UK phone carrier Vodafone refusing to close dead customers' accounts—and sending debt collectors after bereaved relatives who stop payment

[beschizza]

Originally published at: UK phone carrier Vodafone refusing to close dead customers' accounts—and sending debt collectors after bereaved relatives who stop payment | Boing Boing

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[abides]

When I was helping my mum with paperwork after my dad died, most places were surprisingly helpful. But there’s always someone who sees dollar (or pound) signs. The bank with which my parents had their mortgage lied about actions my mother needed to take, which would have required her purchasing some unbelievably expensive insurance product. This is on a mortgage that was practically paid off. They even implied that we had to do it right then and there. Then after all that nonsense they just gave me a phone number and a stack of forms, and told me to sort the rest out myself.

[Loren_Pechtel]

I ran into a few places that wouldn’t close accounts when my mother died. I simply told them that she’s dead, there’s no way there can be an authorized use of this account anymore and thus no bill from it will be paid. What they do with the account is up to them. I never heard anything more from any of those companies.

[euansmith]

Vodafone, to grieving relative, “I am saddened to hear of the demise of our valued customer; can I interest you in our exciting Electronic Voice Phenomena Package?”

[bashful]

Does Trim not operate in the UK? Maybe there is a similar service/app that can handle the cancellations on behalf of these people.

[blackanvil]

Now, Vodafone is really missing out on some real cash grabbing here: Sample your dead customer’s voice, and have it call contacts on birthdays, holidays, and anniversaries with well wishes from beyond the grave! They’re not dead relatives, they’re virtual relatives, and will remain “alive” so long as you keep paying this bill. Forever. Or else your credit score gets it. The phone calls will never stop.

[UUbuntu]

What is “Trim”. Clicking on the link simply brings me to a login screen (or a “create an account” screen), and I’m reluctant to give more information just to learn what they do. Thanks.

[gracchus]

This is low even for bill collectors, which is really saying something.

[IAmAlsoJohn]

The job of a customer retention specialist is to take requests to close accounts, then to fulfil as few of those requests as possible. Vodafone employees understood the assignment perfectly.

[orenwolf]

I updated the URL to the homepage.