+++ Whoops! Here comes the cheese! +++

redofromstart

Thank you.

A busy few days here and lots of changes.

The scaffolding went up - which took far longer than I realised it would.  The roofers are due to start tomorrow to this is my little moment of peace before more noise and chaos starts.

The new oven got fitted on Sunday.  I need to adjust the feet to it is level and lines up with the worktop.  I clearly should not be allowed to use a tape measure as it is currently a long way short of the glass splashback so I am hoping it can be sorted with the feet. Unfortunately they had to turn the gas off to fit it, and the pilot light would not go back on on the boiler. I have a plumber coming to have a look later to see if he can sort it.  I found this particularly hard because Mr Redo would have fixed it, or have been confident that it needed XYZ. Luckily we have a wood burner, a functioning immersion heater and an electric shower so we are clean and warmish.

All five of his vehicles have now been transferred to their new owners.  Very quick and easy online.  Three car tax refunds due which will be cheques in his name which is ok as I can still bank them in branch.  Car insurance was paid on my card and they are refunding to that.  Bike insurance was on his closed card, and they wanted to send an 'executor' cheque - no use to me as no will/no probate/no executor.  Have asked for a cheque in his name. I was right not to rush into closing his main account.  I just hope that a few hundred pounds doesn't tip that one into needing probate.  I did check before i sent his ISA money back to that account that it would be ok, but hadn't allowed for these cheques. 

Outcome on one of the lump sum pensions after three weeks - as per his expression of wish.  It hasn't actually hit the bank yet.  No outcome yet on lump sum pension two but I did send that a few days later. 

Business bank account is moving very slowly, really poor service.  I will be changing banks if I keep the business going.  Its a good job we hadn't got staff or suppliers to pay!  Will name and shame once it is closed, but the business is paying £8 a month to be dormant and has been for a while so I expected better response times.

Lets be positive:

I have a new to me reliable car
I have resolved the re-allocation of all five of his vehicles positively with both SS gaining something that was important to their Dad, and the classic bike going to a good and trusted home.
Removal of various vehicles has opened up a lot of space which will really help with clearing and sorting.

and finally, I can get things out of the freezer (garage) without injuring myself and without getting upset seeing his bikes. 

KajiKita

Hugs for the pilot light - I can see why that would have been raw. 

So well done on all the careful clearing / resolving of his vehicles. I will face a similar challenge if Mr KK was to do the mortal coil shuffle right now (three vehicles, five bikes! 😳). 

Equally unimpressed by the business account provider! Sending them a Paddington Hard Stare through the ether! 

Hope the plumber can help this afternoon 😊

KK

EssexHebridean

Consider more hard stares being wielded from here for the business baking provider - as if you haven't got enough to be coping with without needing to be getting poor service like that. 

Ahh yes - I can imagine that it's the (relatively speaking) small things like the pilot light that bring it all home again in the worst way. I hope that the plumber can sort it, and you can remove the "ish" from your "warmish" status sooner rather than later. 

Watty1

it really is the small things like a pilot light than can throw us isn't it.

beanielou

More very hard stares to the bank. So poor. 

LadyWithAPlan

You are doing amazingly. 

WelshmansDaughter

It always amazes me how numb to human feelings service providers can be at such a time. I would be jumping all over myself to help in these circumstances. 

redofromstart

Thank you all.  I do have to say that when I have got through to the bereavement team anywhere then they have all been without fail helpful and supportive, and that the business banking has been the only exception. The key thing seems to be to ask for the bereavement team. 

Progress:

The roof work has started today.  Nice people again, and good with the various animals which is always a relief.

The power cut compensation cheque finally arrived today, I ended up having to file a complaint to get that - supposed to be automatic, then they ignored an email so I rang. 

I did change the power to a fixed rate which was better than doing nothing at all.  

The boiler wasn't an immediate fix, but it may be fixable so I am waiting to hear on parts availability and costs.  

I booked MrT slots yesterday, C will be very low key I think, but trailing round when it is full of 'festive cheer' will probably be upsetting.  Besides I don't want to miss out on all of the veg for pennies.

Sorted a better rate for a savings account for the building works pot.

More than I thought done actually.

PennysIntoPounds

That's loads, well done you

badmemory

Admittedly it is a few years ago but I found any bereavement team so much better then normal customer service.  I did wonder if maybe the business banking side didn't have one & so were basically clueless.