If you suddenly move out of your rental unit mid month..do you think you do not owe for the whole month? Do you have documentation to prove the condition at move in? You can bet the NH can produce proof.
but, all that aside. Here is what will happen. They will first charge the estate (not you) an extra 20% late fee. Then, when it isn’t paid, they will add an additional late fee and send legal notices (the cost of having a lawyer draw up that notice and deliver it will be added to the balance due). If you still do no pay, the whole thing is handed to the lawyer..he then adds legal fees (typical would be about $3,000 to start). The lawyer then proceeds against the estate (at $350 per hour). Each month that passes there is an additional 20% of the total balance added.
you see where this goes? You will not win in court...but oh geez the total bill will be a drain on the estate.
the bigger question is what it does to your peace of mind. This will make you crazy at a time you don’t need the added stress.
My advice is to pay it and just chalk it up to another example of the money hungry world we live in,
The facility has to answer to the State even if private. Read Moms contract. Usually you have to give 30 day notice when you are leaving. But if you die? I would call your state Ombudsman. Their number is under state government. The facility should have provided a number in their paperwork.
Cleaning is part of the contract. You should not have to pay that. Its logical they have to get ready for another resident.
So: you've paid the fees for the room for May; but you haven't yet paid for the 24 days in June, and the facility is warning of a 20% surcharge on overdue accounts?
Plus, they want to charge you for cleaning your mother's room, and you are resisting this claim on the grounds that your mother's transfer to the room was done at very short notice and the room had certainly not been cleaned before her arrival - you're leaving it as you found it, essentially?
Please correct anything I've misunderstood.
What I would ask is: is it worth it to you to argue about this? Is the money a problem, or is it the principle of the thing that grates?
I would certainly want to know if the resident prior to your mother was charged for room cleaning. Interesting, if academic, point.
But if these charges are in the contract, and the money isn't the real issue, I should have thought it would be least upsetting to pay and then shake the dust from your feet. I'm very sorry for your loss.
We have paid the 24 days in June in a timely manner. They are pushing/threatening/harrassing for the rest of the month with the 20% late fee....for the rest....and cleaning fees. I get it. but, I do NOT agree with another way to dupe the elderly. Thanks for your thoughts.
I can understand how some charges would occur. If a resident were to die on the 3rd of August they (estate) would be charged until the end of the month. If there are any belongings left and the room can not be released for someone else you would be charged until they can enter, clean the room and make it ready for the next resident. Same goes for outdoor space, if there was a car and a space for that room that would be an extra charge until the auto is removed.
It would be easier to answer if there was more info on what charges were for.
Could you specify? You will be charged, or her accounts will be charged until her possessions are removed. There may be cleaning or damage fees assessed to her account I believe. Other than that I am trying to imagine what fees you are speaking of.
My Mom passed on June 24, 2019. She had only been at this facility since the last week in May. It was a sudden move, so my Mom's room had not been cleaned and she had been on hospice since December. In May, we just paid for the days she was there. She passed as a result of a fall out of her wheelchair. She was leaning. A care giving straightened her up. Didn't move her into a recliner or in front of the dining table. (This is a Memory Care facility so no use of "restraints") My Mom fell asleep and started leaning again. Then fell out of her wheelchair head first. She basically became bed-ridden and rapidly went downhill from there. Hospice began visiting 2x per day. We have paid them for all of the days she was there. They are threatening to tack on a 20% late fee and cleaning fees. Thoughts? Thank you!
Are you in a state with filial laws? This is when the adult children are held responsible for the debt of their LO, like if you signed the MC paperwork, or if you're joint on her bank account or credit cards. I would check where your state stands on this.
My Mom passed on June 24, 2019. She had only been at this facility since the last week in May. It was a sudden move, so my Mom's room had not been cleaned and she had been on hospice since December. In May, we just paid for the days she was there. She passed as a result of a fall out of her wheelchair. She was leaning. A care giving straightened her up. Didn't move her into a recliner or in front of the dining table. (This is a Memory Care facility so no use of "restraints") My Mom fell asleep and started leaning again. Then fell out of her wheelchair head first. She basically became bed-ridden and rapidly went downhill from there. Hospice began visiting 2x per day. We have paid them for all of the days she was there. They are threatening to tack on a 20% late fee and cleaning fees. Thoughts? Thank you!
My Dad passed in memory care last April and I did not get charged any extra fees. We had hospice/palliative care before his death. Not sure if that is different at other facilities though.
but, all that aside. Here is what will happen. They will first charge the estate (not you) an extra 20% late fee. Then, when it isn’t paid, they will add an additional late fee and send legal notices (the cost of having a lawyer draw up that notice and deliver it will be added to the balance due). If you still do no pay, the whole thing is handed to the lawyer..he then adds legal fees (typical would be about $3,000 to start). The lawyer then proceeds against the estate (at $350 per hour). Each month that passes there is an additional 20% of the total balance added.
you see where this goes? You will not win in court...but oh geez the total bill will be a drain on the estate.
the bigger question is what it does to your peace of mind. This will make you crazy at a time you don’t need the added stress.
My advice is to pay it and just chalk it up to another example of the money hungry world we live in,
Cleaning is part of the contract. You should not have to pay that. Its logical they have to get ready for another resident.
Plus, they want to charge you for cleaning your mother's room, and you are resisting this claim on the grounds that your mother's transfer to the room was done at very short notice and the room had certainly not been cleaned before her arrival - you're leaving it as you found it, essentially?
Please correct anything I've misunderstood.
What I would ask is: is it worth it to you to argue about this? Is the money a problem, or is it the principle of the thing that grates?
I would certainly want to know if the resident prior to your mother was charged for room cleaning. Interesting, if academic, point.
But if these charges are in the contract, and the money isn't the real issue, I should have thought it would be least upsetting to pay and then shake the dust from your feet. I'm very sorry for your loss.
If a resident were to die on the 3rd of August they (estate) would be charged until the end of the month. If there are any belongings left and the room can not be released for someone else you would be charged until they can enter, clean the room and make it ready for the next resident.
Same goes for outdoor space, if there was a car and a space for that room that would be an extra charge until the auto is removed.
It would be easier to answer if there was more info on what charges were for.