Severn Trent issues in settling decease estate

estatehandler_fil

I having all sorts of issues with Severn Trent regarding my father in laws estate. They have confirmed that he had £190 in credit but will only issue as a refund to his bank account which is frozen or to the beneficiary via proof of a will or legal letter of administration. There was no will and as the estate is small (only a few £1000, no property) we have not sort a letter of administration from the courts.

Has anyone got any ideas how we can get Severn Trent to release the money. They have only given me 2 options, get the bank account unfrozen which I don’t believe legally we can do, or pay a solicitor for a letter which will cost more than the credit.

We haven’t had this problem with BT who were happy to issue a cheque for the balance. Surely this is theft as they are leaving no options for us to access the money for the estate without paying to do so.

kipsterno1

Have you been dealing with their dedicated bereavement team or just the general accounts line? The bereavement team have a better understanding of processes.

SiliconChip

How is the bank account going to be unfrozen? Normally if the balance is below a certain amount then it can be paid to the executor/administrator on request, or the bank will reguire probate, and I'd have thought the former would apply in this case. Perhaps speak to the bank to ask if they will allow the credit to be made before the balance is transferred to you.

Brie

SiliconChip said:

How is the bank account going to be unfrozen? Normally if the balance is below a certain amount then it can be paid to the executor/administrator on request, or the bank will reguire probate, and I'd have thought the former would apply in this case. Perhaps speak to the bank to ask if they will allow the credit to be made before the balance is transferred to you.

And it should be the bank's bereavement team you talk to as well.

AP3

Could be wrong, but the problem I see is Severn Trent making sure the money goes to the right person/people.

No will, so the estate is intestate, and the rules on intestacy apply. If you don't have LOA, they won't know who they can release the money to.

The best solution would appear to be applying for LOA, but that would cost more than the credit of £190.

Personally I wouldn't consider it worthwhile and would write it off, if it's only Severn Trent holding out.

estatehandler_fil

Thanks all. In response to questions.

Yes I have been speaking to their bereavement team and they said they have spoken to their probate specialists who have advised those are my only options.

The bank is fine with paying out without the will or letter as the balance is well below their £35k limit for those requirements. Waiting to see if they will allow the refund.

I would write it off but my father in law has very few funds and it doesn’t feel wrote telling other debtors they can’t be paid because Severn Trent won’t give credit back.

jmr95

I struggle to see how this can possibly be correct. They have no legal authority to demand to see the will do they? In almost all cases in similar matters in my experience, all that was actually needed was the death certificate. There is a will in my situation, though few have asked to see it.

I have a similar situation, and they are insisting on a silly amount of paperwork from me to release a small account credit, but I will be getting Probate which will resolve the matter in my case as I cannot be bothered to jump through their hoops.

In the banks case, presumably you had to sign the indemnity form? It seems utilities don't use this process...they either pay out without friction (as you experienced with BT and what I have experienced with all but 1  company) or they just dig in and won't pay out. 

Appreciate there is no will - are they aware of that? Just they would not be paying the beneficiary normally, they would be paying the estate via the executor surely - the money is owed to the estate.

I struggle to see what they think they are achieving when these are just small balances. I do not however believe it would be considered theft. But what they are doing is seemingly not mandated in law; it is their own process - and there is a lack of consistency in process between organisations, which sometimes results in this. 

https://www.ftadviser.com/ft-adviser/2025/5/21/onerous-admin-creating-additional-burden-for-the-bereaved-/ 

I am just someone whos's dealt with an estate, and no expert, but I would keep pressing. Raise a formal complaint, demonstrate precedent with other providers - maybe even go to the Ombudsman, becuase if what they are doing is just 'their process' vs 'legally required' then they are different things.

The question is...is it worth it for £190..that's up to you.

I hope you get it sorted, if for nothing more than principal.

wmb194

Just have them send the money to the frozen account that they’re happy with and see whether it’s credited or not. Either way it doesn’t sound like there’s much to lose.

tooldle

Ask the bank. Frozen accounts in my experience can accept incoming payments. I’ve dealt with both of my parent’s estates but they were both with the same bank.