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Legal matters

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Original poster

Do I have to pay this invoice?

20 replies

AngeloMysterioso · 26/02/2022 22:56

Long story short- my Mum died at home a few weeks ago, a friend of hers called the police when she went round to visit and Mum wasn’t answering the door, they broke in and found her.

The police then got someone out from a company they apparently have a contract with, to make the flat secure again so the door could be locked.

This company have now sent me an invoice for £210.

Having given them a google, it seems like it doesn’t take long before they start to threaten debt collectors/court proceedings etc. I don’t want the hassle on top of everything else and I don’t want this sort of thing affecting my credit profile, but equally, I don’t have £210 to throw away, and am not sure how it was decided that I should be the one who has to pay for this.

OP posts:

Myusername2015 · 26/02/2022 23:00

I’m so sorry to hear about your mum. You aren’t personally liable but your mums estate will be..are you the executor? If there is money then creditors such as the door company will be due payment but you can obviously tell them they will need to wait for funds.

Hellocatshome · 26/02/2022 23:02

Who owns the house? If it was your Mother is will come out of her estate.

Original poster

AngeloMysterioso · 26/02/2022 23:09

She didn’t have a will so there’s no executor… it’s a housing association building so I don’t know if her home insurance policy would cover it, but even if it does since it’s my name on the invoice (albeit her address) couldn’t the insurance company say it’s nothing to do with her/them?

There’s not much of an “estate” either… I’ve had to request a public health funeral as she had no life insurance or funeral plan, and once I paid off her credit card and overdraft there was only about £300 left in her savings and just shy of £200 in her current account.

Now I’m worried that I shouldn’t have even done that much. Should I have left the credit card and overdraft alone? I haven’t been able to register her death yet as she has to have a post mortem and I didn’t want them accruing interest. I’ve never dealt with this before and nobody is really helping me with any of it.

OP posts:

coldandverytired · 26/02/2022 23:10

How did they get your details?? If the police have given them then I’d be asking them why they’ve shared your data without permission. If you gave them your details then get in touch, explain that it will be an estate claim and the executor will be in touch.

Hellocatshome · 26/02/2022 23:12

I dont really know much with regards to what you should/shouldn't do re credit card etc but call the company who have issued the invoice and tell them they have got the wrong name on it. Get them to reissue with your Mothers name then go from there, they cant attribute this cost to you.

BuanoKubiamVej · 26/02/2022 23:14

So sorry for the loss of your mum.

You certainly shouldn't have to pay out from your own limited resources if money is tight, but the bill needs to be paid eventually.

I would write to them saying that you acknowledge their right to be paid for work done but you did not contract them to do the work and do not have the funds available to make any payment. As and when funds from the estate of the deceased are accessible then if it's possible for them to be paid from the estate then that is all well and good but this is not exactly your debt to pay.

If the goods in the flat which were protected from looting by the actions of this company were worth more than £210 then the bill can be paid from the sale of such items - but sorting that out is only your problem if you are the executor of the estate.

Original poster

AngeloMysterioso · 26/02/2022 23:14

A neighbour gave the police my name as next of kin, and they sent the invoice to my Mum’s address not mine, so I don’t think there’s a data sharing issue there exactly.

The invoice says it has to be paid 14 days from the issue date which was 15/02 so I’m cutting it rather fine- it hadn’t arrived when I was there last weekend.

OP posts:

Original poster

AngeloMysterioso · 26/02/2022 23:18

To be honest, I simply haven’t the time or energy to try and claw money back by selling her stuff… she didn’t really have anything of value (I’m donating almost everything to charity) and I have a toddler and a 10 week old baby, plus the HA will only allow a certain amount of time to get all her stuff out and I live in a small flat myself, so I don’t have the space to keep all her things whilst I go about trying to flog it on eBay or whatever.

OP posts:

rwalker · 26/02/2022 23:19

I would of thought it would come out of your mums estate.

Ring the company

ZenNudist · 26/02/2022 23:22

Could you pay it with the last bit of money in her account?

queenjaneappro · 26/02/2022 23:23

Sorry to hear of your loss.

Mu mum lives in a HA property and she was collapsed inside. Police forced entry and she was ok but was hospitalised with sepsis for a long time.

Anyway- my mums HA paid for the repairs with no issue at all. Is it worth asking them? Sorry if you have already...

GreenClock · 26/02/2022 23:24

They don’t have your address then? Not sure how they’ll be able to chase you for it tbh. Perhaps talk to Citizens Advice.

I’m sorry for your loss OP. Take care.

Viviennemary · 26/02/2022 23:24

If your mum had house insurance you should be able to claim of that.

Original poster

AngeloMysterioso · 26/02/2022 23:28

@ZenNudist

Could you pay it with the last bit of money in her account?

I don’t think so… with the credit card/overdraft I was using her money to pay her debts, but this is in my name so I’m not sure sure it would be legal.

I haven’t asked the HA actually, but I’d have thought that as the owners of the building they’d be liable for this before I would? And they’ll have insurance as well…

OP posts:

BookwormButNoTime · 26/02/2022 23:29

It’s not your debt. The door is not your property, you have no contract to live at that property and it was for a service which you did not request. It will either be paid for by the HA or out of your mum’s estate.

Luredbyapomegranate · 26/02/2022 23:32

I’d think it would come off her estate, and if she didn’t leave any money that would be the end of it.

However, I would ring citizens advice on Monday, get their advice, and either have them write to the company for you - or mention that you’ve taken their advice so they back off.

Chloemol · 26/02/2022 23:35

Go back to the company and tell them it is not your invoice

They can either invoice the HA, or your mother and you will see if the estate can cover it

It has nothing to do with you

Thewindwhispers · 26/02/2022 23:38

I’m sorry about your mum.

Suggest you reply to the invoice saying that the property belongs to the housing association, you did not live there and did not hire the company and any invoices for property repairs are due to the housing association or the person who contracted with the company.

They aren’t going to sue you for £200 and if they did I don’t see how they could win, you didn’t hire them. They might have a claim against the money your mum left I dunno but that is a different issue.

I’m sorry they’re bullying you at such a sensitive time 😢

marmalade32 · 26/02/2022 23:40

As someone who works for the police, its the housing association who need to pay it. They should have turned out anyway and if a private contractor was called it will have been because they wouldn't or couldn't.

prh47bridge · 27/02/2022 07:29

It is definitely not your invoice even though it has your name on it. You didn't call out this company, you don't live in the flat and you don't own the flat. There is therefore no basis on which the company concerned can claim you are liable. I agree with marmalade32 that the housing association should pay as it is their property.

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