Ovo Energy Bereavement New Contract?

BarkingMad

My father in law passed away. He was on a 2yr fixed deal with Ovo. On calling Ovo we're told that it is not possible to change the contract to his wife and that a new contract is required.



Is this correct? I've looked through the T&C but cannot find anything on the subject of bereavement / transfer of the contract. Ovo's own forum isn't very enlightening either.


https://www.ovoenergy.com/terms


BT just changed the Account Holders Name.


Thanks


Paul

Dobbibill

Sorry for your loss BarkingMad.

The only thing on their website here says 'we'll work with you to EITHER transfer ownership or settle and close the account'.

https://www.ovoenergy.com/help/bereavement

There is an email address, they may be a little more helpful. It's worth a try.

victor2

When my father passed away, his contract (with Eon, not Ovo) shifted over to their standard tariff until I was able to set up a new contract in his widow's name a few months later.

There was some confusion and misinformation involved, and they did eventually credit her account with a little more than the extra cost incurred by the change.
My sympathies, you will doubtless have more pressing matters to deal with, but it does seem to be common practice that when the account holder passes away, the contract ends.

BarkingMad

Thanks Dobbibill and Victor2

I would like to know how they decide to close or transfer depending upon the circumstances. The cynical part of me may say it was a good fixed tariff which had run for approx 14 months with approx 10 months to go. Closing the account and creating a new one doesn’t really benefit us, but it will be advantageous to them given the price increases. I suppose due to the circumstances we could be classed as vulnerable at this time.

Thanks

Paul

[Deleted User]

I have had to deal with two bereavements and closed accounts with Eon and EDF in the last few years.
Both accounts are completely closed with the existing account holder.One had a large debt which was scrapped because of low funds in the estate. The new account, if it is needed, is then opened with a new account holder who can choose a standard/variable a fixed deal or initiate a change of supplier immediately. As far as I am aware that is how all bereavements are dealt with

mac.d

In the case of a surviving husband or wife, some people have managed to just get it changed to the other persons name. This should be possible, but isn't always the case. More often than not, and with any other family relationship other than husband/wife, as Houbara states, the existing contract is ended and you can start a new deal with the current supplier or leave.

Apparently they can change insurance contracts or service contracts to another name after a bereavement, but energy suppliers cite contract law as a reason not to - so like you I suspect there is an element of ending a cheaper contract earlier benefits them behind it. I had a pretty horrible experience with SSE last year, not helped because they didn't pass me straight to their bereavement team, so I chose to leave for another supplier immediately.

BarkingMad

Thanks for all the replies. I think I'll be adding the wife onto some of our contracts to make things easier moving forward.

Cardew

The pragmatic way is not to inform the energy company of the death, keep the account in the husband's name, and just carry on paying the bills. If bills are paid by direct debit, change the DD to wife's or children's name.

Thomas_Edison

I wonder what would happen if you tried emailing them to add the wife to the account. Would have to answer some security questions but if you managed that shouldn't be a problem continuing on the current contract.

Cardew

Thomas_Edison wrote: »

I wonder what would happen if you tried emailing them to add the wife to the account. Would have to answer some security questions but if you managed that shouldn't be a problem continuing on the current contract.

I believe most of the gas/electricity companies do not now allow new accounts to be in joint names or a second name added to an account. existing accounts in joint names are not affected.


My adult daughter, currently living at home, wanted to have direct debits at my address to keep her bank current account. She now pays a DD for two of my utility accounts; the accounts stay in my name.


If OP's mother in law had the DD transferred to her name, and kept the account in her late husband's name, there is no problem.


In fact when my widowed mother died, I paid all her utility bills(which remained in her name) until probate was granted and her house sold.

mac.d

Cardew wrote: »

The pragmatic way is not to inform the energy company of the death, keep the account in the husband's name, and just carry on paying the bills. If bills are paid by direct debit, change the DD to wife's or children's name.

This is what I've done with telephone/internet. After my experience with SSE I wasn't going to risk the chance of going through the same thing again.