[WSBAPT] Collection Bills Handled as Creditor's Claim?

[Heather de Vrieze]

Every such bill that is received prior to the end of the claim period should be evaluated to insure that the original creditor received notice. A bill from a collection company is not a claim, and is not required to be paid by the Personal Representative. Sometimes I reply to these bills directly with a letter along the lines of “your client received formal notice of their rights under Washington law and their options if they wanted to be paid. A copy of that notice is enclosed.”

It doesn’t mean the Personal Representative can’t pay these, but they are only obligated to pay (or negotiate or reject) claims which are properly and timely submitted.

Heather

Heather S. de Vrieze
Attorney-at-Law
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3909 California Avenue SW
Seattle, WA 98116-3705
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From: wsbapt-bounces at lists.wsbarppt.com <wsbapt-bounces at lists.wsbarppt.com> On Behalf Of Ms. Roberta Armstrong
Sent: Thursday, July 22, 2021 8:30 AM
To: wsbapt at lists.wsbarppt.com
Subject: [WSBAPT] Collection Bills Handled as Creditor's Claim?

Good day!

PR correctly sent out notice to ascertained creditors and public notice to all other creditors.

A collection company sent a bill to Decedent's address for a cable bill unknown to PR. The bill was not filed with the court or sent to the PR; however, it was sent within the claim period.

PR is ready to pay claims, and I'm unsure if the PR should pay the bill. The collection bill only has the amount owed and the cable company's name, no other details. PR believes the bill is due to the cable being left on since Decedent's death.

Additionally, collection companies have sent bills to the Decedent's address for many of the ascertained creditors who were given actual notice. These bills were not filed with the court or sent to the PR as a claim against the estate but are within the claim period.

Since there are quite a few Decedent's bills sent to collection agencies and not properly filed as a creditor's claim, how should they be handled?

I appreciate any guidance you can provide.
Roberta


Ms. Roberta Armstrong  (425) 737-5448



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