Help Me Hank: Help Me Hank! Credit card conundrum

Charlotte was too little in this picture to remember being photographed in her mother's arms, but she knew as a tiny tike her mom took care of her.

Charlotte Nadeau, daughter
"She was actually a gracious lady."

They both grew up, and then, Charlotte had a family of her own to take care of. And this past August, when Charlotte's mother passed away, it was Charlotte's turn to take care of things.

Charlotte Nadeau, daughter
"I'm executor of her estate, so I opened her mail."

So, imagine her surprise when this credit card bill for her mother arrived. Charlotte knew her mom's bills were all paid, so what was this?

Charlotte Nadeau, daughter
"It was initially for member fee."

It was a $20 membership fee for the next year. Charlotte knew her mom didn't need to be a member of anything. She called the company to explain why the card should be canceled.

Charlotte Nadeau, daughter
"I gave her the information and told her what had happened."

She was assured the dubious debt would be erased.

Charlotte Nadeau, daughter
"It seemed like everything was going to be fine."

But the next month the mail brought another bill! This one was $49.50, because they were adding interest! Charlotte kept calling but the next month another bill, then another. The bogus $20 bill ballooned to more than $108. Charlotte was furious.

Charlotte Nadeau, daughter
"I just sent back a payment stub with deceased written all over it."

Deceased? Didn't matter. Charlotte's mom got yet another bill for $138.

Charlotte Nadeau, daughter
"This is ridiculous."

Since calling the credit card company didn't help, Charlotte called someone who could.

Charlotte Nadeau, daughter
"I called 'Help me Hank!'"

We contacted the credit card company to find out how to stop the payment letters. Charlotte was told to fax her mother's death certificate to the company's executive offices. And she did. And now, she can check the mail without worrying what's come for Mom, even though she thinks her mom would be smiling.

Charlotte Nadeau, daughter
"She probably would get a kick out of all of this. She would think it would be real funny."

The credit card companies we talked to admitted it shouldn't be this difficult to cancel a card. In cases like this, you should just be able to call customer service and explain what happened.

(Copyright (c) 2007 Sunbeam Television Corp. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)