Cancel your credit cards before you die
Reported in the Newcastle Evening Chronicle U.K. Recently:
A lady died this past September, and MBNA bank billed her in October and November for their annual service charges on her credit card, and then in December added late fees and interest on the monthly charge.
The balance that had been £0.00, now is somewhere around £60.00.
A family member placed a call to the MBNA Bank:
Family Member: ‘I am calling to tell you that my grandma died in September.’
MBNA: ‘But the account was never closed and so the late fees and charges still apply.’
Family Member: ‘Maybe, you should turn it over to your collections section.’
MBNA: ‘Since it is two months overdue, 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 Department 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 September.’
MBNA: ‘But 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 solicitor?’
Family Member: ‘No, I’m her grandson’
MBNA: ‘Could you fax us a death certificate?’
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 will still apply.’
Family Member: ‘Would you like her new billing address?’
MBNA: ‘That would help.’
Family Member: ‘Plot 1049.’ Heaton Cemetery, Heaton Road , Newcastle upon Tyne
MBNA: ‘But, that’s a cemetery!’
Family Member: ‘Well, what the f*** do you do with dead people on your planet?’
The MBNA were not available for comment when a reporter from the Newcastle Evening Chronicle rang them.