Bank fees for wills 'too high'

Some banks and solicitors abuse the powers they are given as executors of wills and can charge 'outrageous fees for incompetent services', according to the February issue of Which?.

Such bodies should only be made executors as a last resort, the Consumers' Association magazine says.

It adds that the fees structure of all the main clearing banks means they can charge huge fees for a simple will. These range from pounds 4,629 for the Midland to pounds 5,776 for Lloyds, pounds 6,072 for Barclays and pounds 6,497 for National Westminster.