A lady dies but her credit card company keeps billing her for the annual service charges, adding late fees and interest. A family member calls the company:
Family Member: I am calling to tell you that she died in January.
Credit Card Company: The account was never closed and the late fees and charges still apply.
Family Member: Maybe, you should turn it over to collections.
Credit Card Company: Since it is two months past due, it already has been.
Family Member: So, what will they do when they find out she is dead?
Credit Card Company: Either report her account to the frauds division or report her to the credit bureau, maybe both!
Family Member: Do you think God will be mad at her?
Credit Card Company: Excuse me?
Family Member: Did you just get what I was telling you … The part about her being dead?
Credit Card Company: Sir, you’ll have to speak to my supervisor.
Supervisor gets on the phone:
Family Member: I’m calling to tell you, she died in January.
Credit Card Company: The account was never closed and the late fees and charges still apply.’
Family Member: You mean you want to collect from her estate?
Credit Card Company: (Stammer) Are you her lawyer?
Family Member: No, I’m her great nephew. (Lawyer info given)
Credit Card Company: Could you fax us a certificate of death?
Family Member: Sure. (fax number is given)
After they get the fax:
Credit Card Company: Our system just isn’t set up for death. I don’t know what more I can do to help.
Family Member: Well, if you figure it out, great! If not, you could just keep billing her.I don’t think she will care.
Credit Card Company: Well, the late fees and charges do still apply.
Family Member: Would you like her new billing address?
Credit Card Company: That might help.
Family Member: Glasnevin Cemetry, Finglas Road , Dublin 11, Ireland, Plot Number1049.
Credit Card Company: Sir, that’s a cemetery!
Family Member: Well, what the **** do you do with dead people on your planet?
*This urban myth has been going around as a viral email for about two years. This particular conversation might be fictional but there are many similar cases in real life showing procedures need to be put in place by companies to deal appropiately with ‘unnplanned’ loss of business.