Say You Die Suddenly . . .

[atalanta]

if you are young, single and tech-savvy, and have all your business dealings online, and you die suddenly, how can next-of-kin even know where to start ?
They won't know where your bank accounts are, where your mortgage and insurance policies are, who supplies your electricity and gas, who your phone service provider is. If you do all business on your phone or other gadget, and that goes with you ( say if you are a passenger on an aircraft which disappears into the sea somewhere) - then what ?
Will the various companies you have been dealing with just go on emptying your accounts ? Will any of them raise the alarm when account activity stops ?

[naomi24]

I read the first line.

[TWR]

Atalata, at this time without Power Of Attorney I am against the Data Protection Act in every way I go, I do understand their rules, but just to change my Mother's Address, after telling each one of them she is in First Stage Dementia, it's maddening. to add I am now going for the Court of Protection act.

[royfromaus]

Well being old and married with fat fingers, I felt I couldn't answer this Q. :(

[pixie373]

I don't think she's suggesting you have to be young to be tech-savvy, but an example of someone who's death is more "unexpected"?
I have a list of all companies and account numbers i use and passwords are in my diary, anyway. I think i should go through it and make sure it's clear though for others.

[sandyRoe]

PP, I remember an item on Newsnight. He had disappeared while working as a photographer in Vietnam. When the lease of the flat expired they opened it. It was like a time capsule. Was that really in 1984, 30 years ago?
Funny how some things stick in the mind.

[woofgang]

There are places you can start once you have a death certificate. If it was me I would start with the local authority or utilities suppliers. Once one of them have told you bank details then you can access account details and proceed from there. Once DD's are stopped because the bank account is suspended then other creditors will come out of the woodwork. It should be possible to reset email accounts passwords via the computer and many friends will know the deceased's email address.
Difficult, and I agree, worth taking precautions against but not impossible. In addition, my online financial service providers also send out paper statements once a year even though I have paperless accounts.