Debt Problems

Debt collector thinks that my husband is dead...? Will this affect our credit?

He has $700 charges on his sears credit card, but has had absolutely no late payments, and pays each bill accordingly as they arrive. The last payment he had made, the cashier said the account was closed out and supposedly fixed the problem. But we just got a message the next day after work from debt collectors saying they need to speak with the representative of his estate of his $700 debt to sears, and a letter saying they needed all the money now. I was right there when he bought the item, and it was merely a few months ago and I see him pay his bills every month so i know this isn't right, but do circumstances like these impair your credit? ... affect our credit as far as after it gets resolved. and how would they even get it into the system that he's dead???

Public Comments

1. they sure do... i would go talk to a lawyer and get it taken care of very soon!!!
2. They most certainly do. You need to get ahold of the bank and find out why they are showing the debt as unpaid if he pays it. Or, maybe he isn't really paying it. If he is, he should get a hold of Sears and find out what the problem is.
3. It sounds to me like a scam. I would call Sears Credit directly to find out what's going on. Maybe someone got ahold of the billing info and is trying to get you to pay them the $700 instead of paying Sears.
4. Yep. And it's harder than hell to get it off your credit. I had something on my credit that stated I had a credit card at 15. It took me 7 years before it dropped off. Credit rating companies are the downfall of everything. I hate the bastards.
5. Yes, this will affect your credit. You can prove to the creditors that he is still alive by sending copies of a valid birth certificate and/or valid policies like health insurance you two have together. If you don't want to go to that extreme I would talk to a lawyer (if you have the funds). If they think he is passed away, they will look to you to pay his debt. But yes, I agree with a previous answer. It sounds like a scam. Before giving out any personal information over the phone I would investigate it further. Go to Sears in person and tell them what happened. If you have a lawyer, tell him or her. Don't give out personal information over the phone!!!! Use the birth certificate/health insurance thing as a last resort and only if your lawyer recommends it for validity's sake. Good luck!
6. talk to them already - tell them he's not dead!
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