Hire purchase agreements and mobile phone bills in dead family members name.

neiler987

Keeping this short a close family member of mine died a few weeks ago.

He had a hire puchase agreement out for a laptop and had a mobile phone bill but im in a bit of a limbo about what rights our family has about the goods and paying/not paying for them and the rights the companies have.

When we let the companies know that he died do we need proof like documentation or some sort of a letter to say that he past away ? Is it just a simple case of them repossessing the goods ?

I know they've should have known earlier about his death but it being very sudden and close to christmas took a lot of out of us so this wasnt really thought about.

Any advice would be appreciated thanks

dats_right

The companies will in all likelihood require a copy of your relative's Death Certificate. Any accounts will be closed and the debts will become debts of the estate. These debts are not the personal responsibility of family members unless they signed contracts jointly with the deceased relative or went guarantor.

Victor

If there are only small amounts outstanding, is it worth the while of a family member to take over these items?

Make sure you get a copy of any information (photos, contact details, financial records, etc.) on the laptop and possibly also the phone.