Bill collectors trying to collect deceased person's bad debts.

[raccoon]

Last night in a meeting a woman said that bill collectors were pestering her for a bad
debt her deceased ex-husband (died in 1999) had left behind.

Another woman said that bill collecting companies buy bad loans from other companies
and then try to collect them. And the first woman didn't have to pay a darn thing, just to
tell them to quit harassing her.

I've seen posts on this subject before here, about adult children being dunned for bills
left by deceased parents. I bet these bill collectors count on most people not knowing that they aren't responsible for deceased people's bills, and think they will go ahead and pay it.

It is my understanding that when someone dies, creditors can go after the ESTATE of the
deceased, but not their survivors.

[tanyev]

1. I got a message on my answering machine from a debt collector after my ex-husband's mother

passed away. Really surprised me--I hadn't had contact with him or her in years. I just ignored it. It was only a few days after she passed, and I'm sure there was plenty of money in her estate to cover any outstanding bills. Vultures.

[Hoyt]

2. When dad died 30 years ago, a casino in LV called and said my dad owed them money.

I told them that even if they came and broke my fingers, we didn't have anything.

They nicely replied, "We don't do that anymore, and will write it off. "

Laws vary by state, but I think your view is a good premise to operate from, short of getting a lawyer. Plus 1999 is a little old. If deceased person left substantial assets, they might have some claim. But, they'd have a hell of a time collecting.

[GreenPartyVoter]

3. From my experience when my dad passed away, the lawyer advertised that his

estate was in probate and creditors had either 6 or 9 months (I forget now) to make claims. After that time passed they couldn't make a claim. (At least, that's how I understood it.)