What to do when a Ford Credit account holder dies
Report the death to Ford Credit at 1-800-727-7000
Notifying Ford Credit of a death is not a claim for money — it is the step that stops the account, fixes the balance owed as of the date of death, and puts Ford Credit on notice as a creditor of the estate. Ford Credit (1-800-727-7000) handles it.
Before contacting Ford Credit, have the account holder's full name, date of birth, and any available account numbers ready.
Death claim process
The death claim process at Ford Credit works as follows:
Filing a claim
- For a Lincoln contract, call a Lincoln client service representative at 1-888-498-8801
- Retail or lease contracts dated before January 1, 2016 do not qualify for the Peace of Mind Program; a Customer Service Representative gives instructions for those
- Individuals on the contract may continue under the existing terms
- To pay off a retail installment contract, the outstanding balance is in Account Manager or available from Ford Credit
- To pay off a lease, the outstanding balance comes from the local Ford or Lincoln dealer
- To assume the contract, ask a Customer Service Representative at 1-800-727-7000 for a Transfer of Equity or Lease Application
- To return the vehicle, take it to a Ford or Lincoln dealership within 60 days of the customer's death
- By courier or physical delivery: Ford Motor Credit, Box 650574, 885 East Collins Blvd, Suite 110, Richardson, TX 75081
- Payoffs can only be scheduled up to 10 calendar days in advance
- Ford Credit typically issues paid-in-full documents within 7 to 10 business days of receiving the payoff
- In paper-title states, Ford Credit mails the title to the owner or their designee within 10 days of the payoff date, or a Lien Release document within 10 days if the owner holds the paper title
- In electronic-title states, Ford Credit releases the lien within 10 days and the motor vehicle agency mails a paper title, which can take upwards of 6 weeks
- In some states a paper title is not mailed automatically and must be requested from the motor vehicle agency, where fees may apply
- If a dealership, financial institution or insurance company paid the account in full, the title or lien release goes to that party
- The year, make and model of the vehicle, and the VIN
- The caller's full name, current address and telephone number
- The name or names on the account, and the account number if available
Required Documents
- Death certificate, for the deceased borrower or lesseeFord Credit uses it, with the date of death, to verify eligibility for the Peace of Mind Program.
- The date of death
What happens to each kind of account2
- Loan
Ford Credit states a late charge may be assessed under the contract, past-due payments may be reported to the credit reporting agencies at 30, 60 and 90 days past due, and interest continues to accrue on an unpaid retail installment contract balance.1
After a retail account is paid off, Ford Credit asks to allow 10 business days for a refund of any payments received above the payoff amount.2
- Vehicle lease
A Red Carpet Lease vehicle may be bought at lease-end if a purchase option is listed in the agreement or by the dealer. The lease-end purchase price is in the Red Carpet Lease Agreement or available from the originating dealer.3
Accounts handled elsewhere2
- Lincoln Automotive Financial Services
Lincoln contracts of a deceased borrower or lessee, under the same Peace of Mind Program4
Phone: 1-888-498-8801
- Ford Pro FinSimple
Ford Pro FinSimple commercial customers5
Phone: 1-877-633-5338
Help Ford Credit offers survivors1
- Peace of Mind Program
Individuals on the contract may continue it. A Qualified Party may pay off or assume the contract, or return the vehicle to a Ford or Lincoln dealership within 60 days of the death, after which Ford Credit will not pursue any remaining obligation. Contracts dated before 2016 and commercial accounts do not qualify.6
Who qualifies: Another individual on the contract; the estate representative; the spouse or next of kin if there is no will or no probate; a beneficiary or transferee listed on the death certificate or vehicle title.
Not in Ford Credit's published guidance4
- How long a claim takes
- A claim form
- A mailing address for claim documents
- Whether the death certificate must be certified
Sources6
- 1.What can I do if I am unable to pay my bill?
- 2.What happens if my Ford Credit retail account has an overpayment?
- 3.How do I buy my leased Ford Credit vehicle?
- 4.I am on a contract as a co-borrower/co-lessee, and the borrower/lessee recently passed away. What should I do? (Lincoln Automotive Financial Services)
- 5.Email Ford Credit
- 6.I am on a contract as a co-borrower/co-lessee, and the borrower/lessee recently passed away. What should I do?
Ford Credit can be reached by phone at 1-800-727-7000 for questions throughout the claims process.
Sources
Data sourced from Ford Credit primary sources (17 pages reviewed). How we research.
Ford Credit death claims support
Phone
Lincoln Automotive Financial Services
Hours
Website
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