I got to thinking that my DH no longer uses credit cards, can't write checks, does not pay bills, so maybe I should be getting his name off things while he can still 'agree' verbally of print his name (official signature). I have to keep his name on the checking acct where SS Disability and LT Disability checks are deposited, but other than that.... House is in my name so all utility bills, etc could be in my name only. Also I'm wondering if there would be an opening for identity theft (his name). We have been active in the community Alz Assn and there have been articles in newspaper about us/him. Any thoughts?
I've heard of people who couldn't close their LO's credit card when s/he could no longer sign, so I checked with my credit card company and was told that because the account is joint, not in his name with me as secondary, I could close it without his signature. Watch out for cell phones too--our cell phones had him listed as primary at first and I couldn't do anything.
You also need to know who is the "owner" of an account, this may make a difference when changing names on accounts. Some companies are fairly easy to deal with and others you end up jumping through hoops.
If you have POA, that should be enough. Most of the companies just wanted a copy of it. I did run into one insurance company that needed it to be notorized because it was over 2 years old.
I have a credit card of DW's which I tend to use more than mine. I'm not really sure why. Most places seem to accept my signature on the sales slip. I would think that if I just stop using it there won't be any more expenses unless there is an annual fee. I haven't tried to use the POA to make changes. Regarding cell phone, mine is in DW's name. I talked with them about it last month to get it changed to my name. I can't do that with the POA, but I can do anything else with it, such as change type of service, etc. I wonder what they will do after she dies.
A lot of companies have websites where you can change stuff online that would require a signature if you did it by regular mail. I've changed everything just about into my name including the house - except my New Yorker subscription which was supposed to be in my name when we first got it 53 years ago!! It's a question of establishing credit, too - if you have cards in your name it'll be easier to get credit in the future.
Before you make any changes on credit cards, check to see if it effects your credit score in any way. The October issue of Reader's Digest has a good article on this.
marsh, after she dies, you will need a copy of the death certificate to make any changes. We had this experience when my BIL died. We couldn't cancel his cable, utilities, phone, credit cards or anything without the death certificate.
Dazed, that's why I have changed everything into my name: utilities, phone, newspapers, credit cards, etc. And I just got his insurance policy changed to me as the owner as well as the beneficiary. He signed for that. I think the only thing left is Dishnetwork - and not going to worry about that!
The only concern I would have is regarding the cell phone since many people know that number and it would be very complicated to change it. I suppose they don't care as long as I keep paying the bills.
I spoke with Verizon about changing me to primary. The only way it can be done is set up a whole new account with me as primary and his phone as the second one. We can keep our numbers which is good. That was a law passed a few years ago that you can take your number with you as long as the previous bill is paid.
Re: the cell phone. Wonder if we could simply threaten to close the account if they didn't change the name. I am told that everything with them is negotiable...since there is so much competition in that field.
I don't think Verizon would. I have talked to them about competing with others like offering rollover minutes and they answer 'why?', people come to them cause they have good service and coverage which they do. Which is the reason I have not changed. But, it is worth a try.
I've got one credit card where he is primary and I can't get it closed. I got the actual physical card out of his wallet months ago and I've got it hidden. I think he can no longer sign his name, so he can't actually use it.
At this point, I'm just leaving that and the utilities alone.
Starling, I would put the utilities in your name; very easily done. In case you move you won't have to make a deposit - in most places. Or, they can just add you to the account.
Our utilities are in my name simply because at the time we moved where we are, I was not working and everything had to be signed for so they ended up in my name. We have one credit card with Charlie as primary user. Even though he was retired when we got it and he was not eligible for disability insurance on it there was a clause that if he was hospitalized, the card would be covered. We only owe a few hundred dollars on it but I thought what the heck. I contacted the company and was told that the nursing home qualified as a hospital and the card could be deferred after a doctor filled out the proper forms. The doctor filled out the form with the diagnosis of a terminal disease. They deferred the account, raised the credit line and told me we could continue to use the card while the payments were deferred. The card also has life insurance on it. All fees associated with the insurance are also deferred. I have no intention of using it, but the whole thing makes no sense to me.
I've looked into that too. Utilities like to keep the account in the man's name, if there is one.
Even better---I applied for Food Assistance for us. They linked my application to DH's existing Medicaid Waiver case. We are approved for $16 per month. They sent a new EBT (debit)card. The new card is in DH's name. I am his Guardian but until they add me as an authorized user I have have to his pemission o use it.
Carol- sometimes the utility companies make no sense. Here they will not let you make a payment on an account unless you are the owner of the account even if you have the bill. The exception is if you have a printed address label with the address and owners name. Doesn't make sense to me.
$16 a month - wow! you are going to be living in luxury with that much for food! Doesn't make sense to me.
I will admit this was 60+ years ago, but they put my mother's first phone in my father's name. He had been dead for 2+ years at that time, and the phone stayed in his name for at least another 15 to 20 years. He was the one who had asked for the phone before I was born. I don't think the weirdness has stopped.
I have a checking and savings account in just my name with a debit card included. We also have a joint account so DH's retirement cks can go to that account. The joint account is the only one associated with the credit card, and I pay the credit card bill from the joint savings account. I am wondering, once he is about to qualify for medicaid if they will make me remove the credit card from that account. Any ideas?
I'm in the middle of changing accounts to my name and removing my husband from them. He is in an ALF now and doesn't need them. The only thing I will keep him on is our checking because of his social security and pension checks. So far I haven't had any problem as DPOA.
I'm the one who the utility companies gave me a hard time about putting them in my name. "We can only do that if he has died." I said, o.k., he died, and like magic, they were put in my name. (He was alive!) I wanted to be sure they were paid. And yes, I paid them.