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marliepanda

sazzyc10 wrote: »

Also why bother to invoice my mum if they were just going to take it out of her account? We have no problem with paying the amount and I really don't like the tone. All i'm asking is is this legal?

So she had proof as executor of the will of where the money had gone?

Almost certainly yes.

Does your mum have the money to pay? Would the wake not have gone ahead without the home knowing they had enough funds to cover the cost?

marliepanda

sazzyc10 wrote: »

I don't think any of you understand that they have taken money without permission. All funeral expenses will be paid and we didn't expect the wake to be free. We are quite happy to pay for it but when and how is up to my mum not the home

WHEN the wake is paid for is absolutely not up to your Mum. Thats up to the people providing the wake.

If she wants control of 'how' it is paid, then ask your mother to take a chunk of cash or a cheque or credit card to the home.

Say 'here is the balance of what I owe you, now please return my mothers cash.'

And there will be zero difference, but you'll be happy.

Robin9

What a lovely wish of your Gran to have the wake at the home where she lived so that her friends could attend.

Your gran would be happy with the send off.



The invoice would have been raised to keep the home's accounts in balance.

DCFC79

sazzyc10 wrote: »

I don't think any of you understand that they have taken money without permission. All funeral expenses will be paid and we didn't expect the wake to be free. We are quite happy to pay for it but when and how is up to my mum not the home

Yes I understand about the money being taken without permission but that money whether you mum had it or not would have been used to pay for the wake.

Tigsteroonie

It's possible that the home thought (a) there's enough money in the 'pot' and at least this way we know the bill will be paid [perhaps they've had trouble with this in the past]; or (b) the family will have enough paperwork to handle, let's make this easy for them [and maybe other families have asked for this method].

When organising the wake, did your Mum discuss payment methods?

Either way, it's all going to work out the same - the bill would be paid from the estate. It's just been paid a little early.

Keep_pedalling

The money your gran had paid into the pot was to be used for services provided by the home and and was held in an account owned and controlled by the home, equivalent to a client account I suppose. Your gran was the one who requested the wake, so this is the last service they provided for her and I can't see that they have done anything wrong in taking the money.

If she had enough in the pot to pay for it it is even possible she paid in enough in advance so this expense was covered.

lewishardwick

Nursing Homes are businesses, never, ever forget that.

You'll probably find somewhere in the small print that any costs incurred by the home for your grandma will covered by any funds in this 'pot'.

I have similar clauses in my bank accounts. If I have any unpaid overdrafts, the bank are entitled to use any savings I may have with them to repay it.

If they have access to funds to cover a debt. They can use it. I don't see that as unreasonable.

Malthusian

sazzyc10 wrote: »

I don't think any of you understand that they have taken money without permission.

You gave permission when you contracted them to provide the wake.

You are correct that the money has to be divided a certain way, and this is it. It's the same as when a deceased person has £1,000 in a bank savings account and owes £800 to the bank on their credit card. The bank is entitled to deduct the debt and pay out the net amount of £200, even if there are bigger debts or funeral costs.

We are quite happy to pay for it but when and how is up to my mum not the home

For someone who is happy to pay you are kicking up a lot of fuss about it. I don't think this is what your gran wanted when she made her funeral arrangements.

marliepanda

Honestly it's clear that mum can't afford the wake and was hoping it was either free or she could pay it off over an unarranged longer period of time without telling them

pollypenny

You've asked a business to provide a service and been charged for that service.

Perfectly normal.