A school just called my sons' friends cell phone and asked if it was our home! I have no idea how this happened. She told this friend that she needed a death certificate for my husband. I don't suppose this is some sort of violation?? I can't imagine how they got this girls cell phone number, and why they would think it might be my home phone.
I don't understand...My husband really did die, and he does have a student loan with this school, I just don't know how they could possibly have this girls cell phone number and think it belongs to my family or our home. Could you please explain?? I'm dumb about these things sometimes. Thanks!
#1 I'm sorry to hear about your husband I don't know why they would have your son's g/f's phone number unless perhaps he/or she called them and they used caller id to trace the call?? The question is why would they call the school in the first place. Is it possible that your son has the same name as your husband, and maybe he received a message at home about calling them, so he used the g/f's phone to call them and they got her number that way? I was concerned about fraud since it is possible that when people die, others will get a ccard in that person's name, run up a high balance, and then never pay on it. When the creditor comes to collect they claim that "so and so" died, trying to get out of paying the bill. The creditor needs the death certificate to establish DOD and see if card was obtained or used after that time... what does you son have to say about it?
This is a long shot, but you might want to pull your dearly departed husbands credit report. You can check for recent inquiries and also see what phone number is listed there for contact. It's one possibility of where they could have received the phone number. I'm sure everyting will work out in the end, but you must be devestated. Is the church continuing to help you out (referring to another thread). Is there a financial expert that in the church body that could sit down with you and explore options? Who's taking care of your husband's estate (all the tax stuff). Could they help?
PD, #1 Thanks. I appreciate your concern. This girl is not even my sons girlfriend (he does have one). This girl is just a friend. My son has never attended this college, or had any reason to call there. He just graduated from high school! They do not have the same name. We did not even know this girl when my husband was attending this school. This is very strange, and kind of scary.
goldhummin, I tried to pull a current credit report, but that can no longer be done. There is no phone number on the report online. This phone number would not be on there anyway, and I don't think he even had this girl's phone number. I can't see the recent inquiries, if there are any. I called EQ and they cannot acces his current info either because the account is now closed. The report online is the last one pulled before he died. I am definitely devastated. The church is still bringing meals about 3x a week for another week or so. Hadn't even thought about taxes. He left no money. They are foreclosing on the house (got the papers from the court). Still hoping to save. Praying for a miracle. Can't imagine how this girl's phone number was linked to my husband's student loan. I need to make sure it was really the school calling also. Thank you for asking about my situation. I appreciate the concern.
I tried to pull a current credit report, but that can no longer be done. I need to make sure it was really the school calling also. jeffsgirl His estate should still be able to pull reports. Call the school from a pay phone and ask how they got the cell phone number.
If he had no assets, there should be no taxes. But you still have to file a form with the court in most states. As far as income tax goes, you deal with that when you file for the year he died. So if he died this year, that will be taken care of when you file at the end of the year. You can worry about that later, you have enough other things now.
I'm still not sure if there is any violation in calling my sons friends cell phone and telling them that the family needs to send a death certificate. They asked for a phone number to reach us. The friend refused to give any information. She said she was a friend of the family, and that they could get their own death certificate because the family was not goint to send them one. (True!) They didn't specifically say that we owed money, but certainly that is implied. Is this an issue or should I just let it drop? She got the persons 800# and extension. Thanks
If they are accounts that he owed, you should send them a copy of the death certificate. In most cases it doesn't even need to be a certified copy. If the account was only in his name, that's what they need to just write it off and stop collecting. In actuality, what they will probably do is file a claim against the estate. When they find out that the estate has no assets (that's the form you'll file with the court), they know that they can't collect on this account. If it was a joint account, it may be a different matter. But if it was just his account, send them the death certificate. They may not be able to go get it, because without it they have no official knowledge that he's dead.
It is a student loan, so only in his name. I am not sending anyone a death certificate. I am so bogged down in paperwork on top of "normal" life, learning to be the only parent and not having anyone to share my life with after 22 years, that I don't care whether they close his accounts or not. Having to mess with accounts that I am not responsible for is a burden to me. They can easily find out he is dead. Some places called the funeral home. They just don't want to bother. The very idea that I would "pretend" my husband is dead to get out of some silly bill is sickening. I will just keep returning the mail they send to him until they get tired of sending it and getting it back! I just don't understand this phone call to a teenager's cell phone!
Re: Re: OC calls sons friends cell phone It is a common practice to send copies of death certificates in cases like this, but I fully understand your reasons for not wanting to do so. They have enough info - name, DOB, SSN to get the DC from the county vital statistics records I will just keep returning the mail they send to him until they get tired of sending it and getting it back! Just cross out your address and write "DECEASED - RETURN TO SENDER" on the envelope I just don't understand this phone call to a teenager's cell phone! Does the friend live on your block? Could they have gotten her number in order to to try and contact you because they had no phone number for you? I agree with the other posters, you have enough to worry about and deal with. God Bless
Re: Re: Re: OC calls sons friends cell phone The friend lives in another part of town. She was a classmate of my son at high school. They had our phone number, and it is listed right now anyway! So I guess there is no legal problem with them telling someone else they want us to send a death certificate, as long as they did not discuss the loan?
Re: Re: Re: OC calls sons friends cell phone The friend lives in another part of town. She was a classmate of my son at high school. They had our phone number, and it is listed right now anyway! So I guess there is no legal problem with them telling someone else they want us to send a death certificate, as long as they did not discuss the loan?
Re: Re: Re: OC calls sons friends cell phone Well, I really don't know why they would have called her phone You have enough other things to worry about If it would cause you too much pain to get D C, and send it to them, then I'd just write on the envelopes Return to Sender, eventually the school will get the hint good luck to you
