Executor access to credit card statement

SiliconChip

I'm having an off-topic discussion on the credit card board with another poster who says that an executor cannot obtain credit card statements for the deceased. 

My position is that there's no reason why that wouldn't be possible, but I haven't needed to do it myself so I'm hoping that someone on here can provide evidence of their own attempts to get statements and say whether they were successful or not (and if not, what reason was given why they wouldn't be provided).

user1977

The executor ought to be able to access the same level of detail of any type of banking account as the deceased would have been able to. There isn't any (good) reason why they wouldn't be able to, other than the admin hassle of trying to get past the first level of customer service who insist on speaking to the deceased etc...

RAS

Talk to the bank's bereavement department in the first instance.

msb1234

As executor of my mum’s estate, I had been sent copies of her latest credit card statements and bank statement when I notified them of her death, upon production of her will showing me as executor. That’s from Tesco Bank, Virgin Money and Nat West Bank.

msb1234

user1977 said:

The executor ought to be able to access the same level of detail of any type of banking account as the deceased would have been able to. There isn't any (good) reason why they wouldn't be able to, other than the admin hassle of trying to get past the first level of customer service who insist on speaking to the deceased etc...

You need to phone the bereavement teams!

badmemory

An executor gaining access to statements for at least the last year isn't just a nice thing to have, it is essential.  An executor needs to pay the deceased's debts, not pay out stuff that should no longer be paid.  Statements can provide vital information regarding this.

km1500

an executor can certainly ask for the last seven years of deceased's bank statements - indeed as I have said before they need to do this to check if there are any potentially exempt transfers for inheritance tax purposes

when it comes to credit card statements however a deceased with not be able to ring up for example Barclaycard and say please send me the last seven years credit card statements for deceased they would simply refuse

Marcon

badmemory said:

An executor gaining access to statements for at least the last year isn't just a nice thing to have, it is essential.  

Why? It's the outstanding balance that will need to be settled. Any recurring payments will automatically be cancelled when the credit card provider is told of the death, so that's not a concern.

user1977

km1500 said:

when it comes to credit card statements however a deceased with not be able to ring up for example Barclaycard and say please send me the last seven years credit card statements for deceased they would simply refuse

Are you saying that in practice you know they would refuse, or also that they're entitled to refuse? If the latter, on what basis? And if the executor isn't entitled to the deceased's statements - who is?

SiliconChip

km1500 said:

an executor can certainly ask for the last seven years of deceased's bank statements - indeed as I have said before they need to do this to check if there are any potentially exempt transfers for inheritance tax purposes

when it comes to credit card statements however a deceased with not be able to ring up for example Barclaycard and say please send me the last seven years credit card statements for deceased they would simply refuse

You keep saying it but you're yet to offer anything to back up your position. Which is why I've asked on here for people who have been executors and have needed to see credit card statements what their experience is. @msb1234 has already confirmed that latest statements can be provided, but I'd like to see whether anyone has asked for historic statements. Like everyone on the thread but you I can see no basis for refusal, but perhaps there is a reason which someone can provide, given that you seem reluctant to do so.

Newly_retired

I requested and received 12m worth of credit card statements from RBS.