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Sep 26, 2008 11:24 pm US/Central
Cell Phone Bills Keep Coming After Woman's Death
(WCCO)
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In July, the monthly charges finally stopped. It wasn't because her mom was gone, but because the bill wasn't paid. (File)
CBS
It comes in the mail every month just like any other bill, but what if a person's cell phone statement showed up for months even after they died?
Heike Ahlers lost her mother, Gisela, to a rare form of cancer April 7. If a person checked her mom's T-Mobile bill, they wouldn't know she died.
"This is pretty much the last piece but this has been the most painful piece of all of this, " Ahlers said.
Ahlers said she called T-Mobile on April 11 to cancel her mom's service. That was the same day of her mother's funeral. Service didn't end that day despite her documented complaint calls and the two death certificate copies she sent.
In July, the monthly charges finally stopped. It wasn't because her mom was gone, but because the bill wasn't paid.
The information was turned over to a collection company and Ahlers hasn't been able to settle her mom's estate because of the problem.
"I've tried on several occasions to work this out with T-Moblile," read Ahlers from a letter she sent the company. "I give up. You can try and contact Gisela at Fort Snelling National Cemetary."
After Ahlers calls dragged on for six months, it took WCCO just one day to get an answer from T-Mobile. In an e-mail the company says the matter has been resolved. It wouldn't offer an explanation, citing company policy. Ahlers was told the $163.12 has been wiped from her mom's name.
If you're faced with a situation where a parent passes away experts have a few tips to help handle the bills.
-Make a list of all of the bills that person has.
-Discontinue services immediately that won't be used like phones and car insurance.
-Change the main address and phone number to whoever is handling the billing.
(© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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