Public Trustee Perth WA

My nan passed away in April last year. Her ashes have still not been placed at her plaque, the estate is still sitting there untouched and multiple family members have struggled to get any information or an update on progress.

This is beyond a joke. You're dealing with our loved ones belongings/money but can't even give us the common decency to give us an update, which is the job you have been paid to do.

This is unacceptable, take some accountability.

The absolute worst bureaucrats I’ve ever had the misfortune to have to deal with. I would give them 0 stars, if possible. It took 18 months for my Dad’s estate to be finalised through them. That is 18 months of ignored emails, asking what we were supposed to do with the property, belongings, bills etc. After our first interaction, it took 2 months to get any contact and we were then told not to touch the house etc. Something they hadn’t answered in our numerous emails. They are not very transparent about the process, how long it will take or anything helpful at all. When I read on here where they wanted people to lodge a complaint, I did that and received back the most condescending email I have ever received. Even to the point that, after commenting that this process had caused even more trauma after my Dad’s death, they included a list of phone numbers for Lifeline and Beyond Blue! Could you imagine any professional work place replying to an email like this? Honestly, since talking to people about the horrendous “service” I have not heard one single good story about the Public Trustee. Stay away from them if you love and care for your family members. If however, you want to continue to inflict pain and trauma on your loved ones after you’re gone, then these are your people.

They got one star as there was no option for ZERO STAR. Absolutely pathetic - these guys seem to have NO system in place at all to inform people of important information when they should. They speak to you in acronyms exception you to know what is going on. It might be normal to them but not me (an many others I would presume) this was my first time dealing with them and I have since done my Will through a lawyer so no one will have to deal with these UNPROFESSIONALS again. I suggest you go through.lawyer to save yourself months and money, and I mean about 6 months! DON'T use them - if you do expect to be writing a similar review like me. SERIOUSLY these people need to be investigated!

As from my last review the "owner" replied to me with an email address. I emailed the address given stating my complaint only to have the email come back to me with a message saying message blocked this domain cannot be found. That is the second time i have been given an address from a public trustee worker with an address that doesn't exist. What the hell is going on here? And who exactly is the "owner"? The owner of what? A Fish n chip shop? Something dodgy going on inside this place something needs to be done so these ppl stop mucking everyone around

Lured by low cost to prepare a Will. However, I find out at the appointment with the lawyer that the public trustee will charge $10,000 to $12,000 to execute a simple Will on my death! A lot more if you have say several bank accounts and several assets. It doesn't matter how much your estate is worth, it would depend on the number of assets. So if say you have 6 bank accounts and residential property and investment property, the public trustee may vary well charge $20,000+ to execute the Will. BEWARE!
Of course, they don't tell you before you meet face to face.

I’m trying to get someone to call me back regarding my father’s estate. We have been going around in circles with Public Trustees for months and still nothing is resolved. I know people who have had wills sorted in half the time and they weren’t supplying the paperwork for the executor, unlike ourselves who supplied everything for them…. Bank statements, insurance paperwork etc. I would never recommend people use this department. Just not enough communication.

They have depressed me since i was first forced onto this company by dcp i only get given 50 dollars a week to survive on and the trustee will never reply to anything or answer calls im very close to suicidal ideations due to this company I SINCERELY PREACH TO STAY AWAY! Just like everyone else

Destroyed my life and continue to do so i reccomend never putting anyone onto this as they will never get off of it

This has been nearly a 2 year carry on with these ppl. Allsorts of questions and me and my ma did all the running round getting bankstatements and other paperwork for them. This has been a hard, emotional and sad time now we get the final statement and they took nearly $12,000 for themselves. I have asked for appointment to see a manager as im not happy with the way she spoke to me the first time we went to see her (patti)
Even the funeral ppl have told us they try stare ppl away from the public trustee as theyve had issues with them in the past. This has been a traumatic experience for our family.

Absolutely pathetic. They wont reply to emails or phone calls just hold your money. Don't use them I think its criminal what they do.

Haven't heard nothing back since Friday 11: 30 am sent another email twice today and still nothing

74 Reviews and only 2 stars.
Something is wrong with the Public Trustee. If this was a commercial business they would be out of business. But because it's Government bureaucrats they don't care about the reviews. Something is terribly wrong here.
Now the ABC are reporting about them.

Just got off the line with a lady whose name escapes me. Even though she could not eventually solve my issue, she was polite, tried to be helpful, explained processes and suggested alternatives. Thanks.

Public trustee is managing my father’s affairs because I give my POA and I thought public trustees will do the right thing by my father. A fund manager called Daniel basically asked me to shut up and I cannot ask any information after I given up my POA. He said I would appreciate the service from the public trustee but I don’t even know what they have done. All I know my father is paying a very high price for this service and the public trustee can do whatever they like and walk away from it. It seems like a license to lie.

A gentleman Stru from Wills helped me with my enquiry. He was very understanding and explained everything to me clearly. I was a bit frustrated and confused but still great service from my experience

Very rude staff they have no Empathy for your loved ones especially Carmen very rude and disrespectful on the phone, not suited for this Job.

Yeah just sums it up really that people don't like the trustee. Have worked for the last 8 months and hard work as well, yet not received a cent of my earnings. Among many other negative things from them, which has resulted in serious mental health issues. Which people will only care about when it concerns my "safety", obviously not their job but a flow on effect from the money. Sometimes I wonder if this is just some type of "evil and pathetic" discrimination or they just do it anyway

Charged 21000 to execute my husband's (small estate) will, 4000 to transfer vehicles in to my name. Only tell you fees when they send the bill. Do not communicate, can't get through on the phone. Uncaring and just in it for themselves. Added to my my family's stress and did nothing - we did all the running around

Unfortunately my experience was not favourable.
We have discovered that The Public Trustee of WA paid themselves from my deceased mothers estate to investigate me for theft of her funds, and instigated a lengthy and costly legal battle which caused significant damage to my personal and professional life, and mental health.
To date they have not refunded those costs to my late-mothers estate, nor proactively sought to compensate me in any way.
Would not recommend. #4corners

I am getting sick and tired of people calling my office asking for the public trustee. I have contacted the public trustee on multiple occasions to report this but never get a response. People are giving their personal information thinking they're speaking to someone from your office. Hoping posting on here might actually lead to something being done.