[bots]

PayPal wrote to a woman who had died of cancer saying her death had breached its rules and that it might take legal action as a consequence.



The firm has since acknowledged that the letter was "insensitive", apologised to her widower, and begun an inquiry into how it came to be sent.

The matter came to light after her bereaved husband contacted the BBC.

He said he wanted to make other organisations aware how distressing automated messages could be.

Lindsay Durdle died on 31 May aged 37.

She had been first diagnosed with breast cancer about a year-and-a-half earlier. The disease had later spread to her lungs and brain.

PayPal was informed of Mrs Durdle's death three weeks ago by her husband Howard Durdle.

He provided the online payments service with copies of her death certificate, her will and his ID, as requested.

He has now received a letter addressed in her name, sent to his home in Bucklebury, West Berkshire.

It was headlined: "Important: You should read this notice carefully."

It said that Mrs Durdle owed the company about £3,200 and went on to say: "You are in breach of condition 15.4(c) of your agreement with PayPal Credit as we have received notice that you are deceased... this breach is not capable of remedy."

PayPal has told Mr Durdle that it is looking into this "as a priority", and has written off the debt in the meantime.

"We apologise to Mr Durdle for the distress this letter has caused," a spokesman added.

"We are urgently looking into this matter, and are in direct contact with Mr Durdle to support him."

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-44783779

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[Christmas Lights]

OMG !!! utterly disgusting company PayPal . I'm glad I don't use it .

The husband should of told them to f off and refused to send his and his wife's personal ID information. Even when you're grieving they still try to make your life a misery .

[Christmas Dynasnow]

isnt it that non payment had breached the rules?

[Marsh.]

Originally Posted by LeatherTrumpet

isnt it that non payment had breached the rules?

Probably but the way they've wrote the letter they've addressed the letter actually to her telling her that her state "deceased" is a breach of the agreement.

[Jordan.]

"We have recieved notice that you are deceased"

Is it wrong I screamed

[montblanc]

Originally Posted by Jordan.

"We have recieved notice that you are deceased"

Is it wrong I screamed

[Candy Annie Cane]

Nothing surprises me with PayPal or eBay, both run by complete incompetents

[Christmas Lights]

Originally Posted by AnnieK

Nothing surprises me with PayPal or eBay, both run by complete incompetents

This

[Christmas Dynasnow]

The lesson is pay your debts

[user104658]

Originally Posted by LeatherTrumpet

The lesson is pay your debts

What lesson? I'm pretty sure she doesn't give a ****... you know... being dead etc.

In the UK spouses / offspring are not responsible for their family members debts when they die. Only if it's an account in both names. So if the paypal account is in her name only... Sorry PayPal... you're out of luck .

[Christmas Lights]

Originally Posted by Toy Soldier

What lesson? I'm pretty sure she doesn't give a ****... you know... being dead etc.

In the UK spouses / offspring are not responsible for their family members debts when they die. Only if it's an account in both names. So if the paypal account is in her name only... Sorry PayPal... you're out of luck .

Exactly isn't fair on her husband

[Marsh.]

I got a credit agreement through PayPal and had no issues.

Woman should have made sure her payments were taken care of before getting herself deceased.

[Christmas Lights]

Originally Posted by Marsh.

I got a credit agreement through PayPal and had no issues.

Woman should have made sure her payments were taken care of before getting herself deceased.

Wow could that statement be anymore insensitive and cold , the woman died of terminal cancer . Maybe she was trying to get out of debt but I'm pretty sure she had other things on her mind ,what with being seriously sick and all . Of course people shouldn't get into debt but it happens. Now I feel sorry for the husband trying to sort things out .

And even when he sent the appropriate ID information and even sent the death certificate to prove she died ,they still send a stupid incompetent response letter still addressed in her name .

[Marsh.]

Originally Posted by GoldHeart

Wow could that statement be anymore insensitive and cold

No, it's a joke. You know since most people don't get themselves into a spot of deceased on purpose.

Go and impress someone else with your bleeding heart.

[Christmas Lights]

Originally Posted by Marsh.

No, it's a joke. You know since most people don't get themselves into a spot of deceased on purpose.

Go and impress someone else with your bleeding heart.

Well I couldn't tell if you were serious or not . No need for that attitude

[Marsh.]

Originally Posted by GoldHeart

Well I couldn't tell if you were serious or not . No need for that attitude

[Merry Mockmas]

That's absolutely shocking from PayPal.

[Matthew.]

that’s disgraceful

[armand.kay]

dgbdjkbil who wrote this and was like "yep perfect lets get a stamp on that"

[Denver]

Originally Posted by armand.kay

dgbdjkbil who wrote this and was like "yep perfect lets get a samp on that"

What is a samp?

[armand.kay]

Originally Posted by Adam.

What is a samp?

meant to type stamp

[Cal.]

Not them dragging her for getting herself deceased

[Marsh.]

Originally Posted by Cal.

Not them dragging her for getting herself deceased

Some people never learn.

It's quite easy to stay alive. Look at us!

[user104658]

Originally Posted by Marsh.

Some people never learn.

It's quite easy to stay alive. Look at us!

Only 150,000 people die every day whilst nearly 7 billion of us manage to stay alive. There's really no excuse for this tiny minority, and if they think it'll get them out of paying their PayPal bill then they're living in La La Land. PC gone mad.

[Marsh.]

Originally Posted by Toy Soldier

Only 150,000 people die every day whilst nearly 7 billion of us manage to stay alive. There's really no excuse for this tiny minority, and if they think it'll get them out of paying their PayPal bill then they're living in La La Land. PC gone mad.