Argos is one of the UK’s biggest retailers – and for many households, there may be more to deal with than a simple shopping account. The deceased might have held an Argos Pay credit account (formerly the Argos Card), a Nectar loyalty account linked to their purchases, or gift cards sitting unused. Each of these is handled separately, and the credit account in particular needs prompt attention to stop interest running.
This guide walks through each element: how to notify Argos customer services, how to handle the Argos Pay credit account (now managed by NewDay), what happens to gift cards, and how to deal with Nectar points. You do not need to have sorted everything out before making the call – getting the account frozen is the priority.
Quick reference:
- Argos customer service (bereavement): 03456 400 700 – Mon–Sat 8am–6pm, Sun 10am–6pm
- Argos Pay (NewDay): 0333 240 8002 – Mon–Fri 9am–7pm, Sat 9am–5pm
- Nectar: Contact Nectar customer service with a death certificate to request transfer of points
- Online notification: No dedicated Argos online bereavement form – phone is the primary channel
How to notify Argos
Argos does not publish a dedicated online bereavement form for its retail accounts. The primary route is by telephone.
Phone: Call 03456 400 700. Lines are open Monday to Saturday, 8am–6pm, and Sunday, 10am–6pm. Ask to speak to the bereavement team or to report a bereavement on the account.
By post: You can write to Argos and include a photocopy of the death certificate along with a covering letter. The covering letter should include the deceased’s full name, date of birth, date of death, and usual address, plus your own details as executor or next of kin. The postal address for bereavement correspondence relating to Argos financial products is:
Argos Financial Services, Dept C
PO Box 211
Park Mill
Huddersfield
HD8 1FA
Note that this address is primarily associated with the Argos Card / Argos Pay credit accounts. For general retail account queries, it is better to call the main customer service number above.
Third-party services: Services such as Settld and Life Ledger allow you to notify multiple organisations from a single submission. This can save time if you are working through a long list of accounts, though Argos is not always listed directly – check their current company lists before using one of these services.
What to have ready when you call
Before phoning, gather:
- The deceased’s full name and date of birth
- The date of death
- The Argos account email address or order reference number, if known
- If there is an Argos Pay (credit) account: the card number or account number, if available
- Your own name and your relationship to the deceased (executor, administrator, or next of kin)
You do not need all of this to make the call. If you only know the name and date of death, the team can usually locate the account from those details.
What happens to the Argos retail account
An Argos online retail account holds order history, saved addresses, and payment methods. There are no ongoing financial obligations tied to a standard retail account – no credit, no minimum payments, no subscription fees.
When you notify Argos of the death, they will close or suspend the account. Any pending or outstanding orders will need to be discussed with the customer service team at the time of the call. If an order has been placed but not yet fulfilled, you may be able to cancel it and have any payment refunded to the original payment method – though this depends on the order status at the time.
Refunds and outstanding payments: If the deceased placed an order using a debit card or bank account that has since been frozen, Argos will typically issue a refund by alternative means. Explain the situation clearly when you call and ask how they can process any refund that is due.
The Argos Pay credit account
This is the account that requires the most urgent attention. If the deceased held an Argos Card – now transitioning to Argos Pay – interest continues to accrue on any outstanding balance until the card issuer is formally notified.
The ownership change you need to know about
In October 2024, Sainsbury’s (which owns Argos) agreed to sell the Argos Financial Services card portfolio to NewDay Group for £720 million. Beneficial ownership transferred to NewDay in early 2025, with full legal migration of accounts expected around early 2026. As of early 2026, many Argos Card accounts have updated to Argos Pay, provided by NewDay. (Source: Sainsbury’s press release, October 2024.)
In practice, this means:
- If the deceased’s account has already migrated to Argos Pay, contact NewDay on 0333 240 8002 (Mon–Fri 9am–7pm, Sat 9am–5pm)
- If the account has not yet migrated and still shows as an Argos Card, start with the main Argos bereavement line on 03456 400 700, who can direct you to the right team
- You can also reach NewDay via their online information hub at portal.newdaycards.com/argospay
What happens when you notify them
| Action | What happens |
|---|---|
| Account freeze | Card is immediately restricted – no further purchases can be made |
| Interest | Stopped from the date of death once the death is confirmed |
| Statements | Monthly statements are stopped |
| Outstanding balance | Becomes a debt of the estate – executor or administrator is responsible |
| Credit balance | If money is owed to the account, a cheque is sent to the executor once checks are complete |
| Joint cardholders | Contact the team – the account may be converted to sole account in survivor’s name |
The outstanding balance is not passed to family members personally. Unless someone was a joint account holder or guarantor on the credit agreement, they have no personal liability for any debt left on the Argos Pay account. The debt sits with the estate, not with individuals. (Source: National Debtline – Debts after death in England and Wales.)
For a detailed explanation of how credit debts are handled within an estate – including what happens if the estate cannot pay – see our guide to credit card debt after death.
Documents to send for the Argos Pay account
Send a photocopy of the death certificate (an original is not required), along with a covering letter that includes:
- The deceased’s full name, date of birth, date of death, and usual address
- The account number or card number (if known)
- Your name and role (executor, administrator, or next of kin)
- Your contact address
Post to: Argos Financial Services, Dept C, PO Box 211, Park Mill, Huddersfield, HD8 1FA – or contact NewDay directly if the account has migrated.
Gift cards
Argos gift cards are a common fixture in many households. The key points to be aware of:
- Argos gift cards do not expire and can be used in-store or online
- A gift card balance is part of the deceased’s estate, just as unused cash would be
- Gift cards cannot generally be exchanged for cash directly at a till – but as part of estate administration, the executor can contact Argos customer services to discuss what can be done with any remaining balance
- If you can find the gift card (physical or digital/email), note the card number and check the balance via the Argos website
There is no specific public guidance from Argos on gift cards in an estate context. When calling to notify the death, ask the bereavement team directly what options exist for any gift card balance. Argos customer service teams have some flexibility in these situations.
Nectar points
Argos is part of the Nectar loyalty programme, which is shared with Sainsbury’s. Points collected at Argos will sit in the deceased’s Nectar account.
Nectar’s terms state that points are personal to the account holder and cannot normally be transferred. However, Nectar does make provision for transfer after death where adequate evidence is provided. To request a transfer:
- Contact Nectar customer service with a death certificate (a scan or photo is usually accepted)
- Provide the deceased’s Nectar card number or the email address linked to their account
- Provide your own Nectar account number if you wish to receive the points
Nectar will assess the request and may ask for additional documentation. The process is not automatic and approval is at Nectar’s discretion. If there are only a small number of points (worth very little in cash terms), it may not be worth pursuing – each Nectar point is worth 0.5p. (Source: MoneySavingExpert – Nectar points value.)
How long does it take
There is no fixed published timeline for closing an Argos retail account – it is typically handled during the call itself or within a few working days of written notification.
The Argos Pay credit account closure takes longer. The process involves:
- Initial freeze – happens as soon as the death is reported
- Account review – the team assesses outstanding balances, checks documentation
- Settlement or write-off – once documentation is confirmed, the account is formally closed
Delays are most common when documentation is incomplete or where there is a dispute about the estate’s ability to repay an outstanding balance. If you have sent documents and have not heard back within four weeks, follow up in writing or by phone.
If you are dealing with a number of accounts simultaneously, see our guide to what to do after someone dies for a suggested order of priority.
Things to watch out for
The credit card is separate from the retail account. Many people assume that calling Argos customer services will close everything – retail account, credit account, Nectar. It does not. The Argos Pay credit account is now managed by NewDay and needs a separate notification.
Interest keeps running until you notify. If the deceased carried a balance on their Argos Card or Argos Pay account, interest does not stop automatically at death – it stops when the lender is formally notified. A delay of several weeks means unnecessary debt added to the estate.
Keep a record of every contact. Note the date, the name of the person you spoke to, and a reference number if one is given. If the account goes to debt collection before the estate notification has been processed – which can happen in error – having a record of your notification protects you.
Photocopy, do not send originals. Argos and NewDay both confirm that a photocopy of the death certificate is acceptable. Keep the original safe – you will need it many times during estate administration. See how to get a death certificate for guidance on ordering additional copies from the General Register Office.
Argos Financial Services postal address may differ from the retail address. Do not send estate correspondence to a general Argos store or the main Argos headquarters. Use the specific address given above (PO Box 211, Park Mill, Huddersfield).
Summary
| Account type | Contact | Key action |
|---|---|---|
| Argos retail account | 03456 400 700 (Mon–Sat 8am–6pm, Sun 10am–6pm) | Close account, resolve outstanding orders |
| Argos Pay / Argos Card (NewDay) | 0333 240 8002 (Mon–Fri 9am–7pm, Sat 9am–5pm) | Freeze account, stop interest, settle balance |
| Gift cards | 03456 400 700 | Ask about balance options for estate |
| Nectar points | Nectar customer service | Request transfer with death certificate |
Have the death certificate (a photocopy is enough), the deceased’s date of death and date of birth, and – for the credit account – the card or account number if you can find it.
If you are working through a larger estate, Argos is typically a mid-priority notification – prompt enough to stop credit interest running, but not as time-sensitive as bank accounts or HMRC. For the broader picture of what needs doing and in what order, see our guide to what to do after someone dies.