credit card harassment

[tthan43]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Oklahoma
Dear Sirs;
Thank you in advance for your time and information. My wife of many years recently passed away from a heart problem. A few days later while going through all of her "stuff" to straighten things out (she was in charge of all bills and finances), I discovered she had a bunch of credit cards (all in her name only and accounts set up only in her name). I knew nothing of the cards whatsoever. I only have one and it is a debit card for my personal checking account. I do not remember ever having received anything from any of her cards but there were three that turned the debt over to the credit collection agency. After finding these cards, I called the nos. on the back of each card and told them she was deceased. They told me to send a copy of the death certificate when I received it and I did that via fax a few days later. They informed me that when they received the certificates that the debt would be eliminated since nothing about me was attached to the accounts. They would not tell me what or when the debts were created for the cards as I requested on the phone that they send me an itemized statement of the card's usage. They would not. Altogether there was perhaps $2000 worth of debt on all 5 cards and I wanted to know where the money went. I believe that the money was given to her kids over a period of time since they always seemed to be needing money. I certainly did not know about it. She had no "estate" and she left her wedding rings and costume jewlry to her daughter and her bible to her granddaughter. There were a few other little non-valuable items she owned that she gave to other family members. That was all she owned personally. I live on my monthly SS and it pays the mortgage on the house and she used her monthly government medical disability to pay for the bills. That is all we earned. Now, 2 or 3 of the cards have turned the debt over to the West Asset Management,Inc. agency and they call several times daily. I keep telling them she passed away and I have sent them the death certificate and that she had no assets, there was and is no estate and to stop calling me about this. I no sooner hang up and 5 minutes later another person from the same company calls. Isn't there something I can do about this. I have told them to stop "harassing" me and repeated the facts. Still they call.
Thank you again for your time and your help and information. I would just like to know whether or not there is a govt. agency here in Oklahoma that would help.
Sincerely,
tthan43

[JETX]

Originally Posted by tthan43

They informed me that when they received the certificates that the debt would be eliminated since nothing about me was attached to the accounts.

You misunderstood. The debts aren't 'eliminated'. They are simply 'transferred' from your wife's direct debt to being one of her estate. The estate is still liable for paying them.

She had no "estate" and she left her wedding rings and costume jewlry to her daughter and her bible to her granddaughter. There were a few other little non-valuable items she owned that she gave to other family members. That was all she owned personally.

How EXACTLY were those items 'left' to her daughter, G-daughter and others?? Clearly, those items ARE the property of her estate and subject to demands by her creditors.

I live on my monthly SS and it pays the mortgage on the house and she used her monthly government medical disability to pay for the bills. That is all we earned.

Depending on how the property is titled, it could also be a part of her estate.

I keep telling them she passed away and I have sent them the death certificate and that she had no assets, there was and is no estate and to stop calling me about this.

But your own statements indicate that there likely WAS an estate. You are going to need to talk with a local probate attorney to see what assets are owned by her estate and how to settle the claims made by her creditors.

You can't just 'divy' up a persons property without legal process and then claim there is no estate or assets left to pay creditors.