Widow unhappy with TD Bank's lump sum deposit
A Tantallon, N.S., widow who spent months struggling with TD Bank to honour the terms of her husband's will has her money, but no details about his finances.
Earlier this week Jean Lewis asked CBC News to help get her late husband's savings transferred to her.
Her husband, Larry, died of cancer in January of this year. Shortly after his diagnosis, Larry made out his will stating everything should go to his wife, including his RRSPs and registered retirement income funds.
They were in accounts at TD Bank and TD Waterhouse and transfer of the funds was delayed for reasons the bank could not explain.
CBC approached the bank and the accounts were put in her name. Lewis’s statement shows a lump sum deposit.
“That tells me they've transferred the money from his account into mine, but it doesn't tell me anything else,” she says. “Where did it come from? I have no paperwork. How do I know the amount is right?”
Lewis says when she first went to the bank after Larry's death, she was given numbers for six accounts. But she has only been given information on five and the account numbers don't match.
Lewis has asked for detailed statements for each of her late husband's accounts, but has been told it will cost her $50 an hour. She's been promised a summary sometime next month, but isn't sure what that will show.
“They’ve got all the paperwork,” she says. “And they’re hiding it in secret.”
TD Bank sorry for inconvenience
TD Bank replied to CBC News via email.
"We apologize for any inconvenience Mrs. Lewis has experienced. We regret that this wasn't better managed; however, we are pleased to confirm that the outstanding funds have been transferred," it said.
"We're looking into this further to understand the cause for the delay and ensure that this doesn't happen in the future. We have reached out to Mrs. Lewis to communicate this to her and let her know that we are here to help if she has any further concerns."
Lewis says she is going to a lawyer to get the information she says she should have been given months ago.
