Phillips and Cohen Associates

fascinated

Hi, I just wondered whether anyone has had any experience of dealing with this firm?

By way of background (and I apologise if I am posting on the wrong forum) my mother died very suddenly and unexpectedly on the 02 February. Several debts have come to light, and at the moment all I have done is write to the creditors informing them of the death and telling them very little else.

My mother was not a homeowner, and had lapsed her life policy contributions, so in effect the estate is insolvent. There was no Will and so we have no need to apply for Probate / Letters of Administration.

The largest debt was with Littlewoods. I telephoned them and explained the situation, have sent them a copy of the Death Certificate and have told them there is no estate. Last week I got a letter from them saying they were passing everything over to their "Solicitors" Phillips and Cohen Associates.

I have googled this firm very quickly and they seem to be some sort of DCA who pursue debts. I am quite worried now.

I know legally that I have no obligation to pay my mother's debts and neither does her husband or any other member of the family, but I am still scared. I should say that we had absolutely no knowledge of the credit cards she had, and although we all knew she had a Littlewoods account we had no idea of the balance outstanding.

Anyone got any advice for me please?

Thanks guys.

Fasci xx

fascinated

I'm shamelessly bumping this up to try and keep it on the front page.

My other question is, as I have a Littlewoods account in my own name are they in any way able to add my mother's debt to my own?

Logic tells me no as I only signed a Credit Agreement for my own account and the payments on it are up to date and in order, but you never know what these people will try do you.

Many thanks.

Fasci xx

RAS

Hi

if there is no estate, the debt dies with your mother. If the DCA try to get another member of the family to pay, report them to the OFT.
In the mean-time send a letter of complaint to Littlewoods as they should n0ot be chasing the recently bereaved.

fascinated

Thanks RAS.

I know we are not liable for the debt, but it doesn't stop these people chasing and trying it on. I'll just stand my ground and report them to the OFT if need be.

I'm guessing though that as this thread has not had many replies there are not too many people out there who've had horrendous experiences with this Company. Hopefully they'll get the message pretty quickly then.

Thanks for the reply.

Fasci xx