Debt problems

Thanks Kitty.

No, he is not responsible for her debts. Some years ago I helped an elderly man whose wife died leaving huge catalogue debts. She left no estate and he could not be made to pay his wife's debts because the company's contract was with his wife not with him.

The companies will always chase partners and spouses, to see if they will pay because, not unreasonably, they want goods they supply to be paid for, and in many cases, families have the means to do so and do so willingly. But legally these companies are up the creek without a paddle and cannot force her partner to pay the debts

The only problem that could arise is if your DD opened the account in her partners name and the company understood that they were doing business with him, not your DD. If that has happened it is possible he was unaware of it, but if he knew, then he has to pay.

However there is no point in these firms chasing someone who has no assets and is unlikely to have any in the forseeable future so, if the accounts are in his name, he should get CAB to write a letter pointing this out and asking them to cease chasing him. His credit rating will take a hit, but that cannot be avoided.

However if the account is in DD's name, 'with one leap he is free', although it may take a letter from CAB to these firms to poiint that out.

Click on the A at the bottom of the post and choose the report option.

I've done this one.

Needs reporting but not sure how to do it!

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Will talk to him today. Kn won't be there (grandson) so I won't see him, sad. But plan to shop with K and maybe can see just how much he owes!

Definitely CAB - so sorry to hear that you have one more problem on your shoulders Alie.

I just wish I had known before he PAID the first catalogue debt.....!!!!!!
He only told me today.

Sorry you have this to deal with on top of your loss.

CAB seems the best way forward Alie for starters. As if either of you needed anything else to worry about!

It looks as though, if the catalogue debt was in Jayne's sole name, then it may have to be paid from her estate (although, if she was in debt, that doesn't seem a likely option) - K shouldn't be liable.

Hopefully, CAB will be able to offer some pearls of wisdom.

I have been looking stuff up and he probably isn't liable.....but not sure!

There is stuff on
www.gov.uk/options-for-paying-off-your-debts/debt-management-plans

I will talk about it to him tomorrow....but I have said, go to the CAB for starters......hope he will go there soon for advice - but still don't know if it is his debt!

She left very little except stuff that her sons want....

nidirect.gov.uk might be a starting point Alie

I wonder if her "estate" is liable in that the catalogue firms etc she owed money to might have a claim on anything she left?
Unpleasant situation for you to be in, so I hope someone on GN will know better than me and can help you.

Oh Alie not something else to worry about I wonder if the fact that K was her partner, rather than spouse, means that he's not liable? I'm sure someone on here will know.