Tell us once timescales

shiraz99

How long does it normally take for the "Tell Us Once" process to full kick in, in particular local council notification? I started the process 3 weeks ago now and I have received some stuff from the DWP but not heard anything from the local council with regards council tax. I've noted that the monthly council tax bill has just gone out from my dad's account. Should I notify them directly or will this mess things up?

msb1234

In my LA there’s an online link for reporting bereavements which I used when my mum died in February. They sent a new statement out fairly quickly.

poppystar

It’s fine to contact them I’m sure. Did the bank not close your father’s account when you informed them of the death? It was that that first alerted the council to my father’s death before any Tell us Once would have kicked in. 

shiraz99

poppystar said:

It’s fine to contact them I’m sure. Did the bank not close your father’s account when you informed them of the death? It was that that first alerted the council to my father’s death before any Tell us Once would have kicked in. 

I'm leaving the bank notification to last.

SiliconChip

I've just checked the timings after my mother died last year, I did the Tell Us Once on 13th October (having registered the death with the council earlier that day), a letter from the council was received on 25th October because the CT direct debit had failed as the bank account had already been closed, and a revised bill showing 100% disregard as the house was empty was received on 3rd November (and an overpayment refund was made on 7th November).

I think closing the account first is a good thing because that prevents any payments being taken that you might then need to try to claw back, any payment that does still need to be made can be done under your control.

Savvy_Sue

shiraz99 said:
I'm leaving the bank notification to last.

Is there a reason for that? As SiliconChip indicates, sooner rather than later is advisable.

If you're worried about paying for the funeral, the FD should be able to submit their invoice to the bank, and the bank should settle direct. Utilities will generally freeze payments if the house is empty, until probate is granted. 

Keep_pedalling

shiraz99 said:

poppystar said:

It’s fine to contact them I’m sure. Did the bank not close your father’s account when you informed them of the death? It was that that first alerted the council to my father’s death before any Tell us Once would have kicked in. 

I'm leaving the bank notification to last.

That should be a top priority unless you want to end up chasing the return of standing orders and DDs that should not have been paid in the first place. 

I notice from another thread that you are currently living at your father’s house it won’t be exempt from council tax.

shiraz99

Keep_pedalling said:

shiraz99 said:

poppystar said:

It’s fine to contact them I’m sure. Did the bank not close your father’s account when you informed them of the death? It was that that first alerted the council to my father’s death before any Tell us Once would have kicked in. 

I'm leaving the bank notification to last.

That should be a top priority unless you want to end up chasing the return of standing orders and DDs that should not have been paid in the first place. 

I notice from another thread that you are currently living at your father’s house it won’t be exempt from council tax.

Only up to the funeral, at which point the house will be unoccupied.

All standing orders are stopped and all DD holders have been informed now so I will be informing the bank in due course.

Keep_pedalling

shiraz99 said:

Keep_pedalling said:

shiraz99 said:

poppystar said:

It’s fine to contact them I’m sure. Did the bank not close your father’s account when you informed them of the death? It was that that first alerted the council to my father’s death before any Tell us Once would have kicked in. 

I'm leaving the bank notification to last.

That should be a top priority unless you want to end up chasing the return of standing orders and DDs that should not have been paid in the first place. 

I notice from another thread that you are currently living at your father’s house it won’t be exempt from council tax.

Only up to the funeral, at which point the house will be unoccupied.

All standing orders are stopped and all DD holders have been informed now so I will be informing the bank in due course.

Thanks for the clarification, in your other thread you stated you would be staying until you completed administering the estate.

The bank should still be informed now and the account frozen, I can’t understand why you seem reluctant to do that.

shiraz99

Keep_pedalling said:

shiraz99 said:

Keep_pedalling said:

shiraz99 said:

poppystar said:

It’s fine to contact them I’m sure. Did the bank not close your father’s account when you informed them of the death? It was that that first alerted the council to my father’s death before any Tell us Once would have kicked in. 

I'm leaving the bank notification to last.

That should be a top priority unless you want to end up chasing the return of standing orders and DDs that should not have been paid in the first place. 

I notice from another thread that you are currently living at your father’s house it won’t be exempt from council tax.

Only up to the funeral, at which point the house will be unoccupied.

All standing orders are stopped and all DD holders have been informed now so I will be informing the bank in due course.

Thanks for the clarification, in your other thread you stated you would be staying until you completed administering the estate.

The bank should still be informed now and the account frozen, I can’t understand why you seem reluctant to do that.

I'm not reluctant, just not highest on my list of priorities right now, still got funeral to sort etc. I simply waited until the end of March/beginning of April so all outstanding DDs could be processed.

Keep_pedalling

shiraz99 said:

Keep_pedalling said:k

shiraz99 said:

Keep_pedalling said:

shiraz99 said:

poppystar said:

It’s fine to contact them I’m sure. Did the bank not close your father’s account when you informed them of the death? It was that that first alerted the council to my father’s death before any Tell us Once would have kicked in. 

I'm leaving the bank notification to last.

That should be a top priority unless you want to end up chasing the return of standing orders and DDs that should not have been paid in the first place. 

I notice from another thread that you are currently living at your father’s house it won’t be exempt from council tax.

Only up to the funeral, at which point the house will be unoccupied.

All standing orders are stopped and all DD holders have been informed now so I will be informing the bank in due course.

Thanks for the clarification, in your other thread you stated you would be staying until you completed administering the estate.

The bank should still be informed now and the account frozen, I can’t understand why you seem reluctant to do that.

I'm not reluctant, just not highest on my list of priorities right now, still got funeral to sort etc. I simply waited until the end of March/beginning of April so all outstanding DDs could be processed.

The point I am trying to make is that there should be no transactions in or out once the account holder has died, the account needs to be frozen. Any creditors should be informed and asked to submit a final invoice. Unless the account exceeds the bank’s limit on paying out without probate they will pay everything to the holders personal representative very quickly, but if this is not possible they will at least pay funeral costs directly to the FD.