When we moved into our present house hubby set up all the utilities under his SS#. Now that I am managing everything I am not able to change bill paying. I couldn't even change our credit card which was set up in his name and I was an accepted user. Just as a point of information how could all this trouble been avoided.
Remind these places that any transaction that a mentally incompetant person makes is not enforceable! That may change their minds!
Seriously, SIL tells me that credit cards will probably not switch names. You'll more than likely end up having to cancel the cards.
As to the utilities, there is no way to force them to switch users. You tell them your story, offer to fax any documentation they need, and hope they have a kind heart. Ask to talk to supervisors as far as you can go. You may get fees waived to restart in your name.
DD had to take over all my bills and financial matters while I was in the hospital, and she ran into a couple of real doozies who just didn't care about my situation. But most of them were very helpful.
I hope a lot of our members see this. Our computer club gave us this web site for getting through the infernal phone menu-Gethuman.com. Has every imaginable company listed. It really works.
My two cents worth on credit cards. I just called the major one we had in my DH name and explained his illness. I immediately received a form to delete him from the account and put it in my name..no fuss, no mess..done deal! I have everyting changed now so I am the major payer for everything...he can't charge or do anythng unfortunate with finances...it was very easy to do here..Oregon..
bluedaze, go get a new credit card, in your name at the same bank. (Or a different one for that matter.) Then move any payments that are automatic to the new card. And stop using the old one. Just stick it in a box somewhere and forget about it.
As for the utilities, the telephone company installed a phone in my father's name in 1948. He died in 1946, but they wouldn't change the phone's owner into my mother's name. This stuff has been going on for a very long time. My father actually had a phone for almost 20 years. Don't ask me who they thought was paying the bills.
my Sisinlaw just went thru this after her DH passed. they all wanted a death certificate to change names on all utiities /bills. evryone should have at least one credit card in their name for this reason i think. just use your card and like starling says move pays from old card to that card and then cut up or stash the old one. you can probably get a letter from your neuro or attending dr that your spouse is 'under his care' and cannot make financial decisions at this time. and use that. divvi
I did get a new Visa card in my name through my bank. Funny thing-without my even asking they gave me what my 20 year old former card would not. I'm just going to continue paying utility bills under my husband's name and not waste my efforts.
I was surprised when I received new cards in my name only after my husband died. I did not notify the bank or Discover Card, but I suppose they must get info from the credit reporting agency when someone dies. So, that was a non-issue.
As far as the utilities go I am going to do as you do, Bluedaze, just keep them under his name. I will also keep his name on one of the checking accounts so that I can always cash checks that may come in with his name on them.
Sandi you are so correct. My Dad and I had a joint account. When he died the bank manager advised to keep the account for at least a year so I could cash his checks. She also advised not notifying the bank where you might have a safedeposit box. In some states they are sealed on death of the owner and you will need access. Oh-the things we need to know. What would we do without each other.
about the safety box..good question. how does it work if spouse dies? do they only seal the box if the OWNER dies, or spouse who can sign to get into the box? i have the box inmy name only and husbands name as a 'signer' only to open it,but its at the bank where soc sec direct deposits and we bank. if you have to notify bk when death about soc sec they will know about any safety box too. ihave heardhorror stories of them sealing boxes when you need them..just asking someone know about this?? wills/birthcertif/soc sec cards all is in the box!
Divvi, I am sure you can get into the box....your name is on it. And you don't have to worry about notifying the bank...or at least here in Missouri. My husband died on March 16 of this year. About two weeks later I received new cards from them in my name. I called and asked them why they sent the cards...they informed me that they knew on March 19 that my husband had died and the process started. They did not take him off the checking account though....
Sandi, I assume they left his name on the checking account so that if any checks came in made out to him, you could still deposit them without a hassle. That's what happened with my bank when my father died. (There were still checks coming in two years later! which did require some extra finagling to get cashed.)
when possible try using automated systems. We had an account that DH ssi went into automatically, and we had yet another that his pension went in to. We also had a third acct that was a good savings acct at one time. But they all lost interest rate levels, and charged a fee. I simply wanted to close some accounts and have all the auto deposits fall into one acct. The bank wasn't a problem. It was SS and pension people. I kept hitting brick walls despite even having DH on the phone to speak with SS. (he couldn't remember SS#, probably for the first time ever). I ended up going to automated systems and accomplished both tasks just by responding to the prompts the same way DH would have done if he were well. Worked like a charm. I know many places do not have this option. But when they do I use it.
Since his name is on all the utilities I will keep him on the checking account forever since you never know when you might move and get a refund check from them...I know when my Mom died I kept her on a checking account for over two years....and wouldn't you know it, as soon as I didn't have the account a check from some stock "thing" came in with both our names on it and it took me forever to get it made out in my name only...what a hassle....
I just had to transfer my husband's SS automatic deposit to a different account. I did just what you did, New Realm ... the system is automated, and when it asked if I was doing this for myself or for another person, I said it was me. (This system uses voice, not punching the phone keys ... fortunately, it doesn't distinguish between male and female voices!) Piece of cake.