County Associates (UK) LLP - Ramsgate

Simon O.

County Associates managed my 95-year-old grandfather's investments.

He died two days ago.

My mother had a Financial Lasting Power of Attorney and attempted to access his accounts.

First they claimed she couldn't use the LPA.

Then they claimed they were incapable of receiving an LPA via the official government portal and asked for scanned copies (which they then claimed were inadequate, but only after telling us they were unable to open a zip file).

They eventually ran out of excuses and acknowledged she had a legitimate financial LPA and was entitled to manage the accounts.

You'd think that would be the end of it, but no...

Firstly Peter Harris decided to make up imaginary requirements to prevent her accessing the accounts [he claimed the account must be in the name of my grandfather], then called her and accused her of being a thief before threatening her (and me).

She was doing nothing wrong, so she called his bluff.

The result? He didn't bother to call back as promised but instead sent a termination email telling her that CA wouldn't help and that she should contact each investment company directly.

Whilst trying to organise nurses, carers, medications and spend time with her dying father, she had to waste time sitting on the phone with multiple companies (all of whom respected the LPA, unlike these clowns).

One of those companies needed an account number that was conspicuously absent in the paperwork from County Associates. They tell us they attempted to contact CA to get the number, but that CA refused to tell them and were actively trying to prevent access to the account.

County Associates claim that call never happened, but given a company bending over backwards to try and help us on the one hand and County Associates with the above history on the other.. I'm inclined to believe the investment company.

The day he died, after threatening to report them to the FCA she received a sickly sweet email from Peter asking for a phone call. Pity he never bothered with the call previously promised.

I can't tell you how disgusted I am by Peter's behaviour. I'll never forgive him for the time he stole from my family and additional stress he piled on my mother at possibly the worst time in her life.

Calling him "Grossly unprofessional" would be far too charitable.

Avoid like the plague. I now need to waste even more time around trying to deal with funeral arrangements to determine if there's something he was trying to cover up.

Elissa A. R.

Quick, very friendly and super professional. Definitely recommend

Pat H.

Ever helpful, ever good advice. Nick Lamba rocks!

Mark S.