Client died, cheque bounced
Discussion
Elroy Blue said:
The only one we know of. There are no other family members in the area. We don't want to be bombarding the daughter with letters so have taken the 'sit and wait' approach.
It's true that she'll have a mountain of admin to deal with and may not be in the best frame of mind; however, there will be other bills she has to pay so there will be a mechanism to do it.I'd write a polite and sympathetic covering letter offering sincere condolences etc, and attach a copy of the invoice with a request that is be paid in, say, 30 days. Enclose an SAE to make it easier.
Perhaps the invoice should amended to read 'To the Estate of the late...'?
Simpo Two said:
it.
I'd write a polite and sympathetic covering letter offering sincere condolences etc, and attach a copy of the invoice with a request that is be paid in, say, 30 days. Enclose an SAE to make it easier.
That's exactly what we've done, but without the '30 day' bit. It's all a learning experience. The old lady would be mortified as my wife had a long relationship with her, but if nothing else it's taught her to bank cheques asap after receiving them.I'd write a polite and sympathetic covering letter offering sincere condolences etc, and attach a copy of the invoice with a request that is be paid in, say, 30 days. Enclose an SAE to make it easier.
eldar said:
9 hours, 18, 180 1,800. At what level of debt do you write it off?
The estate should pay, that simple.
That's my thought - I'd want everything paid off, if I have spent/used it I want to pay for it, even if I'm not around to pay it myself!The estate should pay, that simple.
The leftover money will only go to relatives or the government so I'd rather it goes to people who deserve it
The executor should eventually place an ad in The Gazette which will allow creditors to apply to the estate. https://www.thegazette.co.uk/wills-and-probate/not...
Additionally you can do a probate search: https://www.gov.uk/wills-probate-inheritance/searc... - including a standing search for 6 months.
Additionally you can do a probate search: https://www.gov.uk/wills-probate-inheritance/searc... - including a standing search for 6 months.
Jamster123 said:
9 Hours!? Write it off.
9 hours could be £90 or £1800...you'd still write it off if it were the latter?The deceased even paid for the work, it's just that the cheque bounced. I'd want to pay people I'd intended to pay for services I'd used no matter if I was alive or dead.
I consider myself a pretty empathic person, but am struggling to understand those who are not only disregarding the OP's wife's 9 hours worth of labour, but are insinuating that they are being petty or insensitive for wanting to get paid. If anything it's the "don't be a mercenary" lot that are being disrespectful s
tes (to the OP's wife) IMHO.
Thousands of people die every day, it shouldn't be a burden to anyone, but especially not to people who have made a contract with the deceased and have kept up their side of the bargain. Whether it's 1 minute worth of work or 9 hours, I'd be really annoyed if my death left someone out of pocket after they carried out work for me in good faith.
tes (to the OP's wife) IMHO.Thousands of people die every day, it shouldn't be a burden to anyone, but especially not to people who have made a contract with the deceased and have kept up their side of the bargain. Whether it's 1 minute worth of work or 9 hours, I'd be really annoyed if my death left someone out of pocket after they carried out work for me in good faith.
You did the work so you deserve to be paid for it.AyBee said:
9 hours could be £90 or £1800...you'd still write it off if it were the latter?
The deceased even paid for the work, it's just that the cheque bounced. I'd want to pay people I'd intended to pay for services I'd used no matter if I was alive or dead.
The OP did say the wife was a "small" trader running a "small" business...Even going on to say it was a small amount, and even that she wasn't powerfully built The deceased even paid for the work, it's just that the cheque bounced. I'd want to pay people I'd intended to pay for services I'd used no matter if I was alive or dead.
I could be wrong but going on that description I doubt its gonna be £1800.
And for whats its worth, should I pass, Id expect my wife to tell all my suppliers to p
s off, particularly when invoicing weeks after my death. They have made enough from me over the years. Should my partner pass, the last thing Id care about would be opening mail and paying suppliers.Edited by Jamster123 on Monday 18th May 23:01
When my Mum died I was the executor and when I closed the bank account I did so in that capacity, not as next of kin and with probate of the will, I was asked by the bank to account for any outstanding cheques, I.e. the bank made me aware as the executor that these debts could exist. I would assume this is still their practice.
The executor has a duty to verify the debts, and as these are known to the daughter and the bank I would expect them to be paid in due course.
I am however surprised a the time scale here, which appears to contradict my experience the bank would not close the account without probate, and that took a few weeks.
I my case as I was due to return overseas before probate was granted, the bank paid a portion of the undertakers bill, which brought the account to zero to help me out time wise, as they were very strict in their stance that htey could not act until probate was granted.
The executor has a duty to verify the debts, and as these are known to the daughter and the bank I would expect them to be paid in due course.
I am however surprised a the time scale here, which appears to contradict my experience the bank would not close the account without probate, and that took a few weeks.
I my case as I was due to return overseas before probate was granted, the bank paid a portion of the undertakers bill, which brought the account to zero to help me out time wise, as they were very strict in their stance that htey could not act until probate was granted.
I was contacted by a solicitor last week in respect of an elderly family member who died a few weeks ago. The solicitor was cross referencing debt, invoices and pension payments, and needed some clarity. Debts still have to be paid (to the deceased's estate) just as they do, from it.
OP was simply asking for a steer about how to proceed with sensitivity and discretion. That seems fine to me. I see no reason for outrage and moral compasses to start spinning. Business is business - bills still need to be paid, wages dished out and so (forgive me), but life goes on.
I wonder how those reacting with alarm to the reasonable question posed by the OP would think if the boss told them; "Sorry, no wages this week. I was going to pay you out of the Forbes job, but he went and died so I've scrubbed the debt. Alas, no food for your tables this week".
Laissez-faire head in the sand mentality is partly why the credit crunch bit so deeply when it did. No one displayed any sense of obligation - debt became credit and all of a sudden, hey, money started to grow on trees. I'd rather work with someone who accounted for every penny thank you very much.
OP was simply asking for a steer about how to proceed with sensitivity and discretion. That seems fine to me. I see no reason for outrage and moral compasses to start spinning. Business is business - bills still need to be paid, wages dished out and so (forgive me), but life goes on.
I wonder how those reacting with alarm to the reasonable question posed by the OP would think if the boss told them; "Sorry, no wages this week. I was going to pay you out of the Forbes job, but he went and died so I've scrubbed the debt. Alas, no food for your tables this week".
Laissez-faire head in the sand mentality is partly why the credit crunch bit so deeply when it did. No one displayed any sense of obligation - debt became credit and all of a sudden, hey, money started to grow on trees. I'd rather work with someone who accounted for every penny thank you very much.
Jamster123 said:
AyBee said:
9 hours could be £90 or £1800...you'd still write it off if it were the latter?
The deceased even paid for the work, it's just that the cheque bounced. I'd want to pay people I'd intended to pay for services I'd used no matter if I was alive or dead.
The OP did say the wife was a "small" trader running a "small" business...Even going on to say it was a small amount, and even that she wasn't powerfully built The deceased even paid for the work, it's just that the cheque bounced. I'd want to pay people I'd intended to pay for services I'd used no matter if I was alive or dead.
I could be wrong but going on that description I doubt its gonna be £1800.
And for whats its worth, should I pass, Id expect my wife to tell all my suppliers to p
s off, particularly when invoicing weeks after my death. They have made enough from me over the years. Should my partner pass, the last thing Id care about would be opening mail and paying suppliers.Very surprised by your stance - would you also expect your customers to purchase goods from you, die, and then have their estate tell you to p
s off, just because they've paid you enough over the years? Simpo Two said:
Rick101 said:
So come on, you've avoided it for long enough. What was the work and what was the value of the bill?
It's not important. Neither is it important whether the creditor is a millionaire.There's too much emotion in many replies. It comes down to facts and numbers and law.
If it was £90 then id leave it. If it was £900 I wouldnt.
There is definitely a value at which it would be worth considering leaving it; that goes for anyone.
p1stonhead said:
Simpo Two said:
Rick101 said:
So come on, you've avoided it for long enough. What was the work and what was the value of the bill?
It's not important. Neither is it important whether the creditor is a millionaire.There's too much emotion in many replies. It comes down to facts and numbers and law.
If it was £90 then id leave it. If it was £900 I wouldnt.
There is definitely a value at which it would be worth considering leaving it; that goes for anyone.
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