Proper way to approach utilities on death

billium

My dad just died and as executor I have notified the banks who have frozen his accounts so the utilities for his house will not be paid ( by him)
How should I approach the utilities - gas, water, internet etc to try and delay payment while money is tight?

I could just offer to take over paying the accounts still in his name but then I have to pay immediately.
Another way would be to cancel account and open up a new one as me - or 'executor of' Dad but same problem there.
Can I ask them to keep billing Dad or 'estate of' Dad and promise to pay on grant of probate in a few months?

Just don't know what is customary or reasonable and I have not seen this discussed in any of the bereavement guides I have been looking through so tips would be much appreciated.

thanks
Bill

Linton

All the utilities I dealt with had bereavement specialists who were very helpful in sorting out the details. You should talk to them. In our case gas and electricity returned any overpayments to the estate and were happy to wait for final payment until the house was sold. Water just said that they would cease charging from date of death and would not make any further charge despite there being a small usage until the house was sold. So phone the utilities customer service lines and tell them that your father has died. The rest should sort itself out.



Dont pay the utilities from your own money unless perhaps you are living in the house. Its not necessary.

Keep_pedalling

Although you have had the accounts frozen, most banks will pay out quite substantial sums to the executors without waiting for probate e.g. £30,000 with Barclays, if there are sufficient cash assets in the estate then you should be able settle bills promptly, rather than letting them build up.

charliefarns62

Been through all this just recently - everyone I had to notify was so helpful and understanding - Scottish Power accepted any payment due when probate and house sale was sorted, United Utilities froze water account charges and closed account, council tax was exempted, and so on. Only thing to keep maintained is house insurance, making sure they are notified if house is now unoccupied.

billium

Just finished this up and thought a summary would be helpful - particularly since there was a hiccup.
Tonik Elec /Gas - easy, will delay payment until estate is settled.
Southern water - easy, will delay payment until estate is settled.
John Lewis Home insurance - easy, already paid no problems since house will be occupied by me.
Barclaycard - easy, will give us 3 months to pay bill without any fees or interest
Sky - easy, he was out of contract so it was easy to cancel ( called special number with no waiting) and they waived small balance owed
Plusnet broadband/phone - problem! Received letter from them saying that since Dad is dead I must assume the 18 month contract or it will be canceled in 14 days. Called them up and was told there were no other options for estate. Since the house will be sold upon grant of probate, assuming a long contract did not make sense.

With a little digging I found that NowTv offers broadband here without a contract at same price as contracted as long as I pay a 60 installation fee. So I transferred service to NowTv with understanding that Plusnet would not come after estate for rest of contract.
Note that MSE broadband tool does not show the NowTv no contract option but it is there on NowTv website.

Hope this helps
Bill

dresdendave

I think the important thing when dealing with utility companies in this situation is to insist you are put through to the specialist bereavement teams. The regular call operators will not have the training to deal with this situation and will be out of their depth.

brewerdave

OP -Hope you also cancelled TV license?

getmore4less

If there to be an occupier then all service accounts should be closed and the occupier becomes responsible from DOD for those continuing.

Yorkshireman99

brewerdave wrote: »

OP -Hope you also cancelled TV license?

The licence remains valid until the expiry date and no refund will be given.

Rodders53

Yorkshireman99 wrote: »

The licence remains valid until the expiry date and no refund will be given.

Incorrect. The horse's mouth states this:
https://www.tvlicensing.co.uk/check-if-you-need-one/topics/what-to-do-if-the-licence-holder-dies-top4

Basically "it depends".

Yorkshireman99

Rodders53 wrote: »

Incorrect. The horse's mouth states this:
https://www.tvlicensing.co.uk/check-if-you-need-one/topics/what-to-do-if-the-licence-holder-dies-top4

Basically "it depends".

When my mother, who lived with me, died I took the licence to the post office to get a new one they told me I was covered until the renewal date.she had an over 75 licencebut I did not.