Dealing with utilities debt after wife's death. HELP!!

Sam_carvel

Also would he still be liable if he was to move out of the property? I Think it would be best if he was closer to family and friends.

Yorkshireman99

Keep_pedalling wrote: »

Whoops! Apologies for that. Following that link the OPs brother will still be responsible for the bill if the property is rented, and he is on the tenancy agreement, or if he owned the property.

How is the liability for the bill tied to the tenancy? If the electricity account was in her name how is he liable for her debt?

Sam_carvel

Yorkshireman99 I thought that he wouldn't be but as he has been using the energy I can see why he would be liable but it isn't his fault that she has been hiding it from him. I'm just stuck at what to do. Dont want to tell him he is liably as he is grieving worrying about other things but think I am going to need to tell him.

Keep_pedalling

Yorkshireman99 wrote: »

How is the liability for the bill tied to the tenancy? If the electricity account was in her name how is he liable for her debt?

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/nireland/consumer/energy/energy-supply/energy-bills/understanding-your-energy-bill/who-is-responsible-for-paying-the-energy-bills/

Keep_pedalling

Sam_carvel wrote: »

Yorkshireman99 I thought that he wouldn't be but as he has been using the energy I can see why he would be liable but it isn't his fault that she has been hiding it from him. I'm just stuck at what to do. Dont want to tell him he is liably as he is grieving worrying about other things but think I am going to need to tell him.

How could it come to that state with him being totally unaware of the situation? This must have been going on for a very long time to rattle that sort of dept up.

Keep_pedalling

Sam_carvel wrote: »

Also would he still be liable if he was to move out of the property? I Think it would be best if he was closer to family and friends.

Yes, as he was a tenant all the while those bills were not being paid. He might find it worthwhile talking to the charity National DebtLine.

https://www.nationaldebtline.org/

Yorkshireman99

Keep_pedalling wrote: »

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/nireland/consumer/energy/energy-supply/energy-bills/understanding-your-energy-bill/who-is-responsible-for-paying-the-energy-bills/

Noted but it where is the legal case for this? The contract for the electricity supply was with the deceased not with anyone else.

Sam_carvel

I'm so confused I've read citizens advice but also other websites like british gas (who it is with) says they close the account and open another?!?!? What to know where we stand before phoning. It's being going on for a few years they live in such an old building and hearing it costs a fortune with storage heaters and electric heaters. He never opened the mail they have separate accounts she paid so much of the bills,was suppose to, and he paid the majority of things . That's why he knew nothing of this and her credit card.

Yorkshireman99

Sam_carvel wrote: »

I'm so confused I've read citizens advice but also other websites like british gas (who it is with) says they close the account and open another?!?!? What to know where we stand before phoning. It's being going on for a few years they live in such an old building and hearing it costs a fortune with storage heaters and electric heaters. He never opened the mail they have separate accounts she paid so much of the bills,was suppose to, and he paid the majority of things . That's why he knew nothing of this and her credit card.

He is not reponsible for her credit card debt in any way. They will write it off if her estate has no assets.

sleepless_saver

Sam_carvel wrote: »

I'm so confused I've read citizens advice but also other websites like british gas (who it is with) says they close the account and open another?!?!? What to know where we stand before phoning. It's being going on for a few years they live in such an old building and hearing it costs a fortune with storage heaters and electric heaters. He never opened the mail they have separate accounts she paid so much of the bills,was suppose to, and he paid the majority of things . That's why he knew nothing of this and her credit card.

As suggested above, he should contact https://www.nationaldebtline.org for advice before speaking to creditors. They can explain where he stands and what the options are.