How to compel Virgin to give access to my dads phone records

sheramber

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81985636#Comment_81985636

The Common Law of Cofidentiality and Cosent does apply to a deceased persons information

mta999

Is an executor even allowed to request phone records or are they confidential even after death?

Yes an executor may need certain information in order to execute the will of the deceased and pay appropriate taxes but that does not mean they can go trolling through the deceased's life.

Grumpy_chap

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6666712/how-to-compel-virgin-to-give-access-to-my-dads-phone-records

I'm sorry for your loss but can't help feeling that this might be one point to let ride as establishing whether or not a fault with the heating was reported to the LL 10 days earlier won't change anything. Why couldn't simple alternative heating (electric heaters) be used in the interim? How was his health on 31st January when the issue was attended to straight away?

the_barretts

Thank you for your comments and condolences.

It's hard to let this go when we feel they had a duty of care to make sure the house was maintained appropriately and that issues were recorded, investigated and repaired.

The LL has a lot of properties in this area, many are ex farm workers. We dont want this happening to other families and want the LL to see that they missed this event.

I dont live in the UKs so relied on video and phone calls. We dont believe that Dad would have told us he had spoken to the LL, that they had been out and that it was a thermostat problem and that they were coming back if he had not done so. I have a text from him on the 21st and when I spoke to him at the weekend as told they were back Monday. I know I am waffling on here, I wish I could go back and ring every day to see what was happening… hindsight is a wonderful thing.

Its not just the heating. I spoke to A at the LL office in January about a huge water bill he had and asked about a toilet overflow repair. She said there was never a report or repair, I emailed again and had no answer, I emailed a third time and finally got a date they had come out. With this I could prove the the water company that there had been a leak and got nearly £600 back off his bill.

They were asked to replace outside locks to the front and back of his covered walkway. They left the keys but only the front keys worked. When my sister came the night she called the ambulance she took the key from the wall safe but it did not work and she had to climb through rose hedging the get to the front of the building.

Repairs to the flat roof were done on the 8th of Feb, on the 15th when there was heavy rain his outside passageway flooded as the repair was shoddy, it fused the outbuilding and his freezer contents were lost.

The LL has given me a list of all contact they have listed in January but there are 4 missing - contact my sister and I had with the LL or office staff. If they wanted to show how good their recording was then they could have given a complete list.

I am ranting… sorry, its just they didnt record when people made contact, they then couldnt follow up to make sure things were done. They dont need to acknowledge any responsibility for his death, we are not going down that route BUT they shoud be better at recording communication…. just feel I need to make my case with them so I can move forward.

lincroft1710

You cannot stop "this happening to other families" as you have absolutely no way of ensuring the LL does the right thing in the future. Whatever has happened whether rightly or wrongly is in the past. You have got a refund on the water bill, there is no point in pursuing anything further as it can achieve no purpose

Smudgeismydog

I can feel your pain in your post, and I’m so very sorry. I also understand your desire to make a case, and feel that as a result of action you take, improvements will be made.

However, I also feel that by focusing on what you see as failures on their part, you are not allowing yourself time to grieve. I wish I could say that you will be heard, and as a result changes will take place, but the reality is that it’s probably unlikely.
When my husband passed away (age 37), my father in law was angry and wanted to understand if symptoms were missed, he wanted to question visits to the gp, wanted to understand what was discussed, prescribed, the follow up appointments etc. Ultimately this didn’t help him process the death, and his grieving process was so very tough, it also doesn’t change the outcome.

There is right or wrong way to grieve, we must all navigate our own way through. In time I hope you can remember wonderful memories of your Dad.

debsy42

Apologies if this has already been suggested but ask VM for a copy of the January and February bill, if the calls were made from a landline there could/should be a list of any calls made with dates/times and duration of the calls

zagubov

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81989367#Comment_81989367

I'm sorry for your loss, OP, and can see that it's stil; weighing heavily.

There is support out there and I hope you don't mind me suggesting a website that may be helpful

https://www.careforthefamily.org.uk/support-for-you/family-life/bereavement-support/

gplion55

If this is of critical importance, you can ask the solicitor dealing with your father's affairs to write a letter to the provider (Virgin or whoever) and they can send you a detailed printout of the phone calls made and received in the relevant time period.

It may cost a few pounds to do so. (They normally charge for these printouts)

Don't accept the excuse that they have been 'deleted'…

mta999

Are the phone phone records necessary to administer the estate?

Because if not, you are not entitled to them - the phone company has a duty of confidentiality to the deceased