Family Member Died - o2 want all the money.

Roland_Flagg

I contacted o2 to tell them my niece had passed away and her
family want the contract closed down.

I got this reply:
"You need to pay the term fees for remaining months of the contract"

Can I do anything about this?

WestonDave

If she (the niece) had any assets at the time of death (e.g. a savings account) then yes any debts she had such as this contract should be paid from them. If she died leaving nothing then there is no obligation on anyone else to pay the deceased's debts. The only other potential complication is if anyone acted as guarantor for the contract then they would be liable to pay but that's unlikely.

grumbler

Roland_Flagg wrote: »

Can I do anything about this?

Just don't pay.

custardy

Sorry for your loss.I woul write a letter to them with a copy of the death certificate making them aware she has died and you wish them to terminate the contract. mention you can return the handset if required(assuming you can)
They can obviously look to get the money from the estate but I doubt they would

wantmemoney

WestonDave wrote:

If she (the niece) had any assets at the time of death (e.g. a savings account) then yes any debts she had such as this contract should be paid from them.

I don't think this is correct.

Under the terms of the contract the niece would only owe the money if the niece had terminated the contract early.
The simple fact is that o2 has a contract with a deceased person which pretty well makes that contract null and void.

Let them trash her credit rating.

gjchester

wantmemoney wrote: »

The simple fact is that o2 has a contract with a deceased person which pretty well makes that contract null and void.

My Sympathies to the OP.

My understanding is your right the contract should cease, and the network simply becomes a creditor of the estate, however it would be a hard hearted network who would not simply write off the contract on receipt of a copy of the death certificate.

This does assume no-one has been using the phone (or any other service) in the mean time, as that would need to be paid for somehow.

visidigi

I would phone o2 again and ask if they have a department that deals with contracts in this situation.

I know other networks do, I would expect the same of o2.

Deal with this department.

im-lost

just don't do anything, what are they going to do? chase after a dead person?
im sure the courts would take a dim view of a network or someone working on its behalf harassing the relatives of a dead person.

Buzby

I'm sure a credit file default won't worry the deceased in the slightest, but ignoring the issue by doing nothing means ongoing DCA action which will be painful for hose remaining.

Send a copy of the Death Certificate and get them to confirm the A/c is closed.

DUTR

Buzby wrote: »

I'm sure a credit file default won't worry the deceased in the slightest, but ignoring the issue by doing nothing means ongoing DCA action which will be painful for hose remaining.

Send a copy of the Death Certificate and get them to confirm the A/c is closed.

Indeed, they have a proceedure for if the lead account holder passes.
But the OP's word will not be good enough, a copy of the DC will bring this episode to a close.

Herongull

Contracts end with the death of one of the parties.

As your niece has died, the contract has ended. There is no termination fee because she hasn't terminated the contract - it has just ended (as all contracts do in this situation).

They can't even chase the estate for any money because there is no debt. No contract = no debt.

You don't have to return the phone as this is the nieces property and passes to the estate.