Credit card debt after parents death

surreysaver

Markharrall wrote: »

The credit card was taken out on my mother and Fathers joint account, so as a signatory to the account, as I understand it, he was still liable for the amount.

No, you cannot have a joint credit card account. You can have what are called 'additional cardholders', but they are not responsible for the debt on the account - only the primary cardholder is.

PeacefulWaters

DalePie wrote: »

Away from all the grumpy old men who frequent MSE telling you all about "responsibility" the truth is the debt was in your mothers name, no one else's..

Where has anybody suggested otherwise?

I've read the thread twice and I'm still struggling.

g6jns_2

Markharrall wrote: »

Thanks for the feedback.

I apologise if I gave the impression that pensioners cannot afford new furniture or credit cards. All I meant was that they were both on a fixed income and ended up (from what I can tell) having to use the credit card to pay for some usual household expenses so that there was enough money in the account to service the debt. As the limit was reached, it was extended although there was no increased income into the house. As I am sure you can imagine it only compounded the issue in the long term.

The credit card was taken out on my mother and Fathers joint account, so as a signatory to the account, as I understand it, he was still liable for the amount. I understand that the bank may well be within their rights to have the debt repaid from the estate (there should be enough to cover it from the sale of the house etc) but I will see what they say. They did leave a will so probate etc. should be pretty straight forward.

Thanks again for the advice. I think I will contact the bank and see what their take on the situation is.

Mark

Don't take the bank's word for anything! They will try it on big time so get independent advice.