Energy companies and bereavement

mac.d

I don't know if anyone else has had experience with this, but I recently got a shock when dealing with an energy company and a family bereavement.

What do people think of how energy companies should deal with households that have a bereavement? If a family live together but the person named on the energy account passess away, would you except that the family should be able to change the person named on the account to another adult within the household (whoever that may be, husband/wife, brother/sister, father/son) and continue on the same tariff, or is it right that the energy company ends the orginal contract and puts you on a deemed tariff as they would do with a new tenant in a house?

AndyPK

It sounds reasonable that the original tariff should continue.

JJ_Egan

Contract is void on death .
I had no problem with the supplier they just passed me to the bereavement team .
Took over existing contract no problem .
As opposed to taking out a new contract in my name with another supplier .

wavelets

mac.d wrote: »

I don't know if anyone else has had experience with this, but I recently got a shock when dealing with an energy company and a family bereavement.

What do people think of how energy companies should deal with households that have a bereavement? If a family live together but the person named on the energy account passess away, would you except that the family should be able to change the person named on the account to another adult within the household (whoever that may be, husband/wife, brother/sister, father/son) and continue on the same tariff, or is it right that the energy company ends the orginal contract and puts you on a deemed tariff as they would do with a new tenant in a house?

JJ Egan is correct (almost). The existing contract ends (rather than becomes void) upon death of the account holder.
Any money owed either way needs to be settled to/from the estate of the deceased.

Contacting the supplier is important. Some may allow continuation of the previous tariff in these exceptional situations, or if not, then any tariff from their currently generally available ones would be permitted. There is no need to be on a suppliers expensive standard variable tariff.

miniemma

This is interesting. I switch regularly and can only think of 2 companies that have allowed joint names on the account. Does the info above still stand if it is the spouse that wants to take over?

House_Martin

The contract ends on death. New account holder should register and a new tariff agreed. In my case when I was executor then a SVT was fine because the house would be up for sale with the words "executor to " ( the deceased ) on the account.
British Gas dealt with the account with help from their very efficient dedicated bereavement line.
If the account holder died with nothing in the estate ( funeral costs come first by the way ) then the utility debts are cancelled. The account holders spouse or children do not have to settle any utility debts

[Deleted User]

We just switched supplier and used a new name in the process. Water we just phoned up and they changed name on the account without requiring proof of death.

This was 10+ years ago.

Cardew

Why bother informing the energy company; just change the DD details.

Torry_Quine

My husband died recently and the account was in his name and DD from his bank account. I called Scottish Power and they changed it my name, they could have changed the DD but that would have meant a new account with them. So i just logged in and changed the DD to my bank.

mac.d

Thanks everyone.

I unfortunately was told by SSE that the existing contract was cancelled and I'd be placed onto a deemed tarrif via the home move team. I had wrongly expected that in the cicrumstances they would just change the name and payment details (Cardew you are correct, just changing the DD would have been the best thing to do, and that's exactly what I have done with one other bill - just in case).

When I told them I was unhappy with this, and if they put me onto a deemed tariff I would simply move to another supplier straight away, the man I spoke with was very apologetic, twice went to check the options with a manager, but eventually told me there was nothing else he could do.

So I have been placed onto a standard tariff, and when they asked me if I wanted to set up a DD to pay it, I understandably told them no. I have went ahead with a switch elsewhere, and I've sent them a complaint, but I am still shocked at how insensitive this process has been. Every other company I've dealt with have been very understanding & helpful.

Owain_Moneysaver

Cardew wrote: »

Why bother informing the energy company; just change the DD details.

Because you must obtain a closing statement from the energy company at the date of death showing money owed or accrued on the account. You must also end the deceased's contract with the supplier and enter into a new contract as the executor on behalf of the estate.

If there is money owed on the account then that is a debt due by the estate (but the executor and beneficiaries are not personally liable for it). If there is money accrued on the account that is an asset to the estate and the executor is required to collect that asset into the estate and distribute it to the beneficiaries in accordance with the Will.