Posted on 01/04/2008 4:52:37 PM PST by RDTF
BOSTON -- A Framingham family said that it's being forced to pay for the cell phone of a deceased loved one.
"I wondered how many other people had just agreed. You're tired and exhausted, and the last thing you want to do is fight with the cell phone company," said Tracey Stewart, of Framingham.
It was a tough holiday season for Stewart. Her 66-year-old father died on Dec. 21 after a brief illness. This week, her husband, Bill, called Sprint to cancel his father-in-law from the cell phone family plan.
"They said his contract wasn't up and to pay the fee or keep it activated," he said.
"He came in and said my father had upgraded his phone, so we can't cancel unless we pay the early termination fee or give the phone to somebody else," Stewart said.
They didn't have someone else, and they said that the suggestion offended them.
Bill Stewart said Sprint did agree to reduce the monthly fee for his deceased father-in-law's phone from $20 to $10 until the contract ends in September 2008.
A Sprint spokesman said that company policy is to request a death certificate.
-snip-
(Excerpt) Read more at thebostonchannel.com ...
Never had Sprint.
Now I know why.
On a business standpoint, there could be a hidden clause there that binds you like any other 2 year contract...
BUT on a decency and human standpoint, this shouldnt even be an issue! Is Sprint that profit hungry that 1 person they couldn;t let go due to extraordinary circumstance?
they are known for horrible customer service. Probably one of their incompetent CS reps with no ability to see gray.
It did come up that had he had a recent phone upgrade, that phone would have to be returned to Verizon, or otherwise transfered to an active customer with the requisite contract obligation.
I’m not sure what is the problem here - this was the same offer given to the family, they even offered a reduced plan - return the phone, accept the offered plan, or transfer the phone to someone who will pick up the contract.
The contract should no longer be valid once a person passes away, period.
I’d tell them the phone was his favorite possession, and you buried it with him. They can collect it if they want :>)
Better:^)
Should the mortgage company cancel the mortgage on the home and give the family the property because the person passed away? Should credit card companies forgive all debt? At what point does this line you’re drawing waver?
And the company should be able to collect the debt from his estate. My own opinion is this is stupid - $90 - the cost of 9 months this contract has left, is not worth the argument involved. But I wouldn't force that opinion onto the company. That's likely less than what the family spends each month on their cell phone bill.
I really don’t think that deserves a response, sorry. Think twice before you post.
Sprint taught me to hate cellphone companies.
You should have picked up on that instantly.
How are they going to enforce a contract with a dead guy?
Although I can understand the phone company requesting a copy of a death certificate.
I can understand that...just send them copy of his death certificate, and pay his current monthly bill. If that doesn't satisfy them, then there is a problem.
The estate is still liable for all debts including any ongoing ones that the deceased is contractually obligated to pay.
kingu is quite correct. Where do you draw the line?
The bottom line is a contract is a contract. If the company chooses to cancel the contract upon proof of death that’s good. But I don’t believe it is required to under law.
Did you even read the article? Obviously not.
The “dead guy’s” estate is liable for any debts that the deceased is obligated to pay. The process is called probate.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Probate
I responded to your comment:
“The contract should no longer be valid once a person passes away, period.”
Not the article.
Sure.
It’s very interesting to me (and very telling) when someone like yourself responds to the defense of a major company like Sprint instead of first thinking of the grieving family. Over $90.
That’s all I have to say.
Not all contracts are equal. This is a service contract which Sprint is unable to supply inasmuch as they do not currently have service availability to either heaven, hell or purgatory for that matter.
Sprint really needs to improve it’s customer service. Their spokesman says they have a policy of cancelling contracts and waiving early termination fees upon receipt of a death certificate. How hard would it be for them to train CS personel to appropriately inform the family of what steps to take to cancel the dead person’s service.
Was the $90 worth the negative publicity or the lost account if the family moves to another service?
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