Sky deceased customer

PennyForThem_2

I had this scenario 15 months ago. I found Sky helpful but you need to be aware that emails may still come through addressed to the deceased and if you are sensitive about this it will need pointing out to Sky and sorting.

Savvy_Sue

Valli wrote: »

The REASON I suggest you make sure all bills are in your mum's name is so that there is no confusion when they are paid; I once almost came to grief when I paid a water bill by cheque and because the name on the cheque wasn't the same as the name on the account they banked the cheque and held the money in a suspense account and sent me a red bill even though it was all explained in a letter!

As well as this (which makes perfect sense), the contract is in fact cancelled by his death anyway. Of course if the company doesn't know of the death, they won't actually cancel it, which doesn't matter so much with a utility type bill, but does matter with other things.

For example, my dad had Card Protection Insurance for which he paid over £90 per year by DD. It was over a year after he'd died before Mum got round to looking at this, and decided she didn't want to keep the cover, but the DD had just been taken again.

So I got in touch with them, and discovered that IF she'd had to make a claim it would have been refused, as it was in Dad's name not hers.

They did refund two years worth of payments ...

eddy237

My father in-law died recently and to take the strain of my mother in law I called Sky. After a considerable time of waiting was put through to the `correct` department a number of times. I clearly asked for the old account (deceased) to be closed and sorted out a new package in a new account in mother in laws name. BUT a few days ago she saw her bank account had money taken by Sky also a new bill arrived with a much larger amount on it than agreed. We managed to work out that Sky had taken cash from mother in laws account for the closed Sky account, the large amount also the payments for the closed account and new account were included in the new bill. Calling Sky to sort this out and have been told they need to check the phone calls and listen to what was said. Clearly this should not have happened, I also mentioned I was instructed that the old sky+ box card should be placed into the SkyHD box. I queried this at the time but was told it was right. I cannot believe Sky would question the fact that they have made a mistake yet are trying to deflect blame. Why would they want payment for a service that could was cancelled and could not be used anyway as the card was in the new box as instructed. We have been told that they will be back in touch within 48 hrs. Mother in law quite distressed with this situation, what on top of the same thing happening with United Utilities however it was sorted straight away with apology and them stating they had made a mistake. Sorted simply.

g6jns_2

spacey2012 wrote: »

It was cancelled at his death, along with any other contracts.
All you need to do is inform them of the death.

That is simply not true. Some contracts such as insurance often cease on death but others do not. It is important to double check each one individually.

g6jns_2

Savvy_Sue wrote: »

As well as this (which makes perfect sense), the contract is in fact cancelled by his death anyway. Of course if the company doesn't know of the death, they won't actually cancel it, which doesn't matter so much with a utility type bill, but does matter with other things.

For example, my dad had Card Protection Insurance for which he paid over £90 per year by DD. It was over a year after he'd died before Mum got round to looking at this, and decided she didn't want to keep the cover, but the DD had just been taken again.

So I got in touch with them, and discovered that IF she'd had to make a claim it would have been refused, as it was in Dad's name not hers.

They did refund two years worth of payments ...

It is untrue to say that contracts are automatically cancelled upon death. Some are but most are not. Some companies do not enforce such a debt though others do. It is always worth the executors trying to negotiate.

kpwll

Sorry for your loss.

In September I contacted Sky because my Step-mother sadly died. I was put through to the correct department as soon as I explained and they were wonderful. They cancelled the contract from that day (I was expecting to give 30 days notice) and refunded a partial payment for the remainder of the month. They made things really easy and were really good to deal with.

We were not renewing the contract, so don't know about that side.