How do I get T-Mobile to stop billing my dead friend?

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By Christopher Elliott

When Merry Bauman’s friend passes away, she tries to cancel his T-Mobile account. Turns out it’s a lot more difficult than it looks.

Question

My friend Adam died March 3. He was disabled and lived with my family.

I called T-Mobile to notify it the day after his death. I was told that since he had no contract and was paying monthly that his account would simply cancel out for non-payment.

They would not accept my information about his death because I was not on his account. The next month another bill arrived, and it was larger. I called again. This happened for three months.

Finally, a customer service representative told me that I had to write a letter to their customer relations department and explain the situation. I did, and I sent a copy of his obituary with the letter.

I was sent a letter from them that said I had been added to his account without my request or permission, and that they would be sending a final bill for his estate to settle. In the letter I explained that he was disabled and had left no estate.

After another month of billing, the invoice was up to $98 for a service that cost him less than $20 a month. I repeatedly called customer service, tried calling the customer relations department and was told very firmly that they never took phone calls and I could send a letter if I needed to contact them.

Certified death certificate

They sent me back to customer service, and I was told that only a certified death certificate was acceptable to prove death, and that if I wanted to do that I would have to contact the state, pay a $15 fee plus postage, wait several weeks, and send it to them.

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I am not, nor have I ever been, responsible for this bill. The customer service person did not deny it when I asked if they just keep running up these bills and then take a large deduction for taxes from writing them off. This is, in my opinion consumer fraud.

I worry about the other people that are being forced to pay bills for services that were never rendered – in his case the service was totally suspended after the first non-payment.

This is wrong, and I need your help to resolve it and remove that bill. No one is going to pay it and there is no one responsible for it. Thank you for whatever you can do to help. I really appreciate it. — Merry Bauman, Peck, Kan.

Answer

My condolences on your loss. T-Mobile should have canceled Adam’s phone service as soon as you sent it evidence of his death. It should have made the process as easy as possible — not a frustrating series of emails and phone calls that ended with his bill growing more than fivefold.

As far as I can tell, T-Mobile doesn’t directly address the issue of a customer’s death directly on its website. But it offers a few clues. In a section that deals with early termination fees — those are the annoying surcharges imposed when you exit your contract before its term is finished. It describes the proof T-Mobile requires to confirm a customer’s death. The evidence includes a mobile number, account number, name of the responsible billing party and a death certificate or a legal document confirming the customer’s death. (Related: Chase tries to call my mother every day, but she’s been dead two years.)

The problem isn’t just how these documents are provided to T-Mobile, but how soon. Requiring that you send them through the mail after a lengthy process can take weeks, even months. In a conversation with a T-Mobile representative, you were told that this was the company’s policy. T-Mobile also wanted to build up charges and then write them off on their taxes. A practice that would make perfect sense from the perspective of a business.

I’m not sure T-Mobile is trying to profit from its customers’ demise. That would seem cold-hearted, and besides, the section dealing with death promises a reply to the request within a week. (Related: Why did T-Mobile charge me an early termination fee?)

T-Mobile closed the account

But I do believe the system it uses to verify someone’s passing is needlessly complex. At the very least, every call center employee should be briefed on how to handle a call from someone’s next of kin. (If not, then at least give them a darned script to read). Make it as easy as possible to settle a person’s affairs.

Maybe the company says it best on its site: “The death of a loved one is hard enough. T-Mobile doesn’t want to make it any more difficult.” (Here’s how to fix your own consumer problem.)

I contacted T-Mobile on your behalf. A representative sent me a prepared statement promising “T-Mobile is committed to delivering the best experience in wireless to our customers. It takes great pride in delivering excellent customer service.” The company declined to comment on your case, citing privacy considerations.

But a representative called you and in a tone of voice you say was “very patronizing” told you the company’s policy was for the protection of its own customers. T-Mobile issued a credit to cover the amount showed as owing on the account and closed it.

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Christopher Elliott

Christopher Elliott is the founder of Elliott Advocacy, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that empowers consumers to solve their problems and helps those who can't. He's the author of numerous books on consumer advocacy and writes three nationally syndicated columns. He also publishes the Elliott Report, a news site for consumers, and Elliott Confidential, a critically acclaimed newsletter about customer service. If you have a consumer problem you can't solve, contact him directly through his advocacy website. You can also follow him on X, Facebook, and LinkedIn, or sign up for his daily newsletter. He is based in Panamá City.

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