DISGUSTING TREATMENT OF AN ELDERLY WIDOW On the passing of my father we contacted Scottish Widows to put the joint account into my mother's name. They confirmed the account, my mother's date of birth, address etc and requested a copy of the death certificate. This was sent in with a covering letter including the account number as the subject heading. We received the certificate back and a letter stating there was NO ACCOUNT in this name! The fact is that despite the account details being clearly stated in the letter they had input the incorrect digit at the end of the account. After again contacting them and spending 70 minutes on the phone the representative then LIED claiming that account number referred to an 'additional' account that had been in my father's sole name. This is completely false there had never been an account in his sole name and was very upsetting for my mother. Having then asked to be put through to the complaints department this was apprently not possible! After a further 20 mins arguing we were put through to the relevant department to close the account and withdraw funds. After a further 10 mins we were then advised they had the incorrect address (despite them having previously sent written correspondence to the correct address and therefore could not make payment to my mother of her own funds. After they admitted having found the letter they then stated they could not make payment as they did not have my mother's date of birth!!! This is despite them having confirmed these details as part of the identification process. The final excuse for not being able to process the funds is that the date of birth 'was on the other system' and this representative could not see it!!!!! We were then advised that they required my mother to send in identification despite them having confirmed the account was in her name and had accepted that the letter validated her indentity. We are now to lodge a formal complaint and take it up with the relevant governing body. My advice would be NOT TO HAVE ANY DEALINGS WITH THIS BODY AS CLEARLY IT IS POLICY TO MAKE IT AS DIFFICULT AND CUMBERSOME AS POSSIBLE TO WITHDRAW FUNDS. The excuses given takes this beyond mere negligience