You’re Dead? That Won’t Stop the Debt Collector

[groovedaddy]

MINNEAPOLIS — The banks need another bailout and countless homeowners cannot handle their mortgage payments, but one group is paying its bills: the dead. Dozens of specially trained agents work on the third floor of DCM Services here, calling up the dear departed’s next of kin and kindly asking if they want to settle the balance on a credit card or bank loan, or perhaps make that final utility bill or cellphone payment.

The people on the other end of the line often have no legal obligation to assume the debt of a spouse, sibling or parent. But they take responsibility for it anyway.

“I am out of work now, to be honest with you, and money is very tight for us,” one man declared on a recent phone call after he was apprised of his late mother-in-law’s $280 credit card bill. He promised to pay $15 a month.

Dead people are the newest frontier in debt collecting, and one of the healthiest parts of the industry. Those who dun the living say that people are so scared and so broke it is difficult to get them to cough up even token payments.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/04/business/04dead.html?_r=1&th&emc=th

[Captain Hilts]

1. I kept telling my kin NOT to pay them. Make them come after the estate when it is settled. nt

[Democrats_win]

2. Why does the collection agency call someone who doesn't owe them money?

This should be illegal. Remember, only the devil collects after death. Just so these f**kers know.

[notadmblnd]

3. I paid my husbands debt when he died. I think I was financially obligated

However, I did not pay the debt on a car loan he co-signed for a relative whose car was repossessed. They tried to collect from me once.

[Sebastian Doyle]

4. More class warfare from the ultra rich.

Prescott Bush can fund Hitler and profit from concentration camp slave labor. Poppy Bush can take those profits and multiply them by selling heroin and cocaine, and running oil swindles all over the planet. And because the Repukes have gutted the estate tax, they have ensured that Jenna & Tonic, or Jeb's crackhead daughter will never have to work a day in their lives.

4th generation living off of money, and not a dime of it was earned honestly. But god forbid an average person should die and a Wall Street Vampire credit card company lose any money.

Class warfare? It's been going on for at least 28 years, and it's time we fought back.

[marew]

5. I think many of the calls are bogus.

My father passed away in '99 and I KNOW FOR SURE he had no credit card balances. He was in assisted living and hadn't used a credit card for years before that. And when he did use a card he NEVER carried a balance, not once. Then in '08 I got suddenly got a call asking me to pay off a balance I'd never heard of. Something really rotten there!

[8 track mind]

6. that's interesting

Do you think someone got his SSN and got a credit card via deceptive means? It seems like there was a scam a few years back where this was taking place.

[marew]

8. I think that is a possibility.

They could very well have gotten that info where he lived, got a card in his name and charged stuff and never paid. I had to disconnect the phone because staff were making long distance calls and sometimes personal belongings "disappeared" Nice people, huh?

[RaleighNCDUer]

7. Straight out of "Paper Moon"

"Yes, ma'am, I'm here delivering the bible ordered by Mr Jethro Hawkins. He's passed on? I'm so sorry. I'm sure he'd be glad to know the good book he ordered will be a treasured memento. That'll be $20, ma'am."

(not the real quote)