Balance left on deceased relative's credit card

slambos

HI, my uncle in law passed away some time ago and his wife is now living in a care home. The solicitors dealing with his estate have gone incommunicado due the only solicitor now being unwell. A couple of months ago we managed to get some of the details of my uncle's assets and liabilities, and I noticed that he had an outstanding balance of a few pounds on his only credit card. I have attempted to get further info (e.g. c card issuer, the acc and sort code) for the relevant account but to no avail. I am hoping that the solicitor notified all his banks of his death but I'm not sure and do not want this outstanding balance to accrue with interest and charges. My question is this: if I cannot get in contact with the bank and they still do not know that he's passed, will the bank still expect additional charges incurred after his death to be settled by the estate? Or maybe they will 'scrap' them once they have official notification of the date of his death? 

Any help will be most appreciated.

Thanks

la531983

Most companies will simple write off any debt below a certain amount, the store card company I worked for in the early 2000's used to write off any debt below £30 and wouldnt even chase late payment on these.

How big is the balance?

slambos

The balance was £4 a few months ago. I've not done the maths but I imagine with the usual interest rate couplep with charges this could go way above £30, especially as I don't know how long this will go on for

mta999

don't want to sound harsh but if the solicitors are the executor(s) why are you doing this ?

slambos

I agree, but I don't have faith in them having contacted the banks and trying to get info from them has been difficult. I'm going to try and speak with them again tomorrow

la531983

slambos said:

The balance was £4 a few months ago. I've not done the maths but I imagine with the usual interest rate couplep with charges this could go way above £30, especially as I don't know how long this will go on for

It wont get anywhere near that. A few months of non payment and it will get written off. Its a miniscule amount.

You likely have bigger things to worry about.

NoodleDoodleMan

Did your uncle in law and/or aunt grant you power of attorney ?

I'm assuming you are next of kin ?

SiliconChip

NoodleDoodleMan said:

Did your uncle in law and/or aunt grant you power of attorney ?

Even if the uncle did grant POA it's irrelevant now as it ended with his death.

NoodleDoodleMan

The aunt is still alive I believe.

slambos

My uncle sadly didn't make an LPA. He made his wife (my auntie) executor however she no longer has the mental ability to make any decisions. My cousin has a Court of Protection order for her. I am down as next in line executor for both my uncle and aunt.  

slambos

my aunt had made my uncle her executor however clearly he cannot fulfil that role.