Scottish Power charging me for a house I don't live in

FDizbo0312

Hi people,

forgive me if there's a newbie thread over this, but I feel its a bit of an unusual situation.

My dad owned a house and passed away about 5 years ago. I moved out of this house about 2 and a bit years ago, told scottish power I'm not living there and paid my final bill. I'd assume like anyone else that was the end of the matter.

Anyhow, now the affairs with the house are finally settled, I've found out they've been charging still and sending bills in my name and my deceased father's name to the property despite me advising them its empty, asking for £297, which has now been passed to a debt collector.

I've not responded to this letter. How should I proceed?

Thanks in advance.

jk0

Oh, well your dad's estate should pay the bill. Did he leave you the house? Then it's you who should pay from now on.

littleredhen

have you got anything in writing to Scottish Power, who has been living in the house?as op states its your dad's estate that would need to settle the final bill

Alter_ego

Has the power been used? By Who?

FDizbo0312

Hiya guys thanks for the answers.

Nope, it was a probate property and there was no will and I was never the owner at any point. The property was completely empty for 2 years (I notified them of this over the phone when I moved out) and I believe the final bill for my own usage was paid off in June 2016 (dad died back in March 2013, so his own bills have long been done and dusted).

SoletraderSteve

Who was/is responsible for the property after you moved out?

FDizbo0312

Technically no one, I wasn't granted probate until 2017

littleredhen

when my dad died we had to send copies of death certificate to utility companies but I think we still had to pay when estate was tied up and house sold because we couldn't have no electricity in house whilst up for sale

DUTR

FDizbo0312 wrote: »

Technically no one, I wasn't granted probate until 2017

Although no one was living there, there is still service to the property and often there is a standing charge, is this what the bill is made up of?

littleredhen

unless you had electricity cut off then there still would be bills to pay even if you had left the property

FDizbo0312

They were satisfied when my dad had died as I took over the bill and had it put in my name (this is for gas sorry, the electricity was a meter), when I informed them I was moving out and wasn't the owner back in 2016 and that no one would be living there, I cleared my final bill and assumed that would be the end. How would it fall into my responsibility for an empty property with no usage that I don't own?