Can a company hold a child responsible for parents bills after passing

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Can a company hold a child responsible for parents bills after passing

Called CenturyLink for service in was
asked if I knew a person, I said yes
she was my mother but she passed May
2015, they informed me that I would
have to pay her bill before I could get
service because I was related to her.
How is that legal?

Asked on October 6, 2016 under Business Law, North Carolina

Answers:

SJZ, Member, New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney

Answered 8 years ago | Contributor

They can't force you to pay the bills--that is, they cannot sue you for the money. But a private company can refuse service to someone if a close family member failed to pay her bills, the same same way you could look for a different service provider if a family member of yours had a bad experience with a company. No law forces you and them to do business together. So while they can't sue you for the money or otherwise legally compel you to pay, it is legal for them to say that if you want to do business with them, you have to clean up your mother's past due account. 


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