Police Forcing Entry - What do I do?

graeme.barnes

Hello,

The police recently forced entry into my nan's house, and arranged for the locks to be replaced. It took 4 hours from the 999 call to finally force entry, and unfortunately my Nan passed away not long afterwards.

As if this wasn't hard enough to cope with, we've had an invoice addressed to my Nan for £204 to cover the lock repair, which I find appalling considering the incompetence we experienced. We have struggled to pay funeral costs as it is, and now have the worry of this extra £204 hanging over us. Does anyone know our rights here, or whether we will have to foot the bill?

Thanks

BigBopper

What's left from her estate? Did she have £204?

Who is the invoice from? One would assume it's not the police as that is an extortionate amount to replace a euro lock and the police shouldn't charge for their time.

It looks like they got a tradesman out to make good the forced entry. Was he incompetent, any reason why he shouldn't be paid?

graeme.barnes

Yes, there should be enough to cover it from her estate, but the invoice is due within 14 days and the will won't have been enforced by then.

The invoice is from a company called Rapid Secure Ltd, so an external contractor by the look of it. It was just the lock that was changed - no other parts of the door were replaced.

What is really frustrating is that knocking the door in was totally unnecessary, and took 4 hours to happen. There were 3 keyholders within 15 minutes of my nan's house, yet we weren't told until she reached the hospital. I have no qualms with the locksmith's work - I just feel that surely the police are responsible for this?

Tigsteroonie

graeme.barnes wrote: »

There were 3 keyholders within 15 minutes of my nan's house, yet we weren't told until she reached the hospital.

How would the police have known who the keyholders were, let alone where they were? Was it documented somewhere they could find (e.g. was it sheltered housing)?

Marktheshark

Who called the police ? the ambulance service, they should have called the fire service, they have a tool that can open the door in seconds.
The police would have to find a method of entry trained officer which can take hours.

The fire service have the remit to force entry in medical emergences.

iammumtoone

I am very sorry for your loss.

I am sure if you ring the company and explain the situation they will wait until the money is available. I am no expert but if the bill is made out to your Nan then I don't think they can chase it from anywhere else apart from her estate.

How were the police supposed to know that there were key holders to the house? 4 hours does seem like a long time but maybe they were assessing the situation with the view to only break in if absolutely necessary. If it will help you come to terms with what happened why don't you ask the police why it took them so long, it might put your mind at rest.

Marktheshark

If "nan" had no estate of value then she died insolvent and nobody else is liable for any debts or invoices.

graeme.barnes

My nan pressed a button on a cord that she kept around her neck, which was linked to the emergency services. When she first got this my mum's mobile number was taken as an emergency contact, but we've been told that due to an admin error my nan's home number was put on the system instead.

Thanks for your advice everyone - I think we'll put it to one side for now and hope it can wait until the estate is sorted out. From the research I've done it looks as though it can only be taken from the estate, so will hopefully be ok.

Thanks again

Marktheshark

Unless they can quote an act of Legalisation that allows the police to charge for repairs or nan signed a contract they dont have to be paid anyway legally.

moneyistooshorttomention

graeme.barnes wrote: »

My nan pressed a button on a cord that she kept around her neck, which was linked to the emergency services. When she first got this my mum's mobile number was taken as an emergency contact, but we've been told that due to an admin error my nan's home number was put on the system instead.

Thanks for your advice everyone - I think we'll put it to one side for now and hope it can wait until the estate is sorted out. From the research I've done it looks as though it can only be taken from the estate, so will hopefully be ok.

Thanks again

Who was it that was due to deal with the response to this emergency button push by your Nan? Was it some private firm or something that was paid by yourselves to provide this service? - as, if so, then surely any bill would be down to them. Reason being that it was their fault (ie that admin error) that they had the wrong phone number down on the system. Presumably if they had had the correct phone number registered - then your mother would have been rung up and there would have been no need for a break-in by the police (ie there wouldn't now be a bill to pay).

Their fault = their bill surely?

The police certainly aren't at fault - as they were just doing their job and dealing with an emergency in the most appropriate manner and mustn't be put off continuing to do so by having bills sent to them that they are not due to receive.

BigBopper

Marktheshark wrote: »

Unless they can quote an act of Legalisation that allows the police to charge for repairs or nan signed a contract they dont have to be paid anyway legally.

If you bothered to read the thread it's not the police charging.