Burston man sent council letter to tell him he was dead

A council has been left red-faced after sending a widower a letter telling him he was dead.

Stuart Dobson, of Mill Green in Burston, opened the correspondence from South Norfolk Council, telling him they were “sorry to hear that he had died” and offering advice on how he could get a council tax exemption.

It came just one month after his wife of 54 years, Ann, died. The 77-year-old said the letter had been another stress at a time when he was already suffering.

Mr Dobson (pictured) responded by telling the authority it was “ill-informed” and had cost him time and distress.

He met Ann 60 years ago, with her death coming as a huge blow to the whole family.

He said: “I have been up there to give them a letter – I hand delivered it to the council, telling them ‘do I look dead to you?’

“It’s an utter shambles. They’re asking me to fill in forms when they think I’m dead – it doesn’t make sense. I don’t need this at all.”

Mr Dobson was left further frustrated as he initially went to deliver the response to the council at its former base in Long Stratton.

The office was listed on the council’s letterhead to Mr Dobson, despite it having closed and the authority having temporarily moved to Thorpe Hamlet while it waits for its new HQ near Norwich – it is set to move to the Horizon Centre – to be made ready.

The letter was also sent to an office address of a business owned by Mr Dobson and his family, rather than his home address, with no explanation as to why.

A council spokesman said: “We have apologised to Mr Dobson for the mistake made when updating our records following the death of his wife.

“We regret that our mistake has caused Mr Dobson upset at this difficult time.

“We have reviewed what happened and, unfortunately, this was a case of human error, for which we are deeply sorry.”