My debts re funeral costs

pamsdish

I am a pensioner on state pension and pension credit
My Husband died in March and left me with a funeral bill of 4000 pounds ,he had a funeral plan of 2004 pounds leaving just under 2000 pounds short,
I have paid the stone mason 550 pounds and owe 1350 pounds to funeral director and 200 pounds to Cardiff council.
i am paying funeral director 100 pounds a month and Council 10 pounds.
i was coping with this but unfortunately there are other debts,any solely in my husbands name died with him ,but there is 3095 in my name on a credit card from our joint account,this was also my husbands but its in my name.i realise I will have to pay this myself.
The bank has passed this to a recovery agency, after giving them all my expenses utilities etc they want me to pay them all surplus to them,I refused as this would leave me with no spare income for emergencies whatever.
What is a reasonable amount I can offer them until all funeral exs are paid off and I would be willing to increase payments.
Originally posted elsewhere on boards suggested I try here

LAM2011

Sorry for your loss. I cant really help but hopefully someone else will. I am sure I read somewhere on these forums about a bereavement benefit which may be able to help you financially. x

poppasmurf_bewdley

Sorry about your loss. I'm sure this problem is only adding to your grief.

Make an offer you can afford to the CC company, say around £20 per month. Tell them that this is a final offer and all you can afford, and that you have other liabilities to meet as well. Tell them that if they are not satisfied with the amount offered, you will be happy for it to go to court and you will make the same offer to the judge. I am sure they will accept it. If not, let it go to court. You have nothing to lose and everything to gain.

I'm sure you won't qualify for any help from the state for funeral costs.

chevalier

I too have heard about bereavement grants. Someone from the boards got them so please check that you aren't missing out on this.

Have you made sure that the council know you are now on your own, so that you only pay single persons council tax?

so very sorry for your loss.
chev

magpiecottage

The debt on the credit card will depend on whose name the account was in - it will be one or other of you, not joint.

The bank must leave you with enough to live on and to meet priority debts but is not under any obligation to leave you with an emergency buffer.

So I am afraid that they do seem to be within their rights.

It may be worth speaking to the CAB to see if they have any ideas or know of any grants that might be available to you.

pamsdish

Thanks for your quick responses ,I do not qualify for any grants ,and I am willing to pay the debt but at a rate that does not leave me destitute, my husband was the principal account holder and I was added about 7 years ago ,previously I had my own account but made more sense to put everything together then, as we neared retirement.

TonyMMM

Credit Cards are not usually "joint" .... if you were an authorised user of your husbands card, the debt forms part of his estate and you are NOT responsible for it.

Write a letter confirming that there are no assets in the estate to pay the outstanding amount - they will try and persuade you that you are responsible, do not give in to their blackmail.

pamsdish

Sorry I don`t understand, we had a joint bank account separate debit cards,my name on them, then I was given credit cards with my name on , does this mean my debt or my husbands ???

Malkin157

Do you have any assets from which to release equity? House / Car?

pamsdish

No ,we live in rented accomodation,I am claiming H/B and community charge benefit, there is a car 1999 T reg ,not worth a lot but worth hanging on to if I can.

TonyMMM

You need to be absolutely sure about the status of the account ... Credit card accounts are not usually "joint" (although they can be).

Usually they are in one name, with the other person being an "authorised user". E.g. My wife has a credit card with her name on it, but it is still charged to my account.

Having a joint bank account does not automatically make any other accounts/cards joint.

You need to check carefully what was agreed at the time the cards were taken out. Banks are experts at making you feel morally responsible for money that may not be your debt.

A clue may be to look at who were the statements addressed to, before March, just your husband or to "Mr & Mrs ...." ?