Credit card Debt

Richtaylor1971

HI Everyone, Im looking for advice.

My Brother had a heart attack a year and a half ago and was off work early 2020, Then came Covid and he had to shield , which he did for the rest of the year and beginning of this year.

Unfortunately, he contracted covid and spent 5 weeks in ICU in a coma before losing the fight and passing away 3 weeks ago.

He was not married, but had a partner of 30 years and 4 children (19-30yrs old now)

After his death, while informing banks, card companies, insurance etc, it came to light that he had 2 very large credit card balances totalling well over £25k. (Probably to keep things going while off). The 2 credit card companies are now gunning after one of his daughters (who works minimum hours) to pay the balance.

There are no guarantors to the cards and there is no way she can afford, or wants to take this on.

The family are on universal credit.

I was under the impression that if the Holder dies and not married , then the debt dies with them?

Any advice welcome as they are trying to mourne, but constantly being hounded by the banks for the money./ balance , and for a young 21 year old to now be told she faces £25k debt is terrible..!

For now, CAB have said for them to not sign anything, or discuss anything with the CC companies..

pbartlett

the card companies can only claim against the assets of the estate, noone else.

daughters etc do.not have to.pay it is not their debt.

the executors should inform the card companies of this. everyone else should ignore any letters they receive - just as cab advises

74jax

Is the daughter an executor? 

xylophone

If this debt was in your late brother's sole name then it is a debt of his estate.

Is his estate insolvent?

Richtaylor1971

hi all, thank you for your comments, no, she isn't an executor. his estate amounts to pennies really, he was on Universal Credit. they are dealing with Limited CAB as covid restricts face to face and they are on UC also (apart from daughter who has lower salary job)

No pension, minimal savings (couple of hundred pounds), no property as rented.

jimbo6977

The daughter should make a complaint of Harassment to the police. Plod almost certainly won't do anything, but a Crime Report Number should cause the creditors to back off. 

maman

So sorry for your loss.

Presumably the cards are in your late brother's sole name? I'm wondering how they've got the daughter's name. 🤔

Keep_pedalling

She should simply write formally to both creditors, explaining that his estate is insolvent, and that no one is administering it, Enclose a copy of the death certificate, and inform them that she will not respond to any further cominication.

Nearlyold

Richtaylor1971 said:

hi all, thank you for your comments, no, she isn't an executor. his estate amounts to pennies really, he was on Universal Credit. they are dealing with Limited CAB as covid restricts face to face and they are on UC also (apart from daughter who has lower salary job)

No pension, minimal savings (couple of hundred pounds), no property as rented.

Can you also confirm whether or not there was any life insurance in place?