When a loved one passes away, the last thing on your mind is their credit card bills.
However, in order to protect the deceased’s estate from additional charges, fees, or even identity theft, it’s important to remember that your loved one’s credit cards will remain open and active until you take the following three steps.
1. Call Credit Issuers and Close the Accounts
Round up all your relative’s credit cards and/or credit card statements and determine which credit card companies you need to contact. You should be able to find the right contact information either on the back of the credit cards or their monthly statements.
When you make the call, let the customer service agent know right away that you would like to close the account of a deceased relative. Most credit card companies have a special group of agents trained to deal with these situations, and you’ll likely find them to be much more compassionate and helpful than your average representative.
2. Provide C