Do outstanding utility bills die with the deceased?

The_DemonicKat

Hi,

Back in November last year my grandfather unfortunely passed away.
Whilst he was alive he ran up quite a few bills for electricity as his old boiler had packed in and it took a while to get him a new one, so we heated his house with electric heaters for a long time.

Now he is dead, my family have contacted all of the utility companies who are advising the balance has to be paid by us.
However I always thought that certain debts do die with a person.

Do we have to pay the old utility debts for electricity?

Thanks,

The_Demonickat

notbritishgas

The_DemonicKat wrote: »

Hi,

Back in November last year my grandfather unfortunely passed away.
Whilst he was alive he ran up quite a few bills for electricity as his old boiler had packed in and it took a while to get him a new one, so we heated his house with electric heaters for a long time.

Now he is dead, my family have contacted all of the utility companies who are advising the balance has to be paid by us.
However I always thought that certain debts do die with a person.

Do we have to pay the old utility debts for electricity?

Thanks,

The_Demonickat

Debts do not die with the deceased , they are liable to be paid out of the estate, for which the executor of the will is responsible.
It is only if there is no estate (eg money or property) that the debt dies.
You are not responsible unless you benefit from the will in which case your inheritance will be reduced by the size of the debts.

terryw

The_DemonicKat wrote: »

Hi,

Back in November last year my grandfather unfortunely passed away.
Whilst he was alive he ran up quite a few bills for electricity as his old boiler had packed in and it took a while to get him a new one, so we heated his house with electric heaters for a long time.

Now he is dead, my family have contacted all of the utility companies who are advising the balance has to be paid by us.
However I always thought that certain debts do die with a person.

Do we have to pay the old utility debts for electricity?

Thanks,

The_Demonickat

If grandfather left anything (after reasonable funeral expenses) then the utility bills along with any other bills should be paid out of the estate. If he left nothing (after reasonable funeral expenses) then no-one else has to pay these.

terryw

mute_posting

Quite often utility companies (and others) will try to convince grieving next of kin etc that they are responsibile.

A colleague at work had the same thing when his brother died last year (leaving nothing but debt) - the electric, gas, water (amongt others) all asked for the "family" to pay when they were informed of the death.

Cheeky sods.

terryw

mute_posting wrote: »

Quite often utility companies (and others) will try to convince grieving next of kin etc that they are responsibile.

A colleague at work had the same thing when his brother died last year (leaving nothing but debt) - the electric, gas, water (amongt others) all asked for the "family" to pay when they were informed of the death.

Cheeky sods.

Are you absolutely sure that this is not a friend of a friend urban myth? The people who work at utility call-centres often contribute to MSE. Perhaps some such worker will confirm that this is what they do. I am no disagreeing with you, Mr Mute, but it would be nice to have some confirmation.

terryw

mute_posting

terryw wrote: »

Are you absolutely sure that this is not a friend of a friend urban myth? The people who work at utility call-centres often contribute to MSE. Perhaps some such worker will confirm that this is what they do. I am no disagreeing with you, Mr Mute, but it would be nice to have some confirmation.

terryw

Am quite sure, he's a work colleague whose older brother died last summer, leaving him and his mother as only kext of kin.

My colleague was sorting out all the affairs following the funeral and was telling us (after) about the problems he was having (having found a pile off bills and final reminders at his brothers rented flat whilst they were clearing it).

He said he wasn't going to bother doing anything, but decided to phone each of the providers as he was off all week and wanted to do something (there was definitely gas an electric with seperate suppliers, not certain if it was water or phone but I recall there being 3 ammounts of a few hundred pounds each)

Next week he came into work asking for opinions as he had been told that as his brother still had family, they "had to pay".

There is a possible explanation in that this was onto an indian call centres, who may have been mixing up that if the family "benefited" from the "estate" debts would be taken out of the estate first rule?

Either way, the people he spoke to for each provider were adamant that the family "needed" to pay the debts before it was passed onto debt collection.

MP

terryw

Ok thanks for that, but I was hoping that some MSE person who works for a utility company would give us the official line. The only reason I query this is that my BIL died a year ago and the utility companies were very sympathetic and only requested a copy of the death certificate to clear their books.

terryw

deddogblues

As far as I can see the family are not responsible for your Grandfathers debt but his estate is.
I can't see them chasing payment myself unless it is a very large amount.
I'd tell them to whistle for their money.

FUEL BILLS

If there is jointly-owned or rented property the person still living there may be liable for fuel arrears. Sometimes the fuel board tries to argue that you have 'benefited' from the fuel used so should pay for it, even if your name is not on the bill. This is a difficult area. Phone us for advice. Otherwise, the bills are recoverable from the estate.
ADVICE
If anyone is still living in the house they should arrange for the ongoing fuel bills to be put in their name.
Phone us for advice 0808 808 4000

From: http://www.nationaldebtline.co.uk/england_wales/factsheet.php?page=21_what_to_do_about_debt_when_someone_dies

See also: http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/MoneyTaxAndBenefits/ManagingDebt/DebtsAndArrears/DG_10013093

space_rider

A friend of mine also had a relative who died leaving no money. Powergen asked for a copy of the death certificate and cancelled the debt.

terryw

space_rider wrote: »

A friend of mine also had a relative who died leaving no money. Powergen asked for a copy of the death certificate and cancelled the debt.

Happened to me Spacerider. But the worry is that if someone else is living at the property , some utilities might come on to that person for the amount outstanding.
(Thanks to deddog above for letting us know)

Does not appear to be a problem if the deceased lived alone.

best wishes

terryw

brightonman123

i cant see any power firm taking a dead person (or their estate) to court- the PR would be horrendous..

mind you, how would it have been paid if Granpa had lived on..?