Closing credit cards and freezing the credit report
How to notify the three credit bureaus, prevent identity theft, and avoid being chased for a deceased person’s debts.
6 min read
Identity thieves actively target the recently deceased, sometimes within days. The Federal Trade Commission and the major credit bureaus recommend notifying the three nationwide credit reporting companies promptly and placing a “deceased” flag on the file (Federal Trade Commission [FTC], 2023; Consumer Financial Protection Bureau [CFPB], 2023).
Notify the three bureaus
Send a written notice with a copy of the death certificate to Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. Each bureau will add a deceased indicator that prevents most new accounts from being opened in the person’s name. Keep proof of mailing.
Close credit cards in writing
Call each card issuer to request closure as of the date of death and follow up in writing with a copy of the death certificate. The executor or surviving spouse is generally not personally responsible for the deceased person’s individual credit card debt; that is paid from the estate, if at all (CFPB, 2023).
Watch for collectors who pressure family members. The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act limits what collectors can say to relatives and prohibits implying that a family member must pay the deceased person’s debt out of their own funds (CFPB, 2023).
Reduce future junk mail and offers
Register the deceased person with the Direct Marketing Association’s Deceased Do Not Contact list and opt out of pre-approved credit offers at OptOutPrescreen.com (FTC, 2023).
Protect against identity theft
NextStep can generate the exact letters and addresses you need for each bureau and major issuer.