Help urgently needed

Keep_pedalling

If there is not enough in the estate to pay funeral costs and you mum is on a low income it may be possible for her to obtain a funeral payment to cover at least some of the shortfall.

https://www.gov.uk/funeral-payments/overview

leespot

It isn't up to you or your mum when the bill would be paid - it doesn't work like that. We paid for the father in laws wake once everyone had left - we had no issue at all with it. We requested a service - food, drinks etc, and we received it - I can't think of a reason why we wouldn't.

It is almost certainly legal for them to take the money from your grans internal account - they provided a service for her, and you said yourself that it was at her request. If she discussed this requirement with the home then she was their client, not your mum.

kingfisherblue

sazzyc10 wrote: »

Hi


I unfortunately lost my grandma 2 weeks ago and my mum has been dealing with her affairs. As per my grans request we are having the wake at the nursing home she had been resident in. At the home they have an internal banking system where each resident has a 'pot' of money they can use at anytime. Well today my mum has had an invoice for the costs of the wake but it appears that they have taken full payment from what was my grans 'pot'. Are they allowed to do this???


My mums panicking as that money was to help with the funeral costs. I'd really appreciate any advice.

I'm sorry for your loss, but perhaps you could try to see things from the view of the home. They have provided a service, and presumably had to purchase food and drinks for the wake. It is only fair that they have the payment for this as soon as possible - and maybe that is the way that your gran wanted it. Many older people do not want to be 'beholden' to anyone, and owing a debt to the home could be seen as being beholden by an older person.

I am sure that when you are a little calmer, you will understand. If you booked a party, you would expect to pay the caterer and the room hire either beforehand or immediately afterwards, and this is no different. The home have not done this to upset you. In fact, they could have refused to allow the wake to be held there, but they have honoured your Gran's wishes. They have taken payment for this, and it is possible that this way of paying was agreed with your Gran before her passing.

I would be more worried if they had not given you an invoice, as you would not have proof of where the money had gone. The invoice should either state 'Paid in Full', or show the amount paid and an outstanding balance. You have not indicated that there is more to pay, so presumably it is paid in full.

Please don't let this incident leave you with a bitter memory of your Gran's wake. Just be happy that her final wishes were carried out and that the bill has been paid in a timely manner.