Permata Bank & closing of an account

We've been dealing with a handful banks these days. My dear late father apparently had this hobby of opening an account somewhere, and never using it. So, there are plenty of accounts to be closed after his passing. All except one, accepted a notarial letter stating his passing & who are his beneficiaries. All, except Permata Bank, that is.

Once, my father opened an account at Permata Bank to transfer some money when he bought a car. He never really use that account. Now that he passed away, we want to close it.

The bank asked for a letter from Islamic Court stating that my father is already dead.

OK, I have no law background aside from taking some courses relating to Dutch laws. But I know enough & also was advised by notaries (we have several notaries in the family) that notarial letter is equal to the one of Islamic Court.

Now, in order to get that letter, there will be a court session needed involving a lawyer. From what we heard so far, it'll cost us about 10 million rupiah just for the lawyer's fee. G_D knows what's the end amount that we 'll need to pay to get that letter in order.

If my father's money is in billions, even in hundreds of million for that matter, I guess that amount of money to pay the lawyer and all is well worth spending. But since it's just an account with what is left from that car's transaction, so it's not that much, I guess by the time we get the letter and able to close his account at Permata Bank, there's no money left for us.

This is what I dont get, and hate in Indonesia: it's very pricey even when you are dead.

I understand that the bank wants to keep the money in their bank. Especially with economic downturn as this moment. Business is business for them. If they can make it difficult, why would they make it easier?

So here's my advice to you: Don't open an account with Permata Bank. It's not worth the hassle.