Credit cards of deceased cardholder

[disney2]

Is there a list of companies and how to best notify them that a cardholder is deceased?  Such as phone number to call, email to send, etc?  I've looked and can't find a list like that.

[Anonymous]

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@disney2 wrote:

Is there a list of companies and how to best notify them that a cardholder is deceased?  Such as phone number to call, email to send, etc?  I've looked and can't find a list like that.

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When my mom died from Covid last year I was the one in charge of her finances. She had 14 open credit cards. Only 2 with balances and they where under $100 each.

To stop any identy fraud as criminals do look for recently deceased to open accounts in deceased names before the banks find out.

I simply printed a form letter saying the person has died and had an account with you.

I included her full name, ss #, and DOB along with a copy of the death certificate

The address to send this to is on the monthly statements or you can call the number on the back of the card and ask them for their mailing address.

I hope this helps

Sorry about your loss

Thanks

Mark

[disney2]

Thank you so much.  That does help a lot.  I will get a letter done and make copies of the death certificate.  He had many cards so I will get those right out.  

[coldfusion]

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@disney2 wrote:

Thank you so much.  That does help a lot.  I will get a letter done and make copies of the death certificate.  He had many cards so I will get those right out.  

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First of all, sorry for your loss.

You were given the correct info.   Also, if a card has a balance either the issuer or a contracted 3rd party should reply with a letter addressed to "The Estate of XXX YYY" to coordinate final payment as the estate, assuming it is large enough, is now responsible for the debt.

[SoCalGardener]

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@disney2 wrote:

Is there a list of companies and how to best notify them that a cardholder is deceased?  Such as phone number to call, email to send, etc?  I've looked and can't find a list like that.

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Please accept my condolences on your recent loss.

When my mother died, I just called the number on her Discover card (her ONLY card!), then they put me through to the department that handles this issue. I offered to send them a copy of her death certificate or whatever they needed, told them to send her final bill to me, and at the end of the call the CSR asked if I'd like to transfer the card to my name. WHAT?! I didn't know that could be done! I said yes, and thus inherited a card opened in 1991--with a perfect payment history. You may want to ask about that, too, if you're interested and it applies to you. I don't know whether all banks offer that option.

[ChargedUp]

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@SoCalGardener wrote:

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@disney2 wrote:

Is there a list of companies and how to best notify them that a cardholder is deceased?  Such as phone number to call, email to send, etc?  I've looked and can't find a list like that.

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Please accept my condolences on your recent loss.

When my mother died, I just called the number on her Discover card (her ONLY card!), then they put me through to the department that handles this issue. I offered to send them a copy of her death certificate or whatever they needed, told them to send her final bill to me, and at the end of the call the CSR asked if I'd like to transfer the card to my name. WHAT?! I didn't know that could be done! I said yes, and thus inherited a card opened in 1991--with a perfect payment history. You may want to ask about that, too, if you're interested and it applies to you. I don't know whether all banks offer that option.

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Sorry for your loss OP.

Yes, that is something Discover has done before from reading the pages around here. I wish I'd known this as my mothers Discover card was opened in 1986. She passed in 2011 and I simply mailed them a letter with a copy of the death certificate. They mailed back that the account was closed and no balance was owed.

[SoCalGardener]

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@ChargedUp wrote:

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@SoCalGardener wrote:

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@disney2 wrote:

Is there a list of companies and how to best notify them that a cardholder is deceased?  Such as phone number to call, email to send, etc?  I've looked and can't find a list like that.

---

Please accept my condolences on your recent loss.

When my mother died, I just called the number on her Discover card (her ONLY card!), then they put me through to the department that handles this issue. I offered to send them a copy of her death certificate or whatever they needed, told them to send her final bill to me, and at the end of the call the CSR asked if I'd like to transfer the card to my name. WHAT?! I didn't know that could be done! I said yes, and thus inherited a card opened in 1991--with a perfect payment history. You may want to ask about that, too, if you're interested and it applies to you. I don't know whether all banks offer that option.

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Sorry for your loss OP.

Yes, that is something Discover has done before from reading the pages around here. I wish I'd known this as my mothers Discover card was opened in 1986. She passed in 2011 and I simply mailed them a letter with a copy of the death certificate. They mailed back that the account was closed and no balance was owed.

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Oh, that's a shame. I'm so happy to have a 30-year-old account, with perfect history, on my credit bureau reports now! It would've been great to inherit one from 1986. Oh well, live and learn, right?

[NichelleN]

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@SoCalGardener wrote:

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@disney2 wrote:

Is there a list of companies and how to best notify them that a cardholder is deceased?  Such as phone number to call, email to send, etc?  I've looked and can't find a list like that.

---

Please accept my condolences on your recent loss.

When my mother died, I just called the number on her Discover card (her ONLY card!), then they put me through to the department that handles this issue. I offered to send them a copy of her death certificate or whatever they needed, told them to send her final bill to me, and at the end of the call the CSR asked if I'd like to transfer the card to my name. WHAT?! I didn't know that could be done! I said yes, and thus inherited a card opened in 1991--with a perfect payment history. You may want to ask about that, too, if you're interested and it applies to you. I don't know whether all banks offer that option.

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I experienced the same with Discover. My mother's Discover account went back to the late 80's. Unfortunately, my brother had been managing her finances and there were recent lates and a significant balance owed. I did not choose to take over the account when she passed, but I was offered the opportunity. You learn a lot when dealing with an estate, debt and the finances of a deceased loved one. 

[Save-n-Invest]

While waiting for the letters and death certs to be processed you can also write DECEASED RETURN TO SENDER on the outside of the bill. That shuts eveything down quickly.

[coldfusion]

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@Save-n-Invest wrote:

While waiting for the letters and death certs to be processed you can also write DECEASED RETURN TO SENDER on the outside of the bill. That shuts eveything down quickly.

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You were successfull at this yourself?    I would have thought they would be wary of accepting this type of notification at face value because it could so easily be abused.