Energy companies and bereavement

[Deleted User]

Surely if a husband or wife dies then they shouldn't have to close the account or change tariff or any 'deemed' nonsense. The fact that you are both husband and wife should be enough to say that you were both still one entity.

Just like how the tax man would tax you as a couple.

Torry_Quine

Owain_Moneysaver wrote: »

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.

Not what happened to me.

Deleted_User wrote: »

Surely if a husband or wife dies then they shouldn't have to close the account or change tariff or any 'deemed' nonsense. The fact that you are both husband and wife should be enough to say that you were both still one entity.

Just like how the tax man would tax you as a couple.

That's how it worked for me. Same account, just changed details to mine.

macman

Deleted_User wrote: »

Surely if a husband or wife dies then they shouldn't have to close the account or change tariff or any 'deemed' nonsense. The fact that you are both husband and wife should be enough to say that you were both still one entity.

Just like how the tax man would tax you as a couple.

For anyone born after 1935, that ceased to be an option back in the year 2000. when the Married Couples Allowance ceased.

macman

Torry Quine, are you sure about that? Normally a change of names on the account means a new account, for the obvious reason that the incoming account holder is not responsible for any debt on the account of the deceased partner.

Torry_Quine

macman wrote: »

Torry Quine, are you sure about that? Normally a change of names on the account means a new account, for the obvious reason that the incoming account holder is not responsible for any debt on the account of the deceased partner.

Absolutely sure.

Cardew

Owain_Moneysaver wrote: »

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.

100% correct! You can also get a solicitor to carry out the formal procedure of cancelling the contract, arranging a new contract, distributing any credit from the energy company or deducting any outstanding monies from the beneficiaries - and it might only cost a few hundred pounds in solicitor's charges.

In the real world, what is the point of going through that procedure for an energy account? The paper boy might be owed 50p for a paper delivered after the house owner died.

Owain_Moneysaver

Cardew wrote: »

100% correct! You can also get a solicitor to carry out the formal procedure of cancelling the contract, arranging a new contract, distributing any credit from the energy company or deducting any outstanding monies from the beneficiaries - and it might only cost a few hundred pounds in solicitor's charges.

You can, but you really don't need to. It's perfectly straightforward (and in my case to my advantage as rental on the LPG tank stopped during the executry period).

Cardew wrote: »

In the real world, what is the point of going through that procedure for an energy account? The paper boy might be owed 50p for a paper delivered after the house owner died.

If I were executing the estate (as I have done recently) the paper boy would receive his 50p and it would be recorded in the accounts. :rotfl:

Cardew

Owain_Moneysaver wrote: »

If I were executing the estate (as I have done recently) the paper boy would receive his 50p and it would be recorded in the accounts. :rotfl:

Would you pay him interest on his 50p? Would you get a signed receipt?

I have been involved with several estates being 'wound up', some as an executor. Common sense is the guiding principle.

Owain_Moneysaver

Cardew wrote: »

Would you pay him interest on his 50p? Would you get a signed receipt?

No, and not for 50p.