Compassionate/Bereavement fares

[mrmr96]

Simpo Two said:

I just wanted to warn him that he can't just expect get it all back like an expenses claim - because he might find himself entirely out of pocket. The amount of money is not relevant, it's the fact you're trying to claim money from an estate that has no obligation to pay it.

Message ends

Ok, I accept that it's a good point to make and valuable input for the OP, so your contribution to the thread is good. No problems with that.

However you in your past asked for £35. So that was still dickish.

[Simpo Two]

mrmr96 said:

Ok, I accept that it's a good point to make and valuable input for the OP, so your contribution to the thread is good. No problems with that.

However you in your past asked for £35. So that was still dickish.

Yeh, it would have been more 'socially acceptable' to claim £1,000 apparently.

Thanks for the needless and pointless judgement.

[bigbubba]

mrmr96 said:

+1. What a dick.

+1

[Slaav]

Simpo Two said:

Chaps, whilst the ticket part was settled you may have missed the bit that says:

Slaav said:

I imagine the flight costs will be paid from the Estate

I just wanted to warn him that he can't just expect get it all back like an expenses claim - because he might find himself entirely out of pocket. The amount of money is not relevant, it's the fact you're trying to claim money from an estate that has no obligation to pay it.

Message ends

Now now everyone, play nicely!

The original post was not concerning who would pay - but what 'deals' may be available.

When someone mentioned claiming it from the estate, that didnt seem unreasonable as we were probably going to have to pick the tab up personally for their flights. There are only 3 beneficiaries - 2 bro's and 1 sis' - my Mrs S!

So it is meant to be a question about the actual fares! Sorry for any confusion.

Wills and Estates cause all sort of problems.... that I have personal experience of - regardless of the sums involved

[Deva Link]

Simpo Two said:

Yeh, it would have been more 'socially acceptable' to claim £1,000 apparently.

Well, yes, it would. But the estate is liable for debts, if they're proven. Knocking on someone's door and asking for £35 is a bit much.

In the OPs case, I've never heard of an estate paying travelling expenses. Indeed in a recent bereavement I was involved in, some relatives of the deceased had travelled up for the funeral and were staying the old guy's house for a few day, which hadn't been lived in for months. During this time we all met with the solicitor who was the executor and I suggested they'd be better in a local hotel and the estate would meet the bill. The solictor said no!

I guess it boils down to whether the main beneficiaries agree - at the end of the day it's their money they'll be giving away.

[toppstuff]

bigbubba said:

+1

+1 million

Trying to claim £35 from a dead friends estate is one of the most toe-curlingly embarrassing things I have heard in years.

It is Ricky Gervais / David Brent standards of cringeworthy behavior. It is the kind of wince inducing , grimacing levels of awfulness reserved for TV programmes like the Office or Curb Your Enthusiasm.

Trying to claim £35 from a dead friends estate. Quite staggering. I would be drowning in a deep pool of self loathing if I had done that..

Edited by toppstuff on Sunday 13th November 20:39

[slippery]

I have to admit that if a friend died owing me money, I'd find it very difficult to ask for it back unless the amount was substantial and even then, I don't think I'd find it a very comfortable conversation. Everyone is different though I guess.

[Mojooo]

toppstuff said:

+1 million

Trying to claim £35 from a dead friends estate is one of the most toe-curlingly embarrassing things I have heard in years.

It is Ricky Gervais / David Brent standards of cringeworthy behavior. It is the kind of wince inducing , grimacing levels of awfulness reserved for TV programmes like the Office or Curb Your Enthusiasm.

Trying to claim £35 from a dead friends estate. Quite staggering. I would be drowning in a deep pool of self loathing if I had done that..

Edited by toppstuff on Sunday 13th November 20:39

OK, but make sure you clear all your debts before you die so your mates don't have to suffer the same indignaty

[Simpo Two]

Deva Link said:

Well, yes, it would. But the estate is liable for debts, if they're proven. Knocking on someone's door and asking for £35 is a bit much.

No, the reference to slamming a door was metaphorical. In fact I wrote a very nice and diplomatic letter and enclosed the receipt for the item. I did say that earlier (why doesn't anyone read what has been written?) But according to others who know this particular person, it was no surprise - she was only interested in how much his house was worth. But to those who think this makes me some kind of Scrooge, I repeat that if the situation was reversed and I had just inherited £160,000 I certainly wouldn't quibble over £35. Maybe that makes me more generous than the people here who seem to take her side?

But I would never ask for travelling expenses, nor for a drinks bill at a wake (as mentioned earlier). That's not a debt but an expense, whereas mine was in place before the death. All I wanted to do was complete the matter, simply an accounting exercise. That is all.

Deva Link said:

I guess it boils down to whether the main beneficiaries agree - at the end of the day it's their money they'll be giving away.

Spot on.

My apologies to the OP for unwittingly bending the thread, but when I posted my information to help give you a clearer idea of what you could expect, I did not expect to be attacked.

And for all those happy to waste £35, please send it to me. It will help you feel even more self-righteous

[Chrisgr31]

Hang on. The executors are liable for debts existing at the time of death, assuming there are sufficient funds in the estate to pay them. Therefore if someone is owed a sum whther it is £10 or £100,000 they are entitled to make their claim.

However the executor is not obliged to pay travel costs of these travelling to the bedside before death or to the funeral, unless of course the will says they should, or the beneficiares agree.

[mrmr96]

Simpo Two said:

But to those who think this makes me some kind of Scrooge, I repeat that if the situation was reversed and I had just inherited £160,000 I certainly wouldn't quibble over £35. Maybe that makes me more generous than the people here who seem to take her side?

Her refusal to pay isn't the issue.
Your willingness to pay if asked isn't the issue either.

The issue is your ASKING.

[mrmr96]

Chrisgr31 said:

Hang on. The executors are liable for debts existing at the time of death, assuming there are sufficient funds in the estate to pay them. Therefore if someone is owed a sum whther it is £10 or £100,000 they are entitled to make their claim.

This isn't the issue being questioned either, WRT Simpo. See above.

[Simpo Two]

Yes, the (second) issue is whether you can 'claim' travel expenses to go to the funeral.

I think we all agree it's entirely up to the the beneficiaries. They might be happy to part with a few K if it brings distant relatives to the funeral, or they might not. But you certainly aren't entitled to any (and after this thread you'll probably be too frightened to ask because you'll end up in the ethical doghouse with me)



There, harmony at last!

[Deva Link]

Simpo Two said:

In fact I wrote a very nice and diplomatic letter and enclosed the receipt for the item.

Why didn't you go the whole hog and employ baliffs to recover said item?

Simpo Two said:

- she was only interested in how much his house was worth.

That's seem to be par for the course, I'm afraid.

Simpo Two said:

, nor for a drinks bill at a wake (as mentioned earlier).

It is a legitimate funeral expense. I didn't put it in to make a point to the other major legatee, who claimed for every penny they spent in wrapping up the affairs of their deceased relative.

[toppstuff]

mrmr96 said:

Her refusal to pay isn't the issue.
Your willingness to pay if asked isn't the issue either.

The issue is your ASKING.

Precisely.

It's staggeringly awful. Wretched. Tasteless. Toe curlingly awful.

[jjones]

asking for £35 quid from a friends estate in a written letter... speechless

[Mojooo]

I have to agree that asking for £35 from a dead persons estate (a friend even!) is a bit extreme a even worse whe ndone in a formal matter.

But it begs the question - what is the agreeable figure? £100? £500? Does it depend on how rich the dead person was or how rich the person wnating the money is?


Personally if my friend had died I probably wouldn't have the balls to ask for anythign less than around £2000. I would just have to write it off - unless they were mega rich or made offers to pay off any debts.

[phumy]

BA used to do compassionate flights but stopped around 10 years ago, you could claim retrospectively and you had to be a British Citizen, you also had to initially buy the ticket then claim back using the death certificate as proof. I believe it was only valid for parents, siblings, wife/husband and children. I know they don't offer it now as i tried 9 years ago when my father died and was politely told sorry we finished that last year.

[mrmr96]

It's probably worth the OP calling a few airlines up and asking them, because it might be the kind of service that some of them offer but which they don't advertise on their website as they'd not want it to be abused.

[phumy]

If anyone airlines do them they will only do them for their own nationals....