My father was a holder of an SBI credit card and in April he suddenly passed away due to a heart attack. Now, the card has some outstanding debt and the bank is calling every day to repay it, but I don't have money. What should I do?
My father was a holder of an SBI credit card and in April he suddenly passed away due to a heart attack. Now, the card has some outstanding debt and the bank is calling every day to repay it, but I don't have money. What should I do?
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Hey brother, I know this is a tough time. Handling things after a loved one’s passing is never easy, but let me help you with this situation. If your father had some outstanding debt on his SBI credit card, here’s what you need to do:
1. Don’t Panic – You’re Not Personally Responsible
First off, unless you’re a co-signer or joint account holder, you are not personally responsible for paying off the debt. The debt will be settled through your father’s estate.
2. Notify SBI About His Passing
Call SBI’s customer service and inform them of your father’s death. They’ll ask for a death certificate, so have that ready. This will pause their collection efforts temporarily.
3. Stop Using the Card
If there were any additional cardholders, make sure no one uses the card anymore. Continuing to use the card could cause problems.
4. Check if the Estate Can Pay
Your father’s debt should be paid from his estate—whatever savings, property, or assets he had. If the estate has enough funds, they’ll use it to pay off the credit card balance.
5. Handling Collection Calls
Explain the situation to SBI if they keep calling. Let them know the estate is being processed. If the estate doesn’t have enough funds, they can’t force you to pay.
If they become pushy, request everything in writing, which can give you time to sort things out.
6. Negotiation or Insolvency
If the estate can’t pay the debt, sometimes you can negotiate a settlement with the bank. But again, you’re not responsible for it personally.
I’m really sorry to hear about your loss. Since your father’s SBI credit card has an outstanding debt, the first step is to inform the bank about his passing. You should contact the bank’s customer service and provide them with the death certificate. In many cases, the bank may help settle the debt through insurance or other options. If you’re unable to pay, ask about possible arrangements for a payment plan or debt settlement.