks, was this the NOK or someone else?

Has the bank in whichever country it is had proof of death? Was the account a joint account or sole account

Was there a separate will for this other country.
Does this other country have laws that forbid foreigners from owning certain land (eg Thailand)

How much money is involved? With large amounts a bank is likely to be more insistant that their rules are complied with. For lesser amounts less so.

The NOK is not necessarily the beneficiary and any bank must ensure it deals with a deceased's estate as per the laws of that country.

An "official" source from the UK may not comply with the laws of that country. Other countries may not accept UK "official" documentation.

[Bigbad]

No, Peter Pedant. This is NOT about greed.
As I said before, I’m not posting any personal details, but the NoK has every right to think he (and other UK relatives) may be beneficiaries, so if they are not, why the hell should he travel all that way to sort out a bank account?

“Don’t people plan for death?”
It would be sensible, but the deceased wasn’t the sharpest tool in the box, and would only have done so if there was someone to do all the leg-work for him!

[Peter Pedant]

and just for example
here is Bernard Boodiful Matthews trying to leave his French property outside the family - oops you can only do zat weez a third ( pars tertius apparently) and the rest goes to the fambly

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/9523298/Bernard-Matthewss-children-in-will-row-with-mistress.html

the fambly said yes ok and then when he died - oops no we have changed our minds.... I am sure theyn turned up in person for this case!

[scooping]

If 'it's not clear' ask for clarification.