Request for Backdated Care Home Fees

LadyBea

My FIL sadly passed away in May 2019. He had dementia and was in a care home from February 2018. During this time he was self funded and we paid all monthly invoices promptly. Yesterday, completely out of the blue, my husband received an email with a request for nearly £5500 in unpaid fees. The letter states “We are seeking to recover an outstanding balance in respect of care charges, this was identified during a recent account review”.
Unfortunately we have destroyed a lot of the paperwork, including the contract with the care home, so we don’t have copies of the invoices but looking at the statement we received, it seems that the majority of payments we made were for £3050/month but they’re saying the invoices were for £3252, so a difference of £152. I cannot think why we would have only paid the lower amount unless that’s what was on their invoice. Both my husband and I remember asking the care home if there would be any further bills after we received the final account. The solicitor also put a notice in the newspaper asking creditors of the estate to get in touch but they didn’t. We have sent an email saying we need to time to look into this but does anyone know whether they can legally request this money after so long? We’d be grateful for any advice, thank you.

SacredStephan

Did he receive FNC funding?

Marcon

LadyBea said:

My FIL sadly passed away in May 2019. He had dementia and was in a care home from February 2018. During this time he was self funded and we paid all monthly invoices promptly. Yesterday, completely out of the blue, my husband received an email with a request for nearly £5500 in unpaid fees. The letter states “We are seeking to recover an outstanding balance in respect of care charges, this was identified during a recent account review”.
Unfortunately we have destroyed a lot of the paperwork, including the contract with the care home, so we don’t have copies of the invoices but looking at the statement we received, it seems that the majority of payments we made were for £3050/month but they’re saying the invoices were for £3252, so a difference of £152. I cannot think why we would have only paid the lower amount unless that’s what was on their invoice. Both my husband and I remember asking the care home if there would be any further bills after we received the final account. The solicitor also put a notice in the newspaper asking creditors of the estate to get in touch but they didn’t. We have sent an email saying we need to time to look into this but does anyone know whether they can legally request this money after so long? We’d be grateful for any advice, thank you.

The difference between £3,252 and £3,050 is £202 (not £152), but as your FIL was only in home for 16 months, that's only £3,232, so how come they are trying to charge nearly £5,500?

Are you quite certain that the email is real and not some sort of try on? One immediate check is to look at the bank details to which you are being asked to make payment - are they the ones you've always used in the past? 

If the answer to the above is yes, then I'd be tempted to write back and say that the administration of the estate was finalised some time ago and, in reliance in the home's confirmation that you had been sent the final account, and the notice published by your solicitor, there are no funds available to meet this claim.

GoatMan007

We are in a similar position.  My mother died in a local Home belonging to a very well known Care Home company  last October and we promptly paid their Final Invoice as we had done with all previouse invoices received while she was a resident in the Home.  As POA was in place we didnt need to wait for Probate before paying all known outstanding bills and closing her Bank Accounts and the very small money remaining has been put aside to pay for solicitors bills for sale of her flat. All procedes from the flat when it finally goes through will need to be repaid to the Local Authority.

Just before Xmas completely out of the blue we received an email stateting that there was an outstanding shortfall of approximatly £650 on my mother's account which we of course queried.  Shortly atfer Xmas we received a further email stating that a recalculation had been done and the shortfall was in fact £950.  Maths is a strong subject for me and fail to get anywhere near to how they got to these figures as they are not divisable by any monthly, weekly or daily charges.

As far as i am concerned, without complaint I paid all know outstanding debt including their Final Invoice. the Will was executed and there is now no Estate to take any money from. No money was left to pay benificaries named in the Will so if I do have to pay the Care Home that will have to come out of my own money not that what was part of my mother's Estate.

Cant help feeling they are just trying their luck n this one and trying to boost their annual bonus?

Savvy_Sue

I'd certainly ask them to 'show their workings'.