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Dom Littlewood met widow Christine Briars, a university professor at her home in Trowbridge in Wiltshire. Her husband Alan died of stomach and oesophagus cancer in December 2007. He owed £27 on his Capital One credit card when he passed away.
Christine paid off this debt, informed them of her husband's death and sent in a copy of his death certificate. But the company continued to call and write letters to Alan, chasing the interest and a further charge on his debt (totalling £25).
Dom's top tip: With credit card companies you really need to check whether they'll accept a photocopy of the death certificate.
The copy you receive from a registrar is an original, certified copy and the recommended price is £7. It will be printed on watermarked paper. The registrar can run off as many copies as you need, but they will cost you for each one.
You can photocopy a death certificate but in order for it to be considered certified again, it would be need to be signed by a professional such as an accountant, doctor, lawyer etc. Or the bank can do it for free by stamping photocopies for you.
Capital One have now apologised for the distress they've caused Christine and promised to review their procedures.
More information: Age Concern, Cruse Bereavement Care and from the government.
Have you had a similar experience after the death of a loved one? What should be done?
