Lpoa - Donors Name Doesn't Match With Bank Account

[Donnach76]

Dear All,

We have recently registered LPOA for my partners mum. It has been issued with correct name matching the passport, first name, middle name and two surnames, typical Latino set up. It is also correct on most of her bank accounts, council tax, utilities, pensions etc, all good.
However, one bank account, opened by my partners mum 40 years ago has only got first name and first surname on. The bank is refusing to register the LPOA, as the names don't match precisely. Does anybody know what to do in this situation?
Thank you!

[Buenchico]

My best guess is that you'll need to sign an affidavit, witnessed by a solicitor, confirming that you attest that the relevant bank account is one held by the donor of the LPA. The bank should then accept it as proof that they're lawfully handing over access to the account.

So you almost certainly need to seek a solicitor's help with your problem. If the bank still won't play ball though, complain to the Financial Ombudsman:
https://www.financial-ombudsman.org.uk/consumers

[Donnach76]

Thank you Buenchico, this bank has asked for a letter from UK lawyer confirming the two name person is the same as the 4 name person. Bit difficult as we are in Spain and bank won't accept Spanish or Gib lawyers. Also I don't understand what documents we would need to provide to the lawyer, so he is able to issue such certificate?
Thx
Anna

[Buenchico]

You might not need much, if any, documentary evidence. My experience, for example, of getting solicitors to sign that I am who I say I am has often been no more me simply swearing an oath to that effect and possibly waving my passport under their nose. You might simply need to swear an oath which confirms that
(a) you're the attorney nominated by the LPA's donor ; and
(b) you know that the relevant bank account is one held by that donor.

I've no idea how easy, or difficult, that might be to do remotely though. (Covid might actually have worked in your favour here, as some legal processes, which previously needed personal attendance, can now be handled remotely). I suggest googling to find a solicitor working in the geographical area around the donor's address and enquiring by either telephone or email as to the best way forward.

[Donnach76]

Buenchico, that sounds not so scary. We have already send loads of messages to all of our local UK comunity asking if anybody knows of any friendly/local latin comunity lawyer, already had 2 or 3 names suggested, so will start working through them tomorrow. Just though I better research and get prepared, if possible.
Muchos gracias!
Anna

[Buenchico]

¡De nada!

;-)

[Peter Pedant]

good lluck
and good advice from Chris
this is not new - you are not alone

my father had one document as Paul Pedant and not Pavel Pedant and my goodness didnt the Imperial civil servants scribble scribble scribble. The year? 1933. Like you know there are two Pavels.....

[Donnach76]

Ha ha, Peter, it did came to my mind, just how many Elena Sanchez are the bank expecting to live at the same address???
We are are funny mix too, P and his mum Lation, me Slaviak, with surname full of ch, sz and so on. I do not even want to count the times my surname got misspelled on documents and pronounciation of it butchered! Will let you all know how the saga of LPOA ends.

[Donnach76]

To finish the story, we had contacted various lawyers who
1. Said that as mum can't speak to confirm her identity they won't do it
2. As they can't see documents in hard copy they won't do it
Finally I found someone who agreed to see the docs by e-mail, then in zoom call. They needed I was also lucky that we had Freedom pass with 2 names and a photo identical to a photo in Chilean passport with all 4 names. Plus council tax with 2 names, pension statement with 4 names but with amounts matching the money coming in to the 2 name BOS account. So 2 weeks and 7hrs on the phone later and another £ 350 lighter we have finally managed to get it all registerred and made first transfer!
From Monday we are on attack, another bank, GP, WDP, council, housing, private pension, social services, utilities, and there will be probably few more, which I am not aware of right now. I wonder how long it will all take.