Late mothers utility account in credit

StrawberryMilkshake

Hi all

My partners mother recently passed, she was a widow on benefits and had no assets. She died without leaving a will or making my partner an executor of her non existent estate.

After registering the death and getting the certificates, we sorted out all her finances, emptied her house of possessions, gave the utility company final meter readings and handed the keys of her bungalow back to the council.

Her energy supplier was Octopus and it turns out that her account is over £600 in credit following the final meter readings but even though my partner has sent them a copy of the death certificate Octopus will not send my partner the money because he doesn't have it in writing that he is her executor/administrator.

What should he do?

Swipe

Raise a formal complaint and ask for it to be logged with their bereavement team, stating that you are next of kin and have been dealing with the estate. There must be many cases where credit is owed on a tiny estate.

Brie

Frankly I think that Octopus are completely right in this instance. I mean I could get a copy of a death certificate for any number of people and try to insist on banks, utility companies etc to pay me what's in the deceased accounts. They are obliged to ensure that they are paying the right person - just because it's your partner's mom doesn't mean that your partner is automatically entitled to that money.

I believe there is a document that needs to be applied for that would give your partner the right to act as executor and at that point your partner may also need to provide Octopus of the relationship to your "MiL" via a birth certificate or similar.

I think the people on the probate board will be better at helping you with this so I'll move your post there. Sorry I can't help further other than to suggest that once you go back to Octopus ensure you are talking to the bereavement team - they'll be best to give details of what they require rather than just say "no".

debitcardmayhem

He needs letters of administration, via gov website https://www.gov.uk/inherits-someone-dies-without-will

[Deleted User]

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6655601/late-mothers-utility-account-in-credit

Bereavement - managing an energy account after someone has passed away | Octopus Energy

In the end, it may still mean that Octopus will want to see the letters of administration before releasing funds.

The fact that you mentioned there were financial affairs to resolve (but it's not clear if they were debts or credits, but if there were any debts, who settled them?), a houseful of possessions, and there's clearly £600 of credit in her energy account demonstrates there was an estate left with assets, the value of which is actually immaterial usually. Whilst £5k is generally considered the value at which letters of administration are needed, it actually depends on the lowest value any of the creditors say they would release funds without letters of administration.

ETA: if the estate is valued at less than £5k, then the application fee is waived/does not apply.

You may still have to pay a small fee for additional copies, typically about £1.50 per copy.

StrawberryMilkshake

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81886985#Comment_81886985

Thanks Swipe,

He has been dealing with the bereavement team, one of the team asked he to send the death certificate, which he did and they then said that the money would be paid in 7 to 10 working days. That time has passed, so he phoned again to chase it up and he spoke to a different member of the bereavement team. They said he wasn't entitled to the money and that their colleague had misinformed him.

StrawberryMilkshake

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81886999#Comment_81886999

Brie, You may be able to get a copy of a random death certificate, but not sure how you would know which utility company or banks they used.

My partner is her only surviving relative. She was widowed and then my partners younger brother died a couple of years ago. There is no one else and therefore he is entitled to the money.

We are not bothered about the money, it is more the principle of it all and we just want to be able to draw a line under this final thing and start to move on.

RAS

I'd start by putting in a formal complaint. Banks were until very recently transferring much larger amounts based just on a copy of the death certificate.

At most, a copy of the death certificate, your partner's birth certificate and some photo ID should be more than enough.

Brie

Brie, You may be able to get a copy of a random death certificate, but not sure how you would know which utility company or banks they used. Yes I quite agree!

My partner is her only surviving relative. She was widowed and then my partners younger brother died a couple of years ago. There is no one else and therefore he is entitled to the money. Yes, which is obvious to you both but not to Octopus.

We are not bothered about the money, it is more the principle of it all and we just want to be able to draw a line under this final thing and start to move on. I get this completely - it's frustrating when one person tells you one thing and then their colleague says something different. I hope you can get it resolved and manage to move on soon.

Keep_pedalling

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81887004#Comment_81887004

Not required for such a small amount.

poppystar

I found initial problems with Octopus but the CEO gives his direct email for customers to contact. (See link below) I used this, got a very speedy reply and had my situation sorted and a good explanation of the problem. Contact with Octopus is generally good but there didn’t appear to have a specific bereavement department which is where the problems arose. Having said that I was impressed by getting the matter resolved and have actually moved to them for my own energy with no regrets.

https://octopus.energy/unhappy/