Final Utility Bill after Bereavement

Terrysdelight

Hello

My dad has passed away recently. I have now received the final gas and electricity bill. The bill shows all the credits from dad's standing orders and it also includes £60 exit fees. £30 for each fuel.

I'm kind of thinking this is unfair to charge an exit fee - it's not that my dad is switching to another supplier. The next tenant signed straight up with the same supplier. Apart from the exit fee, my dad was bang upto date (all but £2.95).

I'm thinking of sending a cheque for £2.95 and enclosing a letter about the exit charge. My dad wasn't a home owner or anything and his savings have covered his funeral expenses. I couldn't bring my self to sell any of dads possessions - I know he wouldn't of liked that so, I have donated everything to charity.

I will certainly pay the £60 out of my own pocket if it comes to it but I just think it is a little unfair.

What do others think please?

System

Terrysdelight wrote: »

Hello

My dad has passed away recently. I have now received the final gas and electricity bill. The bill shows all the credits from dad's standing orders and it also includes £60 exit fees. £30 for each fuel.

I'm kind of thinking this is unfair to charge an exit fee - it's not that my dad is switching to another supplier. The next tenant signed straight up with the same supplier. Apart from the exit fee, my dad was bang upto date (all but £2.95).

I'm thinking of sending a cheque for £2.95 and enclosing a letter about the exit charge. My dad wasn't a home owner or anything and his savings have covered his funeral expenses. I couldn't bring my self to sell any of dads possessions - I know he wouldn't of liked that so, I have donated everything to charity.

I will certainly pay the £60 out of my own pocket if it comes to it but I just think it is a little unfair.

What do others think please?

I am sorry for your loss. Dealing with the affairs of a loved one can be difficult given that you have no personal liability whatsoever for your late Father's affairs - all debts fall to his Estate but, I accept, that you want to do the right thing.

I would write to FU explaining the circumstances in the measured way that you have done in your post, pointing out that, as the new tenant is now on a Deemed Contract, FU has suffered no material loss and ask that the exit fees be waived.

Edit

This is also relevant: (FU has no case to apply exit fees - it could argue about the lack of notice but that would be callous

You can end this contract for gas or electricity (or both) as follows.

5.1 If you are moving house you must tell us at least 2 working days before the day you move. If you do this your contract will end on the date that you move out. If you do not do this, this contract will continue until 2 working days after you advise us you are no longer responsible for the energy account at the property or when we are notified of another owner or occupier taking over the property or becoming responsible for the energy account. If you have a green deal you will be responsible for all green deal charges due until the day you move out.

LutonGirl

Hi there. I'm sure someone will come along with the right info shortly, but I just wanted to say I'm so sorry to hear your news about Dad and that I think it is unfair too. Which energy supplier is it? When my Dad died I had some tussles with E.On whilst we dealt with the estate, but they didn't charge an exit fee. As you say, he's not switched supplier.

Let us know how you get on.

Terrysdelight

LutonGirl wrote: »

Hi there. I'm sure someone will come along with the right info shortly, but I just wanted to say I'm so sorry to hear your news about Dad and that I think it is unfair too. Which energy supplier is it? When my Dad died I had some tussles with E.On whilst we dealt with the estate, but they didn't charge an exit fee. As you say, he's not switched supplier.

Let us know how you get on.

Its CO-OP energy.

Not only have they charged this fee, they set me up as new account for a 3 week period (whilst I was clearing the property and arranging funeral) and its on their standard tarrif which is ridiculously expensive. All I wanted was for the bill to come to me.

I will get it all sorted. I shall leave it a couple of weeks (I really need a rest!), then I will write to them with my own calculations, an explaination of my reasons and a cheque. Hopefully, that will be the end of it.

System

Sorry - I misread your title as FU. I think the confusion here is that the Coop has transferred the supply to you on a Deemed Contract. The irony here is that Deemed Contracts are based on the supplier's standard variable rate and exit fees do not apply.

Terrysdelight

Hengus wrote: »

Sorry - I misread your title as FU. I think the confusion here is that the Coop has transferred the supply to you on a Deemed Contract. The irony here is that Deemed Contracts are based on the supplier's standard variable rate and exit fees do not apply.

Yes, they ended my dad's account and added the fee and then set me up as a new user.

I'm going to calculate the usage since my dads passing, on his original tarrif and send a cheque based on those figures. I don't think it's right to charge me at a higher rate or apply the exit fees to my dad's account.