Octopus still no refund after 13 days!

JARING

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81931916#Comment_81931916

Octopus seem happy with death certificate and a copy of the will, as I would expect for a relatively small amount.

Netexporter

The estate is still responsible for the energy account until the property is sold, even if that is only the standing charges. I assume the solicitors settle that from the estate funds.

JARING

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81931920#Comment_81931920

No, Octopus do not demand a Grant of Probate certificate, just a copy of the will and death certificate. Refunds, from any organisation, get paid into the executors account - the account of the person who has died never gets unblocked. Once Probate has been granted they transfer the balance to the executors account.

JARING

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81931923#Comment_81931923

You don't need a solicitor to deal with a simple estate (particularly as they charge about 12-15%). All utilities face the same problem - the bank account is blocked from the moment they find out about the death (either by someone telling them directly or from the commercial notification services the banks use to monitor the BMD database).

Netexporter

But a solicitor will set up an account in the name of the estate to cover the interim period.

JARING

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81931949#Comment_81931949

There is no obligation to use a solicitor. It's easy enough to deal with a simple estate on your own and you save on the 15% they like to charge!

Netexporter

I didn't there was a compulsion to use a solicitor. I'm just pointing out that until the property changes hands the energy company may not be keen to close the account, if an alternative account, that they can rely on for final settlement, isn't opened.

If the property doesn't sell for an extended period you may not have much credit left, anyway.

JARING

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81931957#Comment_81931957

We're slightly straying from the main point here…the fundamental question is why does it take weeks for Octopus to make a refund when I can pay anyone in a few milliseconds. They have half hourly meter data - there is no reason for delay.

MWT

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81931952#Comment_81931952

15% isn't a number I recognise, and certainly not one I'd pay, but if the estate is small enough then the flat fees or time-based charges can mount up.

As long as you are not dealing with a complex estate I can see the temptation to avoid solicitors fees, but as an executor in the phase before probate is granted I'd exercise great caution in what you do with any money you do manage to gain access to as you have personal liability for your actions.

If you've not submitted the IHT400 yet it sounds like you've got some way to go, possibly including paying IHT, and preparing the house for sale when you do not have probate and cannot complete on a sale may also be a bit premature.

I am in the middle of the process dealing with my Father-in-law's estate and thankfully we had time to prepare but even so there is still a lot to do (complex estate).

Hope you have a relatively smooth path, but it can be a long one…

JARING

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81931970#Comment_81931970

It is a simple estate, with no IHT so I submitted IHT400 and Probate forms myself and got Grant of Probate 14 days after registering the death. If I had taken that to a solicitor, or allowed the bank to deal with the estate, they were quoting a minimum of 3 months, potentially 12, and the 15% sum mentioned. Clearly a more complex estate might be a totally different story.