debt collection

[jojomarti]

What is the name of your state? TX

To make a long story short. My mother passed away in November 2004. Out of all the family members, I was the one to sign the contract with the funeral home. Now the funeral home is saying that I am solely responsible for the funeral expenses. My sister, brother and I have been paying on the debt when we can. Well, today I received a letter from them saying that they can not work with me anymore and demanding full payment before August 4th or they are going to send me to collections. I would understand the letter if I wasn't trying, but I am. Can they send me to collections if I am sending money when I can? I did not ignore their request payment, by the way the funeral home is in IOWA.

[xylene]

Originally Posted by jojomarti

What is the name of your state? TX

To make a long story short. My mother passed away in November 2004. Out of all the family members, I was the one to sign the contract with the funeral home. Now the funeral home is saying that I am solely responsible for the funeral expenses. My sister, brother and I have been paying on the debt when we can. Well, today I received a letter from them saying that they can not work with me anymore and demanding full payment before August 4th or they are going to send me to collections. I would understand the letter if I wasn't trying, but I am. Can they send me to collections if I am sending money when I can? I did not ignore their request payment, by the way the funeral home is in IOWA.

They can send you to collections for not paying, or for slow paying.

They have been very reasonable in working with you.

They no doubt have decided to play hard ball. (pretty soft hardball at that)

Almost two years is a LONG time to wait to be fully paid, particularly in a service business.

Pay what you can is not your right.

Allow me to ask:

How much was the funeral?

How much have you and your family paid off?

[jojomarti]

Thanks for your reply, even though it isn't the answer I wanted to hear.

The total bill was $6024.00 - we now owe $3000. When I signed the contract, all my brothers and sisters said they would help pay it. There are 2 brothers that haven't paid a penny. This is so frustrating. I was doing the family a favor and giving them the benefit of the doubt. I discussed the circumstances with the funeral home and they agreed to let me pay as much as I could, just so I would continue to send some money. That is what I have been doing, but then all of sudden, I get a nasty gram in the mail. This really sucks, how in the world am I going to come up with $3000 by August 4th? If I don't pay by August 4th they are going to add interest , statement fees and late fees.

[Betty]

Did your Mother have an estate that was probated out of which the funeral home could have made a claim/could have been paid? Did your Mother have any life insurance - if so, who got the proceeds?

[xylene]

Originally Posted by Betty

Did your Mother have an estate that was probated out of which the funeral home could have made a claim/could have been paid? Did your Mother have any life insurance - if so, who got the proceeds?

Unfortunately the time for dealing with those issues would have been before he had signed for personal responsibility for the debt.

Tacky as it might seem to some (esp family members intent on bailing on a bill), it would have been more than appropriate for the family to have drafted any kind of writen agreement concerning the shared responsibility for the bill.

All this points more so to the need to adress these issues before a loved one dies.

I hope this family can chose the moral path and not stiff a funeral director and/or leave a family member holding the bag.