I'm finding it hard to pay off my Dads bill to firm (think they are debt collectors?)

[tiger1947]

Hello new & hoping for some advice. My dad passed away recently and his energy bill was passed on to a bereavement account specialist. (I think this means the amount was actually sold to a debt collector - maybe?). The company seem to be making it hard for me to pay. They either want me to do it in a way where I gave to give loads of information which I feel I dont want to share. Or they state I can pay via bacs or payzone which involves not giving any info but also doesnt provide any proof that I've paid. Maybe I'm wrong???? So by this I mean the account number I've been given to pay bacs into always flags up red warning a message when I try to pay online. It states ' the account you are trying to pay doesnt allow for its details to be checked'. When I went into my bank to try and make the payment, the bank advisor told me 'you'd be making the payment at my own risk'. This makes me feel very uneasy. Are there any risks? What could go wrong? I really dont want to call and pay over the phone as I think they'll try and get me to buy into their 'estate services' or take my bank details & dig around I dont know maybe I'm being paranoid. Maybe I'm over thinking things, I suffer from anxiety and its been exacerbated since my dad died. If I make the payment via bacs is there some way they could deny ever receiving the amount? The payzone method seems really unreliable in terms of me proving I've paid - its just a barcode and then I pay with my bank card. I just want to pay the amount but want to do it in a way that they wont be able to come back to me and say that havent received any payment. Background: I'm acting as next of kin and just trying to pay off his bills .There is no Will and my dad's bank released his money to me by doing a next of kin check on me. I havent applied for administration either as I dont think its something i need to do, but maybe I'm wrong? I'm finding the whole admin after death really upsetting and anxiety inducing. Please be advise if you can

[ostell]

If there is no money in your fathers estate then you should not be paying any outstanding bills. Just tell them that their account holder has died and they will have to wait until the estate is sorted out.

If there is money available to settle then send them a cheque for that amount.

[tiger1947]

Thanks for the reply. I feel so unsure about making any payments. I'm not executor or administrator and feel I can't do things with conviction. But as next of kin and having received his small amount of funds, I think I should pay off his bills now that I know there is enough money to do so. I hope I'm allowed to and not doing anything wrong by not applying for administration first?

[ostell]

I think that without a will you should apply for letters of administration. I'm not sure about this requirement but no doubt someone will assist.

If they are giving you hassle then tell them to go away until the estate is complete. You need to calculate the total owed and compare with what is available and not pay out until you are sure

[des8]

Condolences on the loss of your father.

As his estate was small, and presumably did not include a house or stocks and shares, there is no need to apply for letters of administration.

However if you are settling his estate there is a strict priority in paying his creditors.
Basically it is:
1.Funeral expenses
2.Testamentary expenses (these are your costs in settling the estate so keep postage & petrol receipts etc)
3.Unsecured creditors eg council tax, utility bills etc

Just make sure there is sufficient money to clear 1 before paying 2 , and enough to cover 2 before paying 3
If there is insufficient to pay all of those in 3, they need to be paid in proportion to each other.

re actually paying them follow as ostell and send them cheques

[tiger1947]

Thank you if I pay by cheque how can I make sure its used to pay off dads bill? It'll be my name on the cheque/signature. Do I write a cover note stating its for his bill and quote the reference of his account? Can I trust they will do this correctly and not just cash my cheque and keep his bill outstanding? I'm just thinking the worst probably but I cant see what ties me paying the amount to his bill. Will I have enough evidence to state its paid if they ever dispute it? How could I get more evidence? Thanks

[ostell]

Your cheque is your receipt. Yes they should follow the covering letter that you send but as Des8 said they are last in the queue for money so don't be in too much of a haste to pay. They can hardly take him to court for non payment and you are NOT responsible

[tiger1947]

Ah thank you ostell and thank you des8 I did wonder/worry about court and how long it'd take for proceedings to happen if at all? I know my doubts about this company have delayed payment. Thinking they will probably get fed up trying to contact me and take matters into their own hands/further, which wouldn't be good for my stress/health. What could happen if I leave a bit longer?

The company recently called me and left a message for me to call them back so I'm not sure what to do at this point.

I want to pay off my dad's bill, but feel in some way that I'll be scammed by them. I have no confidence in them saying they are who they say they are. I feel I really need proof they are who they say they are and that they aren't going to keep asking for payment once I've paid.

Do you know if theres anyway of finding out if this company has behaved like this to anyone? Could I make a separate post about it maybe?

Do you think its possible for me to contact the original energy provider and tell them that I'd like to pay them rather that this company they've passed the amount it on to?

[des8]

Just write & tell this company you are still sorting out your late father's estate and they will be paid in due course.
Add that in the meantime they must stop harassing you.

Can you tell us the names of the utility company and debt collectors who are chasing you?
We can then try and check them out for you