Using a dead persons credit card.

fin7

Hi, this is my first post so please be gentle.

I know someone who's husband died about 4 maybe 5 weeks ago. He had bought their daughter a car on finance, the wife has taken the car and says there is nothing owing on the car now that he's dead, I read someone that this type of finance doesn't die with the person but I'm not sure about that really. Anyway, because she was driving her husbands motability car she is classed as a new driver, I was horrified when she told me that she insure the car two weeks ago at a cost of £1600 and she used her dead husbands credit car online to pay for it. She has been letting her daughter drive the car, she claims that she has told the insurance and they've added no extra payment, I kind of find that hard to believe as the car is a year old sporty type peugeot and she's under 25.

As far as I can gather from her she's paid a few thing on this card since the husband died, I've tried to explain that what she is doing is fraud, but she think that if she pays the monthly payments she isn't breaking any laws.

Now I know this is all none of my business and quiet frankly I really wish she'd never told me. I don't want her to get into trouble but I can see it heading that way.
As for me, I'm way out of my depth with this.
fin

kazwookie

I would say it is fraud of some sort. She is likely to be in deep trouble when found out.

fin7

Thanks for the reply, to be honest I'm more worried about the whole thing than she is.

fin

worried_jim

She could be a named cardholder.

Barneysmom

She's probably not thinking straight due to her hubby dying?
Is there someone in her family who can talk to her?

fin7

Her names not on the card, she's racked up debit all over so he didn't trust her.

The weekend they told the family that he wouldn't last the weekend they went to a party, there's no love lost between them. Have to say her behaviour before and since he died has really shocked me.

WhiteHorse

It's fraud. Don't get involved with it. She knows what she's doing so don't try and 'save' her. From what you've said about her she's got it coming, so just let things take their course.

ElkyElky

When it does come out that the husband had died, the banks will be wanting a copy of the death certificate and they'll see that someone has been using the card after the husband died. Even though the card isn't in her name, if she is spending money she isn't entitled to, I'm sure the banks will do everything they can to ensure she repays all amounts she has spent (and possibly the husbands original debt? I'm not sure). This is blatant fraud and the banks won't be happy.

As for the car insurance thing, the insurance company will undoubtedly charge for adding her daughter to her policy. I'm under 25 and my mother was quoted over £1300 to add me to her policy so I can safely say she is lying in that respect.

It sounds like she's taking the death of her husband really badly and it's always horrible to loose someone close to us but the police aren't going to turn a blind eye to her law breaking just because of her circumstances. If the daughter is caught, both of them will be fined heavily (upto £5000 if I remember correctly) and 6-8 points. If I were you, I would anonymously report this to the police for the safety of the daughter and the public.

Hax

worried_jim wrote: »

She could be a named cardholder.

I know this isn't the case here - but if she was a named cardholder, the account would still be her husband's and therefore she should still not be using it.

Anyway, it's definitely fraudulent. She's obtaining money using a credit card that isn't hers.

As for the car - if the finance used to buy it was secured against the car, then she has no claim to it. My understanding is that whilst ANY amount is left outstanding on a debt secured against something like a car, the item remains the property of the finance company. If she contacted the finance company, they would either want the outstanding debt repaid or the car returned.

bengalknights

Im presuming that no creditors etc have been notified abouth the death hence why the account is still open.The problem the person may have now is that she is fraudulently using this card and the creditors once aware of the death may well pursue her or if the deceased owns the home then take the balance from the estate through a forced sale and make her homeless.

LauraLeah91104

report her to the police, its horrible that she has lost someone close, but she obviously doesnt soound that bothered by it. have u tried having a chat with her daughter?
Give the police her registration number, then when she leaves the house, ring them and tell them what u think she is up to, they should follow it up...normally things like this snowball, she will be arrested, break down in interview and come clean, the police then should also contact the banks to inform them that he has died and she has been using his card for everything...thats the problem with lying, u tell one and then two, then you tell that many, you cant remember them, but others do....then its too late and ure stuck without a paddle...