Electricity tariff after death

InvertedVee

I send my condolences.

I've found utilities and other organisations generally very helpful following a bereavement. They often have specialist teams which seem to be very well informed and sympathetic.

As an executor, I opened a new bank account and used this to handle all transactions. I started a new direct debit to settle utility bills from this executor account. It kept things as straightforward as possible and avoided muddling things with my own personal finances. After everything was paid out to beneficiaries, I simply closed the account.

greyteam1959

lisyloo
Your late fathers electricity account should still be receiving the Government energy support scheme payments into it.

lisyloo

Thankyou. Yes it is and that's keeping the balance very low.
He also got to keep his winter fuel allowance as he died after the "qualifying week" in september. 

Scot_39

In our case, house was still occupied by a sibling - they took over as account holders. 

For BT, Gas, Electric - and council tax etc.

The exact details re credit or debit balances - seemed variable.

One debt was transferred over - we just paid that sibling back once probate granted.

crashedandcool

Condelences my friend. I will soon be in similar situation with dad on the way out. Rather than start a new thread I thought I'd post here hope that is ok. My dad is still on a contract so unaffected by the energy price rises and when he passes I will be the sole person living here. Does anyone know if there is a way to transfer the DD and account to my name while keeping the tariff(British Gas). I've put off phoning them as I find it best not to poke the beast.

sheramber

crashedandcool said:

Condelences my friend. I will soon be in similar situation with dad on the way out. Rather than start a new thread I thought I'd post here hope that is ok. My dad is still on a contract so unaffected by the energy price rises and when he passes I will be the sole person living here. Does anyone know if there is a way to transfer the DD and account to my name while keeping the tariff(British Gas). I've put off phoning them as I find it best not to poke the beast.

https://www.britishgas.co.uk/help-and-support/probate

Slinky

Have you contacted the water company? As far as I remember, they will waive the standing charges on an empty property where there's no water being used (the odd flush of a toilet if you're there sorting it out will barely shift the meter).

Sorry for your loss.

Alnat1

@crashedandcool You can give new bank details for a DD to an energy company whenever you want, they don't check who's paying it so long as they are getting payments. If your dad has an online account you can probably do it without having to try and phone them.

When the time comes that the account holder needs changing, ring and ask to speak to the bereavement team and explain that the account needs transferring into your name, there shouldn't be a problem and the tariff should remain the same.

lisyloo

crashedandcool said:

Condelences my friend. I will soon be in similar situation with dad on the way out. Rather than start a new thread I thought I'd post here hope that is ok. My dad is still on a contract so unaffected by the energy price rises and when he passes I will be the sole person living here. Does anyone know if there is a way to transfer the DD and account to my name while keeping the tariff(British Gas). I've put off phoning them as I find it best not to poke the beast.

have you thought about creating an email for "your dad" in gmail.
Registering his account online.
Then adding you on to the account.
That might need his consent by email.

lisyloo

Slinky said:

Have you contacted the water company? As far as I remember, they will waive the standing charges on an empty property where there's no water being used (the odd flush of a toilet if you're there sorting it out will barely shift the meter).

Sorry for your loss.

Thankyou I've asked.