Cancel credit cards prior to death?

[Skyrat]

Probably BS but still quite amusing as you could see it happening. Apologies if it's a repost, I only did a cursory search.




(supposedly) Reported in the Irish Times recently;

Only in Ireland !!!!

Be sure and cancel your credit cards before you die! This is so priceless
And so easy to see happening - customer service, being what it is today!

A lady died and MBNA bank billed her for the following two months for their annual service charges on her credit card, and then added
late fees and interest on the monthly charge. The balance that had been E0.00, now is somewhere around E60.00.

A family member placed a call to the MBNA Bank:

Family Member:
'I am calling to tell you that she died in January.'

MBNA:
'The account was never closed and the late fees and charges still apply.'

Family Member:
'Maybe, you should turn it over to collections.'

MBNA:
'Since it is two months past due, it already has been.'

Family Member:
So, what will they do when they find out she is dead?'

MBNA:
'Either report her account to the frauds division or report her to The
credit bureau, maybe both!'

Family Member:
'Do you think God will be mad at her?'

MBNA:
'Excuse me?'

Family Member:
'Did you just get what I was telling you . . The part about her being dead?'

MBNA:
'Sir, you'll have to speak to my supervisor.'
Supervisor gets on the phone

Family Member:
'I'm calling to tell you, she died in January.'

MBNA:
'The account was never closed and the late fees and charges still apply.'

Family Member:
'You mean you want to collect from her estate?'

MBNA:
(Stammer) 'Are you her lawyer?'

Family Member:
'No, I'm her great nephew.'
(Lawyer info given)

MBNA:
'Could you fax us a certificate of death?'
Family Member:
'Sure.'
( fax number is given )

After they get the fax:

MBNA:
'Our system just isn't set up for death. I don't know what more I Can do to help.'

Family Member:
'Well, if you figure it out, great! If not, you could just keep billing her.
I don't think she will care.'

MBNA:
'Well, the late fees and charges do still apply.'

Family Member:
'Would you like her new billing address?'

MBNA:
'That might help.'

Family Member:
'Glasnevin Cemetry, Finglas Road , Dublin 11, Ireland , Plot Number
1049.'

MBNA:
'Sir, that's a cemetery!'

Family Member:
'Well, what the **** do you do with dead people on your planet?'

MBNA were not available for comment when a reporter from the Irish Times rang.

[Simpo Two]

Skyrat said:

MBNA:
'Our system just isn't set up for death.

Ha, that's about right. Because nobody can do anything without a computer, plain human beings are rather helpless these days.

[cardigankid]

What she should have done had she had any warning of the sad event is to go out and max the card right across Europe. A couple of years ago you could have got £50k on one of these cards.

Then let the muppets sort it out.

Might as well die laughing!

[Jinx]

As I've always said - you can't take it with you when you go but time it right and you can take a load of the banks!

[Simpo Two]

But seriously, surely the Estate is liable for outstanding bills - so the beneficiaries end up paying for it.

[Boozy]

cardigankid said:

What she should have done had she had any warning of the sad event is to go out and max the card right across Europe. A couple of years ago you could have got £50k on one of these cards.

Then let the muppets sort it out.

Might as well die laughing!

Isn't the estate liable for any debts, or are they written off?

[Dugiet]

Computer says NO

[Nobody You Know]

Skyrat said:

Only in Ireland !!!!

I doubt it, that kind of stupidity is prevelant across the world in the banking/insurance sector.

[Jinx]

Simpo Two said:

But seriously, surely the Estate is liable for outstanding bills - so the beneficiaries end up paying for it.

If its "unsecured" debt then they can request payment from the estate but there is no legal requirement.

[Skyrat]

Nobody You Know said:

Skyrat said:

Only in Ireland !!!!

I doubt it, that kind of stupidity is prevelant across the world in the banking/insurance sector.

Lol true. That was C&P'd with the email. Not my words.

[cardigankid]

Boozy said:

cardigankid said:

What she should have done had she had any warning of the sad event is to go out and max the card right across Europe. A couple of years ago you could have got £50k on one of these cards.

Then let the muppets sort it out.

Might as well die laughing!

Isn't the estate liable for any debts, or are they written off?

This would not only happen in ireland. A few years ago I kept getting big Amex bills sent to a fictitious person at my address. I called Amex and warned them that their client did not exist and to stop sending stuff to my address. They said that the account was not 'delinquent' and more or less to f off. I warned them their 'client' could go out and buy a Porsche with the card, and the wonk at the other end said he hoped she would.

Yes, the estate is liable, but if you are sufficiently adept to run up a stonking credit card bill before snuffing it, you have enough savvy to disburse your assets before you go as well, leaving only a brown envelope for the undertaker and the Funeral Purveyors.

[Arese]

You say only in Ireland, but won't the Irish customers go through to the call centre in Chester?

[GingerNinja]

When my father died a few years ago, me and siblings spent a few days phoning all utilities, banks etc to sort out the details for Mum. Nearly without exception, a mistake was made registering the changes with all different parties.....mainly incorrect names or addresses - but there were a few more serious errors that took place; highlights being Barclays bouncing the cheque to the undertakers, and RBS calling in the debt collectors on Dad's credit card (we'd phoned up, informed them of the death and requested a final statement in order to clear it - they'd taken that to say we weren't going to pay it).

While not completely unsurprising, I hadn't realised quite how universally and staggeringly incompenant people are that man the phone lines in this country - but then I guess, that's why they man phone lines.

[Sciroccology]

Personally, when/if the doc's give me 6 months to live (and, to be fair, it's only a matter of time), I'd go bonkers on every credit card and unsecured loan I can get my hands on. I'd then spend my final days in a blur of Caterhams, Audi RS6's, drugs, booze, f-off plasma TV's and very expensive hookers.

My surviving family get to pay off my debt, you say? Brilliant. I won't care, as I'll be dead.

It's a win-win for me.

[cardigankid]

No, your surviving family have no responsibility for your debts whatsoever. That is a myth. If they have any sense they have already scarpered with your valuables, leaving the credit card boys to sort it out amongst themselves!

Your estate is liable, but if you have spent that too, what can anyone do but go tut, tut.

The problem arises when you do all this then don't die, and have to face the music.

[ShadownINja]

cardigankid said:

No, your surviving family have no responsibility for your debts whatsoever. That is a myth. If they have any sense they have already scarpered with your valuables, leaving the credit card boys to sort it out amongst themselves!

Your estate is liable, but if you have spent that too, what can anyone do but go tut, tut.

The problem arises when you do all this then don't die, and have to face the music.

"Ok, doc, just hit me with it..."
"You've got 2 months to live..."

3 months later.

"Ah, Mr Smith, we appear to have made a mistake. Your tests came back negative."
"You bd!"

[LeeThePeople]

I had similar crap with Capitol one, i paid off his CC bill with the money from his estate but because he never got round too cancelling his account (the selfish tit was too busy croaking it )he was still liable for charges, 18 months on I still get a letter every month asking me to ring them. Its always the same questions and same old crap, told them id probably have a good case for harrasment as im grieving etc and they told me it wouldnt be harrasment if i paid up!!!

[alsem]

Dugiet said:

Computer says NO