It is very normal and important to be cautious if you are contacted by someone claiming to be an Heir Hunter, there are a few things to look out for when checking if they are a reputable company and remember NEVER FEEL OBLIGED TO SIGN ANYTHING UNDER PRESSURE.
A legitimate firm will never request that you pay any money upfront nor will you be asked for your bank or card details.
You should never be charged for expenses on top of the agreed fee from the estate, all costs are included within the firm's share.
The only documents you will be requested to provide are for I.D. purposes.
The average fee by a probate firm is between 5% and 25% of the estate value. Always be cautious if they're attempting to obtain a percentage higher than this.
Look in to the company who have contacted you. Search through their website and make sure there is plenty of detail about who they are, are they registered with the ICO? Do they have insurance? Never feel like you cannot request this information, a legitimate company will be more than happy to provide this.
Never feel that you have to sign any documentation upfront, take your time to think about it before making a decision. You should also have a cooling off period, usually 14 days, after signing should you change your mind.