British Gas

It sounds like your solicitor isn't doing his/her job. I would not approach BG again apart from referring them to him/her. Sympathy to you though, you don't need it at this time.

Firstly wend, condolences on your loss. And at this time you need some understanding from companies and not to feel threatened on top of coming to terms with your grief. Also, from what I've read and viewed, you're not alone in the 'wrong end of the stick' situation regarding utility companies and change of circumstances. After feeling cross on your behalf, I wondered what I would do in similar circumstances. I think I would first contact them again but ask for the complaints department. Make sure you have all of your facts and figures in front of you, so you are not made to feel flustered by any questions they may ask. Explain that, not only yourself, but your solicitor has tried to deal with this and that quite obviously there has been a lack of communication between the billing department and change of details department. If you are not happy after that conversation (make sure you ask for the name of the person you are speaking to) that all will be rectified, then gather together all of your information (in paper form) mail it to their complaints department. This really (I feel so weary saying this) should be the job of your solicitor, but if they are anything like the 'firm' we used for my father in laws estate, they sat on their laurels, until my OH had to do most of the work himself to speed up the process, even though, by law, you have to have them, and they were inefficient and dozy (still simmering and it was in 2006!). Does seem like yours did pick up a phone though. Probably at thirty quid a time, or more if they were put on hold. If all else fails. Threaten to contact Watchdog.

You do not have to use a solicitor to sort out probate. Quite often it is easier to use one, but they are not mandatory.

Go to your local newspaper or local radio company. They love stories like this 'British Gas sending in the debt collectors as bereaved daughter winds up her mothers affairs.' and the utility companies don't half respond when they are getting bad publicity.

Also 'You and Yours' on R4 every day. They constantly chase the energy companies.

Depends if you are named executor. If, as in our case, and not sure of the situation with wend, there were two beneficiaries, and the deceased named the bank as executor, they appointed and insisted on an independent solicitor being used. Unless wend is executor, or maybe only beneficiary, then it may not be her decision to deal with probate. She already has solicitors, so may have chosen to use, or may have had no choice. Just hope she can sort it out. It's horrible trying to deal with these things at the best of times when you're feeling low, but when you get confusion and hostility and threats of bailiffs, it must be dreadful. Wishing you well wend.

Thank you all for your replies. I am executor, along with my sister in law, and sole beneficiary but have chosen to use a solicitor as i live 3 hours drive away and cant deal with the day to day easily.I am not sure how efficient my solicitor is - this is the second one as the first left the firm suddenly! I think maybe once probate is through I will pursue a complaint to british gas and also maybe contact a local paper. Thanks again for your support.

"4 phone calls from the solicitor" - in my experience, phone calls are pointless. Like emails. You need recorded delivery letters.

ps when Mum died I was the executor, and as far as I remember the solicitor dealt with cancelling the utilities. I saw to her bank accounts, because I had Power of Attorney. Do you have that?

I just paid the bills from my own account until everything was sorted, I could have given the solicitor evidence I had paid the bills and recovered it before the estate was divided between my sster and I, but it hardly seemed worth it.