Severn Trent Water

bowlingwitch300

My father recently passed away so I contacted Severn Trent Water to inform them. They sent me a final bill which showed a credit. I rang to request the refund. They asked if I was the Executor I informed them he didn't leave a Will so as his daughter I was dealing with it. They informed me I would need Letters of Administration to get the refund. This would cost more than the Credit due, so what can I do to get this Refund.

Keep_pedalling

As your sister is administering the estate she should really be dealing with this. Was this bill for a rental property or did own it? 

Assuming it was a rented property so probate is not required for that then she should contact the berievement team (0345 7500 500) not the normal contact number and hopefully they will be able to sort it out although will probable need proof of identity. Technically they can ask for letters of administration for any amount and if they do she should make a formal complaint and probably take it up with her MP as well. 

CliveOfIndia

I'm sorry to hear of your loss.

Unfortunately, what they have said is correct - if no executor is specified, then they will require some form of authorisation in order to issue the refund.  If they didn't insist on this, then basically any Tom, Richard or Harry could apply for the money to be sent to them.

How much money are we talking?  I know solicitors charge what seems an extortionate fee just to write a letter - but if the solicitor's fee is more than the refund due, it may be better to just forget about it?

mikb

bowlingwitch300 said:

My father recently passed away so I contacted Severn Trent Water to inform them. They sent me a final bill which showed a credit. I rang to request the refund. They asked if I was the Executor I informed them he didn't leave a Will so as his daughter I was dealing with it. They informed me I would need Letters of Administration to get the refund. This would cost more than the Credit due, so what can I do to get this Refund.

Sorry for your loss, but the thing is that without a will (and probate to show the will is valid and that you are executor) _or_ letters of administration, they don't have to talk to you at all.

You are going to need LoA for many other things along the way, bank accounts, other utilities etc. so I don't think you can avoid this. Just wait until you have the required paperwork and go back to them. You may run into occasional companies that will take your word for it, but not for anything that involves them handing over money. e.g. closing off a Tesco Clubcard account, or "stop sending mailouts to my recently deceased father" etc. may pass by.

I had to wait for the appropriate paperwork when dealing with a building society to close a savings account with just under 5 pounds in it. I mean, really? Yes, apparently, really ...

la531983

Keep_pedalling said:

As your sister is administering the estate 

Eh? Where has she mentioned her sister?

Robin9

@bowlingwitch300

Sorry to hear of your loss -  even when you think it should be so easy the lack of a will doesn't help

Some confusion here -  my reading is that it's just you.

How are you getting on with the other utilities, bank, council, insurances, premium bonds ?  Presume you have used the Tell us Once system which helps but is not the be all and end all.

bowlingwitch300

@Robin9

Thank you. Yes I filled in the Tell Us Once Form and that worked even showed up a Pension I was unaware of. His Bank and Saving Account have paid out without wanting Letters of Administration and the balances on them were a lot more than Severn Trent. 

Really can't see the problem.

bowlingwitch300

@mikb

Thank you.

My father's Bank and Savings account paid out without Letters of Administration and that was a lot more, so really can't understand it. 

It may mean I don't pursue this but it's so unfair that they will get to keep what in essence is my Father's money .

born_again

If the dill was paid via DD, then they could send the refund that way. So long as no one has closed the account.

Keep_pedalling

la531983 said:

Keep_pedalling said:

As your sister is administering the estate 

Eh? Where has she mentioned her sister?

It was me misreading the wording in the opening post that led me to believe it was not the OP dealing with the estate, sorry!

Keep_pedalling

I thought I had seen this issue with ST before, another member is having the same issue. Every other utility provider would pay the refund to an administrate on production of a death certificate and proof of the administrators identity and relationship to the deceased.

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81783306#Comment_81783306?utm_source=community-search&utm_medium=organic-search&utm_term=seven+trent

I would raise it with my MP unless it is a very tiny amount.