MUM ripped off - Hitachi loan to finance British Gas boiler HELP

Shazbea

I will speak to hitachi I think to see what our options are

BrassicWoman

I don't think the beneficiaries have the right to decide what happens to the house if there is insufficient cash in the estate to repay the debts.

CKhalvashi

BrassicWoman wrote: »

I don't think the beneficiaries have the right to decide what happens to the house if there is insufficient cash in the estate to repay the debts.

The only way they can decide would be to raise the money (possibly using the house as security) to pay any debts that the estate owes.

The power is fully in their hands, but just not in the way that OP feels is ideal IYSWIM.

poppasmurf_bewdley

That price to install a new boiler isn't high by British Gas standards.

My own late mother paid £3k to BG about eight years ago for a new boiler, despite me telling her she could get the job done by a smaller company for half that price.

She chose BG because she had always used them since they were the Gas Board and trusted the name. This is very common amongst older people.

I think the interest being charges is rather on the high side, but she could have chosen to go elsewhere for finance. She wasn't forced to take it from Hitachi.

Ben8282

Shazbea wrote: »

All beneficiaries agree to let the grandson stay in house

Then the beneficiaries and/or grandson will have to pay for the boiler.
Even if British Gas agree to take the boiler back you will presumably then need a new one unless grandson accepts to live without hot water.
You are not going to get a free boiler.

TadleyBaggie

poppasmurf_bewdley wrote: »

That price to install a new boiler isn't high by British Gas standards.

Indeed, I've just been quoted over £4800, albeit with £500 discount for scrappage and loyalty. Identical house just had local installer do the same for £2600, and that included relocating the boiler into the garage.

shortcrust

My local VW dealership would charge twice what my local garage would for a service. It doesn't mean they're ripping people off. In the same way, British Gas are bound to cost more, but people pay the extra for peace of mind. They trust that the quality off the product and work will be good, they know it'll be easy to get things sorted if there are problems and they trust that guarantees will be honoured without quibble.

No one has been ripped off. I hope it's some consolation to know that given what you say about it adding to your grief.

jonesMUFCforever

Shazbea wrote: »

My mum has just passed away, we are currently doing probate as my mum never left a will.
We have found a loan agreement that she made with hitachi finance to fund her boiler installed by British Gas.
The boiler cost, labour, materials came to a total of £3367.70. We know this to be inflated as we got an estimate for the same work at £1800 to see how much she had been ripped off.
Added to this, hitachi finance added a whopping £1795.30 to the above balance totalling £5163.
She has been paying £86.05 a month and is 2 years into paying up to when she passed.
Obviously we have found this out now only adding to our grief that they could rip an old lady off with a brand you trust being British Gas.
Do we have any rights to get this written off, or can they just take the boiler back.
I don't want these rip off merchants to have any more of my mums money.
Any advice greatly appreciated.

If there is no will you cannot apply for Probate but you need a grant of representation.
Other have commented on the price re BG - won't add anything her for that .
The next of kin needs to contacy Hitachi finance to get a figure of what is outstanding.
Next you need to add all bank/building societies account balances and deduct the funeral cost. Whatever is left should be shared pro rata between all other debts.
If this covers Hitachi all well and good if not you need to tell them and see what they say.
They could decide to wriye it off or they could decide to put a charge on the house meaning if it is sold they will get their money then.

Robin9

Shazbea wrote: »

Hi yes she did have her own house but grandson is staying there abd we wanted to keep it that way as that was one of her wishes

Please do take legal advice - the estate will need to be divided up according to the laws of intestacy and the beneficiaries will need to draw up a rental agreement for the grandson

Robin9

and don't forget single person occupancy rate relief