Power of Attorney - being hounded.

[HaggisnNeeps]

I am power of attorney to an elderly lady. This lady still has all her faculties and as of today according to the doctors is of sound mind. Every week I collect her pension and I pay her bills for her. She has been in hospital for 4 weeks after a fall and these distant cousins appeared last Monday. All 3 of them are 2nd cousins and after knowing this lady for 15 years - this is the first I have met 2 of these cousins..........and didnt even know one of them existed. Her true caring family live abroad and we are in contact by email and phone all the time and it was them that made me POA and her next of kin a few years ago just in case.

They were awful to me at the hospital - so much so I have been in tears lots this past week. They said that I am not blood and for all they know she has no money left in her bank - they demanded I brought in her last 3 months bank statements and to leave them at the hospital and they will be back in a week to check them.

I feel I have to protect myself and I have got all her bills together and printed off the entire years bank statements and went in today to show her all this - along with a nurse. The nurse told me this was a gross invasion of this ladys privacy and as she is of sound mind and still making all her own decisions this was so out of order.

The lady concerned said that she was more than happy with all her bills - all uptodate and in credit and happy with her bank statements - everything in order. Her family from abroad and the lady herself told me under no circumstances have these to be left for these 3 people to come back and see and I was to take them back to her house which I done.


The lovely lady is as sharp as a knife and is as upset as me. I hate all this - I hate the drama and want to know do these people have the right to demand this and bearing in mind this elderly lady does not have any mental issues.

[des8]

Re: Power of Attorney - being hounded.

They have as much right to ask as you have to ask a stranger in the street the same sort of question............................... but your friend has every right to tell them to go forth and multiply.

What a b****y cheek

[HaggisnNeeps]

Re: Power of Attorney - being hounded.

I can maybe understand if this lady had dementia and them not knowing me at all ...............but she is totally with it - not a single concern re her mental health. Its been so upsetting.

[stevemLS]

Re: Power of Attorney - being hounded.

What sort of Power of Attorney is it? A General, Lasting or Enduring?

[HaggisnNeeps]

Re: Power of Attorney - being hounded.

How do I find that out - I have it in front of me

I am in Scotland in case that makes any difference.

[HaggisnNeeps]

Re: Power of Attorney - being hounded.

Found it - its a combined power of attorney -it says i.e confers both property or financial and welfare powers

[stevemLS]

Re: Power of Attorney - being hounded.

Bugger - sorry - I have no idea about Scottish law. Very sorry.

In England, the relatives would have absolutely no right to examine bank statements. If the relatives believe that you are discharging your functions as Attorney improperly, they can make application to the Office of the Public Guardian to terminate the appointment. There is an OPG (Scotland) and I would imagine there is a similar process.

Lots of information here http://www.publicguardian-scotland.g...f_attorney.asp

ETA: Your user name is a bit of a give away as to where you are!

[HaggisnNeeps]

Re: Power of Attorney - being hounded.

That was a good link StevemLS. Thank you. It led to a information sheet re anyone that isnt happy but they state that.........

What does the Investigation Team NOT do?
We do not:
• Investigate concerns relating to an adult’s personal welfare.
• Attempt to resolve any personal or family disagreement.
• Retrieve debt of any kind owed to a third party by the adult.
• Investigate concerns relating to a capable adult or continue to investigate concerns/
complaints if medical evidence confirms that an adult is capable of managing their
own finances

[stevemLS]

Re: Power of Attorney - being hounded.

I guess that is that then.

In fact it is the same in England, they don't investigate an unregistered power, you only need to register it when the donor becomes incapacitated. (There are several different types in England and the rules vary according to which type it is).

My view would be, then, that their only recourse would be to the police. The donor is content with the way you are dealing with their affairs and whilst the police would probably have a duty to conduct something of an investigation, I can't imagine it would be any more than cursory.

Sorry I can't be more definitive. If you become independent I will have even less idea!

[Bushey]

Re: Power of Attorney - being hounded.

Would I be wrong in suggesting these so called relatives are beginning to circle just like vultures do when they see a free meal?
If it were my mother after the last escapade I would be asking my mum if she wanted to exclude them from her will!! she is still of sound mind and would have the satisfaction of disinheriting the Vultures.

[HaggisnNeeps]

Re: Power of Attorney - being hounded.

Would I be wrong in suggesting these so called relatives are beginning to circle just like vultures do when they see a free meal?
If it were my mother after the last escapade I would be asking my mum if she wanted to exclude them from her will!! she is still of sound mind and would have the satisfaction of disinheriting the Vultures.

After I went through all her up to date bank statements and bills yesterday I sent a message to one of the "vultures" saying that the lady in question has in the presence of a nurse looked at everything and more than happy that everything is in order and also all her bills are way in credit.

No reply. But I am pretty sure I havent heard the last from them. Its horrible.

[Kati]

Re: Power of Attorney - being hounded.

If they get back in touch, you could always suggest they go to the police if they are not satisfied :tinysmile_grin_t: ?? That might shut them up.

If the lady in question has no concerns and her close relatives have no concerns then there is nothing that these 'vultures' can do!

Good luck x

[enquirer]

Re: Power of Attorney - being hounded.

But I am pretty sure I havent heard the last from them. Its horrible.

These 'cousins' are predators of the worst sort.

Under no account should you co-operate with them or believe that you can get rid of them by showing them bills, bank statements and so forth. In my experience, they would be likely to use the information so gained to try and steal.

If they appear again, threaten them with the police.

Make sure that the nursing staff are fully aware, and that it is recorded in writing that these people are abusive. If the lady would be willing to state to the nursing staff that she does not wish to see them at all, and if they turn up they should be thrown out, so much the better.

[Bushey]

Re: Power of Attorney - being hounded.

After I went through all her up to date bank statements and bills yesterday I sent a message to one of the "vultures" saying that the lady in question has in the presence of a nurse looked at everything and more than happy that everything is in order and also all her bills are way in credit.

No reply. But I am pretty sure I havent heard the last from them. Its horrible.

Should they try to demand any more information on this ladies bank accounts , Advise them you have been given Legal POA ,Smile , and tell them everyting is in order to the satisfaction of the Lady in question. if they wish to take it further, its your opportunity then to have a frank discussion with the lady about who she feels she wants to be visited by, if she doesnt want to see these Vultures then you can ask the Nursing staff to exclude these as visitors, as they upset the lady so much.

[righty]

Re: Power of Attorney - being hounded.

Please don't give them any further information without the ladies written consent. If you do your breaching your duty to treat her personal affairs as confidential "AND it is something they could use against you. You know the thing "She can't be trusted she's telling all & sundry about our relatives affairs etc etc"