In case it happens
May. 1st, 2009 08:49 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
trickykittyI posted about issues between my dad and his parents' credit union upon the death of my grandmother. Here's something new that came up with a customer at work that I could very well see being a similar issue among other married couples who lose a spouse.
This customer's husband passed away just before lots of work was needing to be done at her home. She worked hard to get us paid when we requested a second retainer to continue the work after the first retainer was depleted. The second retainer, a 5822.20 payment, was on a MasterCard that was apparently only in her husband's name. She thought it was a joint account that was bought out from two previous Sears cards and didn't think much of using it at the time. It was the only payment that she made toward this INV using that credit card.
When she called MasterCard to find out information about the charge and making payments she mentioned the death of her husband during the conversation. They closed the account immediately, ended the call with her at that time, and are now disputing the charge with her (whether or not they will even carry the balance, even though she's just waiting for a bill to start paying on it) yet refusing to talk with her about it because she was not originally on the account.
She's worried that MasterCard will come back on us and withdrawal the funds. I don't know if they can do that at this point, but I told her we would call her directly if we received any notice of that nature. I believe she would make good on the balance if that were to happen. She's currently arguing with the credit card company on her end so that hopefully it does not affect us.
The moral of this story is that married couples should be extra sure of who has what in who's name, especially if there is a death among the couple. Financial institutions are whiny little bitches.
UPDATE ON LINKED POST: Incidentally, my dad has been contacted and will most likely speak to the state senate/house committee that will be going over a bill which would force financial institutions to recognize power of attorneys. It's a drawn out process, so it will probably be a while before the committee convenes and he gets called for testimony, but he's ready to go at a moment's notice for this. He truly believes in making your voice heard, especially when "they've" pissed you off so much that you get to the point of trying to pass a government bill to make it right.
This customer's husband passed away just before lots of work was needing to be done at her home. She worked hard to get us paid when we requested a second retainer to continue the work after the first retainer was depleted. The second retainer, a 5822.20 payment, was on a MasterCard that was apparently only in her husband's name. She thought it was a joint account that was bought out from two previous Sears cards and didn't think much of using it at the time. It was the only payment that she made toward this INV using that credit card.
When she called MasterCard to find out information about the charge and making payments she mentioned the death of her husband during the conversation. They closed the account immediately, ended the call with her at that time, and are now disputing the charge with her (whether or not they will even carry the balance, even though she's just waiting for a bill to start paying on it) yet refusing to talk with her about it because she was not originally on the account.
She's worried that MasterCard will come back on us and withdrawal the funds. I don't know if they can do that at this point, but I told her we would call her directly if we received any notice of that nature. I believe she would make good on the balance if that were to happen. She's currently arguing with the credit card company on her end so that hopefully it does not affect us.
The moral of this story is that married couples should be extra sure of who has what in who's name, especially if there is a death among the couple. Financial institutions are whiny little bitches.
UPDATE ON LINKED POST: Incidentally, my dad has been contacted and will most likely speak to the state senate/house committee that will be going over a bill which would force financial institutions to recognize power of attorneys. It's a drawn out process, so it will probably be a while before the committee convenes and he gets called for testimony, but he's ready to go at a moment's notice for this. He truly believes in making your voice heard, especially when "they've" pissed you off so much that you get to the point of trying to pass a government bill to make it right.
