Dealing with companies

Not really had any problems, Tell Us Once service was brilliant, Lloyds bank were extremely compassionate and helpful as were Nationwide, probate didn’t take too long either. The only slight issue was dealing with the Virgin call centre and trying to make sense of people for whom English isn’t their first language but my son and his partner did as much of that as they could. I made a mistake with the premium bond forms but a phone call sorted all that out very quickly and the money was released almost immediately afterwards. Just wish I could make sense of the number of different tax code documents I’ve received but maths is not my strong point!

I found the bank the least helpful of everyone. Having been informed I had to visit a branch in person to inform them my dh had died I attempted to phone them to arrange a time. The phone was just never answered so I drove the half hour to visit in person. I was told in no uncertain tones they were too busy to answer phones and I should make an appointment to return another day. I was raw with grief and eventually they agreed to find someone to help me. A complete contrast to all other organisations I dealt with.

WET news indeed!
When I sit down for a few minutes I go through the stack of e-mails and snail mail: newsletters, brochures, journals etc to see if I have unsubscribed on his behalf. I know it takes a while to take effect.

Cabbie I had to go through this in 2004 and can honestly say had no problems with any of my husband's affairs but in those days everything was by phone and letter.

But 8 months someone used my husband's credit card number after he died. But the bank and credit card company were brilliant. I had naturally thought his card would be frozen along with his bank account. So I made sure it was stopped . I got the money back only had to send a copy of his death certificate.

Things for me where easier than for you because I got to speak to real people not much was online.

Companies who only operate online don't realise or care how hard it is to deal with then after someone dies. My friend who's husband died in November is still having problems with some companies because she can't talk to a person. She has had to resort to writing to the head offices but they take ages for them to reply.

Hope you can get things sorted soon. As I know it's not been long since your husband died. I won't ask how you feel as I know how you feel. I just hope you are well in yourself and looking after yourself. It's all to easy to forget to eat and drink whilst grieving. But you need to keep yourself as healthy as possible.

I hope this gives you a smile my husband had a free monthly magazine called Wet News it was about the water treatment works but it took me 2 years after repeatly asking then to stop sending it. No idea what the postman thought as it came in a large white envelope with Wet News in large letters on the from.

Take care of yourself Cabbie .🌹

Back in 2009, when my Mum died, I immediately cancelled her telephone account with the Post Office. She had had her own phone in her room at a care home. They immediately acted on my instructions and the line was cut off.

About a week later, a letter arrived asking why she had terminated her contract with them. When I phoned, they were left in no doubt as to the reason. Apparently, the letter had been generated “by the computer”. My reply was that it was a pity it couldn’t be programmed to generate a letter of condolence!

Similarly, I also cancelled a medical procedure that Mum had been due to have. On the day of her funeral, the hospital rang to ask why she had failed to turn up. Luckily, my DH took the call….!

The "Tell Us Once" scheme that the Registrar recommended when we registered my Mums death was a total joke. Supposedly, once submitted, the DWP, DVLA, Passport Office, and several other establishments were informed of the death.................No, there weren't! And the DWP had the nerve to accuse us of fraud because Mums pension was paid after her death. Not what people need when they're grieving is it?

I don't know whether the scheme still operates now though as it has been over ten years.

Yesterday I received information about payments made from DH’s credit card and tried to follow up those which the bank suggested might be subscriptions. It took ages searching online, as they are obscure. Two companies had a chat line which I could use and one got back to me with the promise of a refund- to the credit card! I replied that it is now frozen. They replied that I should speak to the bank. Talk about going round in circles!

I found one of the pet insurers awful. My fil’s dog died a week before he did and when we cancelled the insurance as it was no longer needed they threatened to send a £6 debt to debt collectors. By the time I’d finished with them they were stammering apologies.

EDF cannot seem to manage to change the name, despite 4 attempts. Premium Bonds are, apparently, running 5 weeks behind with bereavement claims.

I haven't even tried with Sky or the banks yet. The accounts are joint and can wait.

The system can be brutal at the worst time of your life.

It's exhausting.🙁

My friend's partner is having to deal with this at the moment. He said Hello Fresh were awful and lacking in any kind of empathy.