Catalogue debt

staceyk15

Hi my dad passed away in June and had a studio catalogue with a balance of £1000.  He had no assets apart from about £4000 left in his bank when he died which was obviously used to pay for the funeral , I informed studio of his death and told them there is no estate etc they then replied saying its been sent to debt collection. That was in June, I still haven't received anything so does anyone know what will happen with this when I finally hear from them?

Also, just found out he had a next catalogue open in his name with about 400 on it, I haven't informed them yet just wondering if anyone has dealt with next after a customer death as I don't want to be hounded by debt collection when there's no money left. Thanks

[Deleted User]

If there are no remaining funds, then you just need to tell them that - they can;t enforce the debt against anyone else.

You should tell any other creditors as well - you won't be hounded by debt collectors, but they will be sending letters and other activity addressed to your father if you allow the debt to go unserviced. You don't want that.

sourcrates

The debt dies with the deceased basically, if there are no assets left to cover any outstanding debts, you just inform the creditor of that in writing.

Credit cards/loans/catalogue debts are all unsecured, non priority debts, for which the named debtor is the only one ever responsible for liability, no one else.

The initial response from studio seems to be quite strange, how can you send debt collection letters to a deceased individual, this would warrant an official written complaint in my book, they obviously mis-understood what you were telling them.

macman

Write to Next with a copy of the death certificate, stating that the estate is insolvent, and you should hear nothing more.

fatbelly

For the sake of transparency I would also prepare a sheet listing his assets (savings)

Then deducting funeral costs showing a net negative figure.

Have that ready for anyone who comes chasing.

I would also complain about Studio if they persist. What they may have meant is 'we have previously sent this to Collection but will recall it' and that's why you've heard nothing.