Deceased mother's credit cards closed and debt written off

Yet_More_Puddylove

Dear MSE forumites
My mum died in June 20, in Scotland, leaving my sister and I as both executors and beneficiaries.
We informed the banks of her passing immediately, by filling in online forms, giving them the electronic death certificate that the registrar gave us.   

In her will she has left us her house, as well as some savings/shares etc, and some credit card and overdraft debts.

My sister and I have been unable to proceed far with the confirmation process  since June 20 due to lockdown - neither of us could get to the house (where the banks insisted on sending correspondence), or to the bank branches, or the lawyer's office in person.   
Since lockdown was lifted, we have been trying (yet again - we have both tried many times) to get the closing balance of all her accounts for the lawyer.  
But now, to both our astonishment, the banks are telling us they have closed the credit card accounts (with a total of around £12k debt on them) and written them off.
Why would they do this, when the estate has sufficient funds to pay the debts - and what should we do about it?

The bank has, I might add, behaved very badly throughout - and hasn't followed it's stated bereavement processes and procedures, but we haven't complained at all.

Any advice welcomed.

Marcon

Yet_More_Puddylove said:

But now, to both our astonishment, the banks are telling us they have closed the credit card accounts (with a total of around £12k debt on them) and written them off.
Why would they do this, when the estate has sufficient funds to pay the debts - and what should we do about it?

The bank has, I might add, behaved very badly throughout - and hasn't followed it's stated bereavement processes and procedures, but we haven't complained at all.

Why would you do anything about it? The 'badly behaved' bank has written off £12K debts, so not really sure what you're worrying about?

Yet_More_Puddylove

Marcon said:

Yet_More_Puddylove said:

But now, to both our astonishment, the banks are telling us they have closed the credit card accounts (with a total of around £12k debt on them) and written them off.
Why would they do this, when the estate has sufficient funds to pay the debts - and what should we do about it?

The bank has, I might add, behaved very badly throughout - and hasn't followed it's stated bereavement processes and procedures, but we haven't complained at all.

Why would you do anything about it? The 'badly behaved' bank has written off £12K debts, so not really sure what you're worrying about?

I suppose we are worrying because it seems so irrational that it must be yet another mistake by the bank.   
And perhaps we should add the debts as liabilities for the lawyer in case the bank realises its error and asks us for the money later?

Marcon

Have they confirmed in writing that the debts have been written off?

Yet_More_Puddylove

Marcon said:

Have they confirmed in writing that the debts have been written off?

No, they say they won't give a statement for a closed account.  It's a nightmare, dealing with the banks - it should be so straightforward too.

Keep_pedalling

Yet_More_Puddylove said:

Marcon said:

Have they confirmed in writing that the debts have been written off?

No, they say they won't give a statement for a closed account.  It's a nightmare, dealing with the banks - it should be so straightforward too.

It is possible that they have not written off the debt but have sold them on.

Silvertabby

Was your mum paying some form of insurance, whereby any outstanding balance would be 'paid' in the event of her death?  If so, payments should show on her monthly statements.

Yet_More_Puddylove

Keep-pedalling - can they sell on debts from a deceased person?  Even a basic credit check would show that...and they would not be allowed to charge interest after my Mum's death so no advantage to the buyer.

Silvertabby - not that we can find.

This bank's level of incompetence throughout has been amazing - who would have thought we would be unable to get closing statements in 15 months of trying?