To be annoyed what has happened after MILs death.

[Proudofeveryone]

Unfortunately Mil died on Wednesday evening (3 minutes to midnight)
On Thursday afternoon the undertaker called and said DH can now make
an appointment with the registrar to get a death certificate.
Only appointment available before the 5 days (otherwise you get fined)
was in our nearest city on Friday afternoon 3.45pm.
Travel to the office and told that the GP hadn't sent it over.
While there DH phoned the surgery to be informed that this GP doesn't work on
Fridays.
Given a new appointment nearer to home but don't worry they will not fine us
as it's not our fault.
DH goes into the surgery this morning and what a surprise she doesn't work
Monday's. The practice manager was called as he wasn't happy.
It seems that she did send it at 18.49pm Friday evening.
Registrar has phoned this afternoon to ask when Mil died as the GP has put
that she died last Monday and added a middle name which she didn't have.

Mil was in a nursing home and head office phoned asking us to pay for the full
month and they will refund us the month after. All we owe is from Monday 18th
until Thursday. One day notice is to be given even in death. I'm sure they think we
were being unreasonable in not paying over £4k to then have to wait until September.

Spoken today with the undertaker and they will try and pencil in the funeral but as she
is being buried it can't be a Monday as the grave diggers don't work.

Nothing can be done now until Wednesday/Thursday.

It is so unfair making grieving family members run around after their tail trying to follow all the red tape. You should not have to pay £4k if she only needs to pay 3 days. Sorry for your loss.

You don't need nightmares like that at a difficult time.
I agree - I'd not pay that amount of money and then 'wait for a refund'.

Tell the nursing home that any outstanding money will be paid by her estate in due course.

You don't need to pay it yourself no matter what they tell you.

That is really awful. We had something similar when my DM died and the 'not my job guv' attitude from our registrar was what finally pushed me over the edge. He basically said 'cos Covid' they'd 'get to her next week but I had to understand there were other people in the queue'. That's a direct quote.

Have you chosen a funeral home yet? Our funeral director was absolutely amazing, I phoned her in tears about it and she had it sorted by the next working day.

Sorry for your loss.

Yep, this is true - the estate is liable, not you. Tell them to wait for probate.

Registrar in the city and funeral directors are so helpful.
Both are disgusted with the GP.
Don't worry we won't be paying this bill.
I actually said to the man on the phone does he think we are stupid.
Would he pay £4k then wait for a refund.
Told him to send a revised invoice.

My aunt died during covid lockdown. Everyone we dealt with was brilliant. She died in a different town from us in a hospice. No delays with paperwork, death certificate done over the phone, undertakers first class.
Sorry you had such a hard time OP X

When my aunt died, they had to wait 2 weeks for a slot at the crem, was awful.

My grandfather died at home just after Christmas. No doctor would come out to see him in the week before (we had some support from the district nurse) and after he died we couldn't get any useful guidance out of the GPs practice. They just said to phone the undertaker, which we did. The undertaker asked if the doctor had confirmed death and we said no, they refuse to come out. We're pretty sure he's dead but we're not experts. 🙄

A lot depends

Sorry for your loss.

A lot depends on who signed the paperwork when MiL first went in.

There is often pressure to sign that you will take responsibility for any bills.

Best check the contract before you go any further.