Paying line rental - deceased

sharloid

My mum passed away in February however on checking her post she has an outstanding BT bill. The bill is for line rental charges after her death. Unfortunately I thought I had called them already to cancel but apparently not.

There's no one living in the house and no calls were made after her death - would you pay the few months line rental?

I just had an arguement with a gentleman in a foreign call centre. He was rude and told me it was all my fault for not informing them sooner and that they will send someone round to the house to chase the payment.

Buzby

You have to - irrespective of the death, the notice period is still active, so give notice now, and ask for a final bill to be generated.

sharloid

Buzby wrote: »

You have to - irrespective of the death, the notice period is still active, so give notice now, and ask for a final bill to be generated.

He didn't even ask for my details or my address - just kept saying they'd send people around to the house and will ask the neighbors where I am.

It was a very frustrating call I must say.

Buzby

I wouldn't bother - just a call centre droid having a bad day. Yes, you need to give notice and request a final bill, BUT you need to provide the Customer Reference number and explain you are acting as temporary executor in closing services prior to the property being disposed of.

spenderdave

When my Mum died a few years ago we rang up when we had finished clearing her bungalow to cancel. In theory we had to give them notice, but the lady waived this because of the circumstances, took my details and address, and the final bill (including all the calls we had made sorting out the funeral etc) arrived a few days later. I did check that the line went dead at the time she said it would be disconnected (something you should have done by now anyway). Remember all these costs should be taken out of the estate, so no extra cost to you personally.

But that was in 2004, before all of BT support was relocated to India.