Is mum responsible for payment of bill

DUTR

jalexa wrote: »

Equally insensitive.

What the OP said was "my father died a few weeks ago". Do you get that? Then..."is my Mum responsible for the outstanding bill?" That's the deceased's grieving spouse BTW.

The question wasn't "usage" but "the outstanding bill". Your language "rack-up" and "blame" is a disgraceful distortion.

The bit that was not answered is , who has been using the energy in the following weeks?
When my brother passed away, the energy bills were added to the estate, it is a shame about the loss of the Father, however it does seem the post is more about a poxy energy bill avoidance than assisting with grieving.
I'm insesnsitive the bill avoiders, I'mm sure the whole amount was not used solely by the father, so the Op and her Mum are partly responsible and hence partly liable, but hey ho, once the bill is in one of their names then we will know if the oxygen machine was really so power hungry :eek:

jalexa

DUTR wrote: »

The bit that was not answered is , who has been using the energy in the following weeks?

You are arguing "usage" and I see and understand your point. But the OP asked about the "outstanding bill", not "usage".

I continue this (sensitive) issue only because the OP raised it. Technically the deceased's executor needs to get a revised account up to the date of death in the name of the executor (who has no personal liability to pay). Utilities know how to do that, they may or may not require proof.

I have not taken a position on who is responsible for settling the revised account if the estate has insufficient funds. Others have posted possibly relevant information.

After the date of death there is no ambiguity.

DUTR

jalexa wrote: »

You are arguing "usage" and I see and understand your point. But the OP asked about the "outstanding bill", not "usage".

I mention this only because the OP raised a (sensitive) issue. Techncally the deceased's personal representative needs to get a revised account up to the date of death in the name of the estate. Utilities know how to do that, they may or may not seek proof.

I have not taken a position on who is responsible for settling the revised account in the absence of the estate having sufficient funds.

After the date of death there is no ambiguity.

I see what you are saying now , let's say when Dad was alive the houshold was using £10 per week energy (plucked out of the air) and now the oxygen machine is no longer in use and the bill is now £7 per week, it is still fair to assume the OP and her Mum would be responsible for between 50%-67% of the outstanding bill even though their names are not on the bill, I do hope they get it resolved, but I do feel they are going to dig a larger hole for themselves in the long run if they are hoping that absolutely none or certainley a very small amount should be made.

undaunted

There is a joint spousal liability for certain things - eg Council tax but despite what some other posters have suggested I am unaware of any such liability for an electricity bill named in your fathers sole name.

That said you must also bear in mind that if your father owned half of the house for example then he had an asset which a supplier could theoretically claim against to recoup your fathers debt. I would therefore suggest that you seek professional advice from your solicitor / suitable estate administrator if different (eg accountant) should the supplier become difficult.

In practice it would be a hard hearted supplier who did so & I would have thought it worth approaching the supplier in writing with the circumstances. Perhaps, if necessary, also making an application to their energy Trust to clear the debt bearing in mind the reasons for your fathers higher usage & your Mums likely lower usage in future. See http://www.charisgrants.com/ for info.

Irrespective of what may happen with that your Mum is obviously liable for consumption from your fathers death onwards.

Finally may I offer my condolences to you, your Mum and any other family.

[Deleted User]

Totally ridiculous to suggest going to solicitors, this is a very common occurance with the account holder passing away and leaving household bills to the wife,they live in a small council flat,what if they had lived in an eight bedroom mansion with a bill of ,lets say,£2000.you are not seriously suggesting all these bills could be scrubbed because the wifes name does nt appear on the bill,its bonkers! what if the main account name is Mohammed,or Singh etc.you posters should nt be getting the wifes hopes up for a bill scrubbing because its not going to happen.As I have said, the late gentleman would ve been getting Disability living allowance at the higher or attendance allowance.like my Mum is, which covers all extra gas and electric. There has been another crop of hubbys dieing today,and yesterday etc etc all in the same postion with the man of the house having his name on the bill.the OP main thrust in block capitals was his dads name was on the bill,so is is mum liable for the bill.My answer is YES

undaunted

As I think Macman has already asked above instead of merely giving your opinion can you give us any legal basis / precedent that states the mother to be liable for her husbands electricity debt?

As to going to solicitor being ridiculous if he's died intestate I would imagine there is already some professional involved in considering his estate

[Deleted User]

Judging by what the estate consists of, not a lot, according to the son, even less reason for going to a grasping solicitor,read a few other posts and you will note that the wife also has been using gas and electric in the home.As for it being my opinion,not quite true as I have been trained to mention, if I am attempting to enter a property for a meter inspection, that the supplier supplys the property and the name on the bill is irrelevent. if the customer says I have a different name on my handheld computor.

jalexa

sacsquacco wrote: »

Totally ridiculous bonkers!

You've moved on somewhat from your more measured "shop floor" advice and failed to wait for the industry insider comment you invited. Stick to meter reading because your meter reading posts are valuable and informative.

Although the OP's original question was about "liability", information was also posted about the household's financial position. To all the hard nosed insensitive merchants, consider this. The deceased's pension and allowance income ceases at death. Just maybe the OP was concerned at how the widow, in the absence of the deceased's pension and allowance income, would be able to pay quite a significant bill.

Anyway I posted what was a not uninformed opinion about estates and the role of the executor. I stand to be corrected if what I said was legally incorrect.

Hard-nosed insensitive merchants?

Anybody?

[Deleted User]

Thanks jalexa,maybe i was going a bit over the top there.I personally am not at all hard nosed and insensitive, I had two recently bereaved widows who were only a few doors apart in tears to me with all their worries of the future,who d been married over 40 years,I did my best to console them and it certainly had an upsetting effect on me also. I am more concerned with the legality of the name on the bill aspect to this thread,regardless of if its from a bereavement. I dont think I am going to get an industry insiders advice on this thread now as its fizzling out a bit

Mrs_Arcanum

BOBBYDOG wrote: »

My father died a few weeks ago. He had an account for both Gas and Electricity supplied by EDF-IN HIS NAME ONLY.The bill is £576. approx (He was on oxygen therapy so huge electric bills)

He died intestate, leaving no bank accounts, savings or monies of any kind. He had no debts.
He lived with my Mum in a Local Authority rented flat.
Is my Mum responsible for the outstanding bill? Any thoughts?

Whilst I would not advise on the energy bills apart from ensuring she now has a new own account in her own name, I would strongly suggest she applies for single person discount for the Council tax.