Changing of utilities, pensions etc, after fathers death

Vincentrussell

Hi everyone, 

My father passed away a few months ago. Ive closed his bank account and i need to change over the utilities to my name. 
Im struggling at the moment to pay my own bills but for example, the pension said they worngly paid an installment after his death and niw asking for the money back and gine to debt management. How do i deal with this, should i deal with thier debt people?
Also will i be liable and will utilities companies expect me to pay for my father's outstanding debts-bills when i change over?
I wish I could settle it all for him but cost of livng has hit hard abd i have to support my own family.

Thanks everyone for any assistance and advices. Wishing you all a happy new year! 

user1977

What's the overall position with the estate? If it's insolvent (i.e. he had more debts than assets at the date of his death), nobody else has to pay the balance to the creditors.

maman

Would you be able to give a few more details? You mentioned your own family, does that mean you have your own home or lived with your dad? If his home is to be sold/returned to landlord then why change utilities? Was there a will? 🤔

kipsterno1

From this post the estate is far from insolvent, 

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6403466/do-i-need-probate-and-inheritance-tax-for-my-situation

user1977

kipsterno1 said:

From this post the estate is far from insolvent, 

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6403466/do-i-need-probate-and-inheritance-tax-for-my-situation

Thanks - if there's £10k in the bank account alone, not sure why the estate ought to have a difficulty in repaying a pension overpayment or utility bills?

Vincentrussell

Thabks for all the reokies thus far.

Im confused tbh, never been through this process before. The bank account is frozen and so I dont have access. He didnt leave a will, so we are still trying to sort out suveyor etc with solicitors to have it all transferred over to the right names.

I wasnt living with my father, but now he has gone, ive moved back in the home temporarily to sort everything out.

So do i just wait for the estate(bank account monies) to be completed ie monies left for his family or do i just direct the utilities and pension monies to be returned via the bank?? 

Marcon

Vincentrussell said:

Hi everyone, 

My father passed away a few months ago. Ive closed his bank account and i need to change over the utilities to my name. 
Im struggling at the moment to pay my own bills but for example, the pension said they worngly paid an installment after his death and niw asking for the money back and gine to debt management. How do i deal with this, should i deal with thier debt people?
Also will i be liable and will utilities companies expect me to pay for my father's outstanding debts-bills when i change over?
I wish I could settle it all for him but cost of livng has hit hard abd i have to support my own family.

Thanks everyone for any assistance and advices. Wishing you all a happy new year! 

You don't have to repay the pension; the estate does. Tell the pension scheme that's the case and give them details of whoever is administering the estate. I'd be astonished if the pension scheme referred the matter to debt collectors, which is a much more aggressive step than simple debt management, which is all that seems to be indicated in your question - so yes, deal with whoever collects debts in respect of the scheme.

You'll certainly be liable for utility bills from the date they are put in your name, but the estate is responsible up to that point.

Keep_pedalling

Whoever is living in the house now is responsible for paying the ongoing utility bills, your father’s estate owes any outstanding debt. Who is administering the estate?

user1977

Whoever is dealing with the probate (not clear whether you've yet worked out who that will be) pays the debts whenever the funds are available. The creditors can wait until then and ought to be used to it, even if they try badgering you direct.

macman

You can of course pay some of the small bills and then reclaim them from the estate if you wish, just keep full records.
If you are now resident in the house then you are liable for all the ongoing utility bills from the date of occupation: gas, electricity, water, phone and council tax. But I don't really see why you have moved in permanently and incurred all these extra costs if you are already unable to pay your own bills?

getmore4less

Moving in triggered council tax.

Empty properties get exemption up till 6 months after a grant is issued.

What's the plan for the property?