Dead headed

It was reported that following representation from the Law Society the financial secretary to the Treasury stated that notice of death could be given to financial institutions by letter (see [2001] Gazette, 8 March, 5).Having just attempted to do this we were told by a high street bank that it required sight of an original death certificate.

Having finally been put through to the branch manager, he told us this was head office policy which could not be changed.I enquired whether this meant the branch would continue to honour cheques and direct debits as it apparently did not accept that my client had died.

He admitted the illogicality of the policy, but said he was bound by head office.Has anyone else encountered this bureaucratic nonsense? More to the point, has anyone persuaded a bank to accept the government's position?John Lloyd, Mawdsleys, Southport