DORCHESTER, England -- A retirement home in the UK has apologized after billing a grieving woman £3,000 (US$4,735) for not giving a month's notice of her father's death.
Sue Cann, 54, was shocked to receive a letter demanding payment from Highcliffe Nursing Home, in Dorset, 120 miles southwest of London, on the day of her father's funeral, The (London) Daily Telegraph reported Tuesday.
Kenneth Cann, who had lived in the facility for 17 months, passed away last month aged 79 after a long battle with dementia.
He had already paid £63,000 for his stay at the aged care home, but according to a letter sent to his daughter, £3,052 was still owed because she had not given the required four weeks notice in the "event of a resident moving out or passing away."
"When the letter came I was so shocked about it. My father had to give 28 days notice for moving or passing away," Sue Cann said.
"But how on earth can you do that? Nobody knows when they are going to die. It's ridiculous.
To pay for a month which covers his food, laundry and nursing care is daylight robbery."
Sue Cann said she was unaware of the clause in the contract signed by her late mother, adding that while she was happy to pay a small tariff, one month was "ridiculous."
Kingsley Healthcare, which runs Highcliffe Nursing Home, apologized for the distress caused, saying it has since changed its policy.
"I deeply regret any distress caused to Mrs. Cann and can confirm that we are in contact with her so that we can resolve her particular concerns," Kingsley Healthcare CEO Daya Thayan said.
"This unfortunate incident has prompted me to take personal charge of a review of our procedures and to reduce our notice period on contracts in the event of a death to just seven days."
