Now, I’m sure that if I googled for this one I’d find it all over the ‘web. However, I saw it in a friend-of-a-friend post and shamelessly nicked it for my blog. So sew me.
Be sure and cancel your credit cards before you die. This is so priceless, and so so easy to see happening, customer service being what it is today.
A lady died this past January, and Cxtxbank billed her for February, March and April for their annual service charges on her credit card, and added late fees and interest on the monthly charge. The balance had been $0.00, now it was somewhere around $90.00.
A family member placed a call to Cxtxbank. Here is the exchange:
Family Member: “I am calling to tell you she died in January.”
Cxtxbank: “The account was never closed and the late fees and charges still apply.”
Family Member: “Maybe, you should turn it over to collections.”
Cxtxbank: “Since it is three months past due, it already has been.”
Family Member: So, what will they do when they find out she is dead?”
Cxtxbank: “Either report her account to frauds division or report her to the credit bureau, maybe both!”
Family Member: ” Do you think God will be mad at her?”
Cxtxbank: “Excuse me?”
Family Member : “Did you just get what I was telling you – the part about her being dead?”
Cxtxbank : “Sir, you’ll have to speak to my supervisor.”
Supervisor gets on the phone:
Family Member: “I’m calling to tell you, she died in January.”
Cxtxbank: “The account was never closed and late fees and charges still apply.” (This must be a phrase taught by the bank!)
Family Member: “You mean you want to collect from her estate?”
Cxtxbank: (Stammer) “Are you her lawyer?”
Family Member : “No, I’m her great nephew.” (Lawyer info given)
Cxtxbank: “Could you fax us a certificate of death?”
Family Member : “Sure.” (Fax number is given) After they get the fax:
Cxtxbank: “Our system just isn’t set up for death. I don’t know what more I can do to help.”
Family Member: “Well, if you figure it out, great! If not, you could just keep billing her. I don’t think she will care.”
Cxtxbank: “Well, the late fees and charges do still apply.” (What is wrong with these people?!?
Family Member: “Would you like her new billing address?”
Cxtxbank: “That might help.”
Family Member: “Odessa Memorial Cemetery, Highway 129, Plot Number 69.”
Cxtxbank: “Sir, that’s a cemetery!”
Family Member: “What do you do with dead people on your planet?
chris chris…
u just made my day…
thank you
I just have to wonder what the interest and late fees on a $0 balance would be. Cxtxbank wouldn’t bill on $0 because the interest would be $0 and no minimum payment would be expected. Now, if the balance had been $0.01, I could totally see this happening. 😉
Well, glad to oblige!
Oh, I expect that the annual fee was credited the first month, then late fees and interest would bite.
the annual fee was credited
I think you must mean “debited”.