Help! Father Died And left Unknown Huge Debt

madduck

I wouldn't imagine that the credit card companies would make any attempt to recover any of the monies that your father owed them.

From personal experience, my younger sister took her own life just over a year ago and had massive debts. She had no assets as such, only personal belongings such as jewellery that she had received as gifts. At the time we were just so shellshocked - we didn't really think about what would happen. I remember sitting calling round all of the companies a couple of days after it happened. My mother was frantic. She thought that we might have to sell our house, take out loans, etc., to pay back the money that was owed.

In the end, I found the companies to be great - very understanding and sympathetic. I had to send them copies of the death certificate. But they didn't even ask for any other financial information. I suppose in the circumstances of my sisters death they would have known that there wouldn't be a payout on an insurance policy - but they didn't even ask about bank balance or if she had a car. As it was she had a kick-!!! overdraft and a car on finance - but I suppose she could have!

The only problem that we had was that administative systems that the various companies use sometimes don't work. Barclaycard for example put her account on hold until they received the death certificate. However, that was a temporary hold and someone had forgotten to update it after they got it. A couple of weeks later we received a nasty letter addressed to my sister looking for their money.

Thinking about you and your family at this sad time. The only thing that you can do is to be there for each other. Hopefully you will have similar experiences to me in that the credit card companies are understanding and helpful - but even if they aren't - don't let them stress you.

Take care

Louise1521

Really sorry to hear about your Dad.

Regarding the debt a similar thing happened to our family when my Mum died 18mths ago. I wrote to the companies involved, explaining the situation and stated that there was no estate to pay the debt out of, which was true. The majority of the companies were excellent.

Hope you get it all sorted out soon.

Dr.Shoe_2

Did any of the debts have payment protection insurance? The creditors will almost certainly claim against that.

biglad

just my two pence worth.

my grandfather passes away and i had to sort it out for him, he had lots of debts with credit cards and all the companies were excellent, as others have said, you just need to send the death certificate off.

my condolances to you and your family

LJD1_2

Sorry nothing to add but just wanted send hugs and condolances. Take care and I hope it's all sorted out quickly for you.

lynsayjane

i'm sat here sobbing after reading all these.

i'm truly very sorry for your loss, fortunatly i have not lost either of my parents but i had the same feelings of guilt when my maternal grandfather died. i never knew my gran, she died when mum was only 17. i had the chance to know my granda but never did anything about it. we saw him once a year on hogmany as it was also his bday. when he died i was only about 16 but i sat in that hospital room with my aunt (we sent everyone else home) all night taling ot him and telling him all about me. at some point in the morning i fell asleep for five mins, while i was asleep he died. i still believe to this day he waited till i 'wasnt there'.

a year or two ago i went to a psychic for the first time with my friend, slightly sceptical but looking for proof either way. the psychic told me my granda was there, at the time i didnt believe it cause we'd had no link in life. she started talking all about how i didn't know him in life which was why he was there now. i won't bore you with all the details of what was said, but ever since when i need strength it's my granda i ask of. i do my own tarot cards (and even the odd spell once or twice) and it's always my granda that responds.

dont' rightly know the pointi had at the start of this. but i believe those we love are always with us and i know your dad is with you and his wife at this time. i hope you both get the reasurance from the creditors that others on this thread feel you will receive, i have no experience so can't comment.

big hugs to you both.

Taylor_2

Please accept my condolences. I cannot offer any advise. Just support

Norfolk_Jim

I hope you are feeling a little more reassured now. When my mother died, 4 years ago, she left numerous credit card and other debts. She had them all filed away in her room and they ran into thousands and thousands of pounds but she had no money saved or any valuable possessions. She had named a solicitor as executor of her will and I phoned him and explained what we had found, re: all these debts. We sent the lot to him and that was the last we ever heard of the debts. Mum lived with us at the time so we were worried that the creditors, Nat West, Barclays etc would come after the family for repayment but apparently the debts died with her. So unless your Dads accounts were joint accounts, you mum wont be liable for them. Of course it was much easier for us having a solicitor, but you can get help at no cost from CAB. I know its a worry at the time and all kinds of questions and scenarios come into your head, but unsecured debt is exactly that, unsecured. It sounds like you are doing the right things in any case. Sorry about your loss

anniewoo

My condolences to you,fiddiweb

When my husband died 8 years ago,I found that he owed more than £4000 on various credit cards which I had known nothing about.
He did not have enough money in his bank account to cover these debts and there was no way I could pay because I had no money of my own.I was beside myself thinking I was going to lose my house,but I phoned all the companies concerned and they were so kind and understanding when I explained the situation and they all agreed to write off the debts.

I know the sum of money in your case is larger than mine,but I hope you can resolve the situation.

Hugs to you.