TELL US ABOUT A BEREAVEMENT
Losing someone close to you can be very difficult. In addition to the emotional upheaval of coping with a death, you may also need to take care of financial matters.
There are a number of things that you need to do after losing a loved one. To support you through some of them, we've provided a step-by-step Bereavement Guide.
We're Here to Help
If the deceased was a Genesis Finance customer, please let us know as soon as possible.
If you are a Contract Hire Customer, please contact us on 0800 092 8147. We are open 9:00am to 5:30pm Monday to Friday
WRITE TO US
Specialist Support
Santander House,
86 Station Road, Redhill,
Surrey RH1 1SR
Your Step-by-step guide
Here we’ve provided a list of the main things you need to do and have when someone dies. For additional information we also have a Bereavement Guide offering practical advice and support on what to do when someone dies.
This should be done at the registry office closest to where the death occurred. The registry office will issue you with the death certificate.
Having the most up-to-date will is important as it states the wishes of the deceased and names the executors. The executors are the people responsible for carrying out these wishes.
If there is no will, the deceased’s estate is distributed according to intestacy rules. These rules determine how the estate is divided and shared.
Most funerals are arranged through a funeral director which can be sourced online or through word of mouth. They will guide and support you through the funeral arrangement process.
As well as letting family and friends know about your loss, you’ll need to inform organisations such as banks and building societies, utility companies and the Department of Work and Pensions. There are some legal documents, such as passports, driving licences and benefit books, which will need to be found and returned.
You can inform these organisations and companies by phone and they’ll tell you if they need any documents, such as a copy of the death certificate. It’s helpful to have an account number or reference number before calling.
If the deceased was a Genesis Finance customer, please let us know as soon as possible. You can:
- Complete the online notification form
- Call our dedicated Specialist Support team on 0800 085 1474
- Write to us at: Specialist Support, Santander House, 86 Station Road, Redhill, Surrey, RH1 1SR.
You’ll need to provide us with a death certificate so that we can advise you on available options.
‘Probate’ or ‘confirmation’ refers to the right to manage the affairs of the deceased.
In England, Wales and Northern Ireland, if there’s a will, you’ll need to apply for a ‘grant of probate’
If there’s no will, you’ll need to apply for a ‘grant of letters of administration’
In Scotland, both of the above are referred to as a ‘certificate of confirmation’
We refer to these as the ‘grant of representation’, a generic term that covers all of the above.
After someone dies, their estate is shared out according to the instructions given in the will. If there is no will, the intestacy rules must be followed.
If you’re the personal representative(s), you can decide whether you want to deal with the estate yourself or appoint a solicitor, bank or specialist probate service to do some or all of the work. You’re the personal representative if you’re named in the will as executor or, if there’s no will, you’re the next of kin in accordance with the intestacy rules.
If the estate is small and probate isn’t needed, the personal representative may be able to deal with everything within a few weeks. But if probate is required or if the deceased person owned a property, the process may take longer.
Some people may face financial difficulties following the death of a loved one. For information about how we may be able to help if you have money worries visit our money worries page.
| Account Management Fees | Empty |
|---|---|
| Copy statement of account | £12.00 |
| Change of payment due date* | £25.00 |
| Change of vehicle registration plate | £30.00 |
| Collection of vehicle upon voluntary termination of agreement | £70.00 |
| Transfer of agreement fee** | £150.00 |
| Arrears Management Fees | Empty |
|---|---|
| Monthly arrears fee*** | £35.00 |
| Internal collection agent visit | £50.00 |
| External collection agent visit | £250.00 |
* One change of payment due date is allowable free of charge any time during the agreement.
** Only applicable for agreements not regulated by the Consumer Credit Act, i.e. transfers from one limited company to another limited company.
*** When your payment is made late and for every subsequent month that your agreement remains in arrears, limited to 3 in any single defaulting period. The charges detailed within this document are correct as at 30th July 2014. Genesis Finance reserves the right to amend these fees at any time.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Here are some of the most commonly asked questions relating to bereavement:
Proof of death
Either the original death certificate, a certified copy or a
photocopy. It can also be an interim death certificate or coroner's
certificate.
Proof of your identity
For example, a valid passport or an unexpired UK/EEA (or
Switzerland) photocard driving license.
Proof of authority to act
The Grant of Probate or Letters of Administration (Confirmation in
Scotland). If you don't have this document, or don't need it
currently, you can send it to us at a later date
Once you have provided us with the relevant documents, we will advise you what options are available.
It’s sometimes possible to pay off the loan using the proceeds of the estate or an insurance policy. Breathing space can be granted for a period while this is in process. Where this isn’t possible, we will need to know what you intend to do with the vehicle. For example, if a beneficiary plans to keep it, we may be able to arrange a new finance agreement to be set up for them to continue with monthly instalments until the loan is cleared and title of the vehicle can be transferred over to them. Applications are subject to status and lending criteria.
Alternatively, if there is no use for the vehicle any longer it may be returned to us.
| Account Management Fees | Empty |
|---|---|
| Copy statement of account | £12.00 |
| Change of payment due date* | £25.00 |
| Change of vehicle registration plate | £30.00 |
| Collection of vehicle upon voluntary termination of agreement | £70.00 |
| Transfer of agreement fee** | £150.00 |
| Arrears Management Fees | Empty |
|---|---|
| Monthly arrears fee*** | £35.00 |
| Internal collection agent visit | £50.00 |
| External collection agent visit | £250.00 |
* One change of payment due date is allowable free of charge any time during the agreement.
** Only applicable for agreements not regulated by the Consumer Credit Act, i.e. transfers from one limited company to another limited company.
*** When your payment is made late and for every subsequent month that your agreement remains in arrears, limited to 3 in any single defaulting period. The charges detailed within this document are correct as at 30th July 2014. Genesis Finance reserves the right to amend these fees at any time.
DEALING WITH FINANCIAL DIFFICULTY?
Some people may face financial difficulties following the death of a loved one. For information about how we may be able to help if you have money worries visit our money worries page.