I 'm a beneficiency to annunity left by deceased grandmother. Funds transferred in one bank now, need guidance

Question

My grandmother passed she stated she left me money to go to school with. I was given at the time of her death some annunity papers stating I was the beneficiency to her accounts. The money has been transferred numerous times to different accounts. I recieved in the mail her final investment portfolio with the amount she informed me I was getting. How can I access this. I am having a difficult time. Her representative at the investment firm is not returning my calls.

Answer 1

Patience. Get the basic information, perhaps put it on a letter. Call the investment company switchboard (or check online) to find the name of someone at the top (you would be amazed at how accessible these people sometimes are). Say, "I was trying to access funds left me by my grandmother and X seems unavailable. Am I trying to talk to the wrong person? Who should I see?"

Rolling a request uphill, up the chain of command, is usually a lot harder than starting at the top and going down. Save this strategy only when fishing in the normal channels has proven useless (you had better have stories, true stories, to tell about their customer service failures to show you've actually suffered from them first). I used this recently when trying to stop service but repeatedly got stuck on 'ignore' for over an hour a couple of times. I got the name and number of a corporate vice president who personally called me right back with the number and name of someone to see. Again, you've got to have discovered a problem with his people before you get that kind of reaction. So get ready with your list (it must be an honest list): "I called on --, and --, and --, and --, so am I calling the wrong person for this?"

Good luck. Sorry about your loss.

Answer 2

Beneficiency

Answer 3

Call and speak to her representative's manager, or their boss, or their boss! YOU are the customer here, it's their JOB to help you!

Be sure you know what you are asking, though, if the money is in a trust it isn't yours until you reach a specified age or situation, and it may only be available as a check made out to the college of your choice...