It's quite easy to notify the credit card companies; be sure to obtain copies of your loved one's death certificate for proof of their passing. Simply contact the major credit bureaus to have their credit report flagged, and contact each financial company listed on the report to notify them of the death.
There are a few different ways the credit bureaus may be notified of your death. By lenders: When you pass away, your spouse or the executor of your estate should alert your creditors of your death. The next time the creditor updates your accounts with the credit bureaus, they will also report that you are deceased.
Provide copies of the death certificate or CRDA to each of the bureaus to show proof of death. You may even do so online. This allows the bureaus to update the portfolio and flag the accounts, which may also prevent possible identity theft should someone try to steal credit card information or SSN.
Send letters to each of the major credit bureaus — Experian,1 Equifax,2 and TransUnion3— and include the deceased's legal name, Social Security number, date of birth, date of death, and your full name and mailing address.
It is with deep sorrow that we announce the death of name, which occurred on date of death. Beloved wife of spouse, mother of children, and grandmother of grandchildren. Family and friends are invited to a funeral service on date at time, at location and address.
The next of kin must notify their banks of the death when an account holder dies. This is usually done by delivering a certified copy of the death certificate to the bank, along with the deceased's name and Social Security number, bank account numbers, and other information.
The bank is likely to ask for two forms of your identification (usually a passport or driver's licence, or a proof of address with a utility bill) and a copy of the will. If there's no will, the bank could ask for evidence of your relationship to the deceased. You'll also need the death certificate.
Using the credit report as your guide, contact all banks and credit card companies at which the deceased had an open account and close those accounts as quickly as possible. You will need to provide a certified copy of the death certificate to close the account.
After receiving notification of an account holder's death, a bank will take prompt steps to secure the assets. For an account owned by a single individual, this typically includes: Account status review: The bank reviews the account to confirm its ownership status and determine whether it has a beneficiary designation.
Sample letter to creditors after death As the representative of decedent's first name, I am writing to inform you that they have passed away. Please cancel their account immediately. If there is an outstanding balance on the account, please notify me as soon as possible at the included address.