Do you think the collector would go after one's family if that person deceased?
By kingparker
@kingparker (9673)
United States
September 2, 2010 3:44pm CST
So, let's say one person owed some money from the credit card company, and that person suddenly pass away. More likely, the credit card company will sell their bad debts to a collection agency. When the collector find out that particular individual pass away, would they go after his/her family for this debt? Or is there a law protect the family from inherit that debt? Like some debt forgiveness law?
1 person likes this
2 responses
@natnickeep (2336)
• United States
2 Sep 10
It really depends on how big the bill is, who the company is and if they had any money. I worked for SBC collections and they expected us to try to get the bill paid no matter what. But if someone is deceased and their old 90 year old wife answers I am not bugging them about a phone bill. That's why I didn't work there for too much longer. It all depends really. But the family is usually responsible for the debts of their loved ones. Especially if they are high amounts, the companies feel like they still need to get paid.
@kingparker (9673)
• United States
3 Sep 10
But according to the U.S. laws, aren't that person who solely took out the loan should be his / her own responsibility, and another one else? Those collectors have no right to molest other family members.
@hardworkinggurl (37062)
• United States
2 Sep 10
Unless any family members are co-signers or signed a contract to be responsible for the bill it is highly impossible.
When a person passes, a collector is suppose seek out the estate for the person and if the person has no estate, legally they are out of luck.
Some companies can sneakingly try and try to collect but no law will substantiate that this can happen.
