The Thomas Higgins Partnership re Nursing Home Fees.

[slick132]

Hi Rivercity,

 

If you were paid £20 by DWP for 10 weeks, surely £200 is the limit of what you may owe for the care home fees. And that would only be payable IF that money was paid to you on the understanding that it was paid towards the care home fees.

 

Despite what demands are made by the care home's solicitors, you'll only be responsible for payments which you received, that were supposed to be paid over to the care home.

 

But you DO need to be sure you have not signed anything agreeing to pay fees.

 

Do your checking about this first and then you could write to the sol'rs asking them to confirm on what basis they find you responsible to pay anything, considering your mother's Estate did not even cover the basic funeral cost.

 

[slick132]

Hi Rivercity,

 

Can you tell us more about the £20 per week that YOU were paid. Was it paid in respect of YM so that you would pay it over to the care home.

 

And did you, in fact, pay this money over to the care home ?

 

[slick132]

Hi River,

 

A point you have already mentioned is why the NH and then their sol'rs took so long to seek this money. I think this is a valid point and you could certainly argue about this with this as they had a duty to act in a timely manner in sending you the NH fees invoice.

 

Can you tell us exactly how the invoice (that you ignored as per your post #1) was addressed, ie was it to you personally, or to the Representative of the Estate, or other ?

 

Also, did the NH or sol'rs say in the letter or invoice exactly what it is they are demanding.

 

Why were the NH fees not paid paid monthly in advance, which is common.

 

[slick132]

Hi River,

 

We always suggest you stay OFF the phone and keep everything in writing. Whatever is said by phone counts for nothing as evidence if the case gets more serious.

 

At this stage, I would ignore the Sol'rs and write to the NH saying :-

 

I refer to your invoice of xxdate.

 

In view of the fact that my mother passed away well over a year ago, I have no idea why you are now making demands for payment.

 

If any amount was left left unpaid, you should have exercised due diligence and issued an invoice in a timely manner.

 

My mother's Estate did not even have enough money to pay for the funeral so there was nothing left after that.

 

In view of your failure to act in a timely manner, I would ask that you now write off any amount you deem to be outstanding.

 

Please also ensure we are not threatened again by your solicitors whilst this matter is in dispute.

 

See how they reply.