A TONBRIDGE man is furious that he was asked to pay for four weeks' residence for his step-father at a Southborough care home -- even though his dad was dead.

Michael Keat was invoiced for £1,275.01 by The Hollies Care Home, and at first thought it was a mistake as his step-father had only recently died.

But when he queried the bill, he was told that the contract clearly stated payment of fees was due in lieu of notice upon death.

Mr Keat said: "In other words residents must know the date of their death, otherwise their benefactors will be charged a month's fees."

Mr Price was diagnosed as having senile dementia in July 2001 and a place was found for him at The Hollies, which specialises in such cases, by social services.

In March this year a doctor was summoned as Mr Price had breathing difficulties, but before an ambulance reached him he died from broncho-pneumonia.

Mr Keat said: "The death of my father was a shock and it took some time to come to terms with our loss.

"While I was dealing with the estate I received an invoice from The Hollies and thought it was an unfortunate error.

"I was shocked to receive the reply which stated that the fees were to be paid as we had not given notice of his death.

"I'm stunned by the whole thing. It seems totally immoral."

A spokesman at The Hollies said it was bound by a contract agreed with a previous owner, which required payment of fees in lieu of death.

But it was stressed that this entitlement to charge was no longer applied in contracts with new residents.