What happens to Nordstrom points when the owner dies
Nordstrom, Inc. points are forfeited under the program's terms when the account is closed
Nordstrom Customer Service
Nordstrom does not publish a processing timeline for closing a deceased member's Nordy Club account. Because points and Notes are forfeited at death and have no cash value, there is no payout or transfer to wait on; the practical step is closing the account and using any unexpired Nordstrom Notes before they reach their printed expiration date.
When a Nordstrom account holder dies, points are forfeited under Nordstrom, Inc.'s terms. The account balance has no transferable value, and there is no formal process for heirs to claim points.
There are reports of Nordstrom, Inc. making exceptions through customer service, but these accommodations are discretionary and not guaranteed.
What to do
When a Nordstrom account holder dies, these are the steps to take:
- •Call Nordstrom Customer Service at 1-888-282-6060.
- •Provide the member's name and account information so the loyalty account can be located and closed.
Required Documents
- Death certificate (Nordstrom may request this to close the account)
- The member's name and Nordy Club account or registered email/phone for account lookup
Timeline
Nordstrom does not publish a processing timeline for closing a deceased member's Nordy Club account. Because points and Notes are forfeited at death and have no cash value, there is no payout or transfer to wait on; the practical step is closing the account and using any unexpired Nordstrom Notes before they reach their printed expiration date.
Frequently asked questions
They are forfeited. The Nordy Club Terms and Conditions state that program enrollment and benefits are nontransferable and "are forfeited upon a member's death." Points and Notes have no cash value and do not constitute property, so they cannot be claimed by, or transferred to, the estate.
No. The Terms and Conditions state that members "have no ownership interest in points or Notes" and that program benefits are nontransferable. The Nordy Club has no beneficiary designation, so there is no way to pass a points balance or unredeemed Notes to another person.
Any Nordstrom Notes that were already issued and are still within their printed expiration date can be used toward a Nordstrom or Nordstrom Rack purchase until the account is closed. Points themselves have no cash value and are not converted to cash. After death the account is subject to forfeiture, so use any unexpired Notes promptly.
Contact Nordstrom Customer Service at 1-888-282-6060 with the member's name and account information to report the death and request that the loyalty account be closed. Nordstrom may ask for a death certificate. A linked Nordstrom credit or debit card is handled separately through the card issuer at 1-800-964-1800.
There is no contractual right to them. Points and Notes are forfeited at death and are not estate property. A survivor or executor can send Nordstrom Customer Service a written request asking, as a discretionary courtesy, that unredeemed Nordstrom Notes or points be reinstated or transferred to a named survivor, but Nordstrom does not publish a process for this and any decision is at its discretion. A linked Nordstrom credit or debit card balance is a separate financial matter handled through the card issuer at 1-800-964-1800.
Since Nordstrom points are forfeited at death under the official terms, points can only be used during the account holder's lifetime. Redeeming, transferring, or sharing points while the account is active preserves their value.
Sources
Data sourced from Nordstrom, Inc. primary sources (4 pages reviewed). How we research.
Nordstrom Customer Service
Nordstrom does not publish a processing timeline for closing a deceased member's Nordy Club account. Because points and Notes are forfeited at death and have no cash value, there is no payout or transfer to wait on; the practical step is closing the account and using any unexpired Nordstrom Notes before they reach their printed expiration date.
