To notify Barclaycard of a death, call the Central Bereavement Team on 0800 068 2238 (Monday–Friday 8am–5pm, Saturday 9am–2pm) or use the online form at barclaycard.co.uk. You will need the deceased’s name, date of birth, date of death, and Barclaycard number if available. The account will be frozen and interest stopped on the day you call. Barclaycard then gives you a BRV reference number to use for all further correspondence.
Quick reference:
- Phone: 0800 068 2238 (free from UK landlines and mobiles)
- Hours: Monday–Friday 8am–5pm, Saturday 9am–2pm
- Online form: barclaycard.co.uk bereavement guide
- Post: Barclays, PO Box 1495, Pallion Trading Estate, Sunderland, SR5 9YB
- Death Notification Service: Yes – Barclaycard participates
- Tell Us Once: No – Barclaycard is not covered; you must notify directly
- Documents: Death certificate and, if needed, grant of probate or letters of administration
- Reference number: BRV prefix – keep it and quote it in all correspondence
If the deceased also banked with Barclays: One call to 0800 068 2238 notifies the whole Barclays Group – including Barclaycard, Barclays Business, and Barclays Wealth – in a single conversation. You do not need to call twice. Note that Tesco Bank (part of the Barclays Group since 2024) and Barclays Partner Finance are not covered by this single notification and must be contacted separately if the deceased held products with them.
Step-by-step process
| Step | What to do | When |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Call 0800 068 2238 or submit the online form | As soon as possible after the death |
| 2 | Provide name, date of birth, date of death, address and card number (if known) | During the call |
| 3 | Note your BRV reference number – quote it in all future contact | Issued during the call |
| 4 | Send the death certificate – scan online, post to Sunderland, or verify at a Barclays branch | Within days of the call |
| 5 | Barclaycard verifies the death certificate | 1–2 weeks |
| 6 | Account formally closed; balance statement issued | 4–6 weeks from full documentation |
| 7 | Executor settles outstanding balance from estate assets | Linked to probate timeline |
How to notify Barclaycard
There are five ways to notify Barclaycard: by phone, online form, post, in person at a Barclays branch, or through the Death Notification Service.
By phone
Call 0800 068 2238 to reach Barclaycard’s Central Bereavement Team. Lines are open Monday to Friday 8am–5pm and Saturday 9am–2pm. The number is free from UK landlines and most mobile networks.
You do not need all your documents before you call. The team will take the basic details – the deceased’s name, date of birth, date of death, and card number if you have it – and guide you through the next steps. Calling on a weekday morning tends to mean shorter wait times.
When you call, the team will:
- Note the death and flag the account
- Tell you what documents to send and how
- Confirm whether the account is in the deceased’s sole name or held jointly
- Place the account on hold to prevent further use and stop additional charges
- Issue a bereavement reference number starting with BRV
Write down your BRV reference number when they give it to you. Quote it in every subsequent communication – on letters, forms, emails, and callbacks. It allows Barclaycard to locate the case quickly and ensures any documents you send are matched to the right account.
Online form
Barclaycard provides an online notification form at barclaycard.co.uk. You can upload documents when you have them, so you do not need everything ready before you start. The form allows you to come back and add documents later.
By post
Write to: Barclays, PO Box 1495, Pallion Trading Estate, Sunderland, SR5 9YB
Include a copy of the death certificate (do not send originals by post), the deceased’s full name, date of birth, date of death, last known address, and their Barclaycard number if you have it. Add your name, address, and relationship to the deceased. If you already have a BRV reference number from a phone call, include it on every page.
In person at a Barclays branch
If you prefer to verify the death certificate in person rather than by post or scan, you can take it to any Barclays branch. A member of the branch team can certify the document on the spot, which then feeds into the bereavement process without you needing to post originals. This can be quicker than waiting for postal confirmation and avoids the risk of original documents being lost in transit.
Death Notification Service
Barclaycard is a member of the Death Notification Service (deathnotificationservice.co.uk), a free service that lets you notify multiple banks and financial institutions with a single notification. If the person who died had accounts at several banks, this can save time and reduce the number of phone calls you need to make.
Using the Death Notification Service does not replace all subsequent contact with Barclaycard – you will still need to deal with them directly to arrange account closure and settle any outstanding balance – but it begins the process officially.
Tell Us Once – what it does not cover
Tell Us Once is the government service that lets you notify most government departments of a death in a single step. It covers HMRC, DWP, the DVLA, local councils, and certain public-sector pension schemes. Barclaycard is not included. It is a private lender and must be contacted directly.
Many families assume Tell Us Once covers financial accounts. It does not. Banks, credit card providers, and insurers all require separate direct notification. The Death Notification Service (above) is the banking industry’s equivalent – but it is a separate service from Tell Us Once and used separately.
(Source: gov.uk – Tell Us Once: organisations included)
What documents you’ll need
Barclaycard requires proof of death and some basic identifying details. You do not need a grant of probate before notifying them.
| Document | Notes |
|---|---|
| Death certificate | Original, certified copy, or clear scan if submitting online. Interim death certificate accepted. |
| Deceased’s full name | As it appears on the account |
| Date of birth and date of death | Required to locate the account |
| Last known address | Used for identity matching |
| Barclaycard number | Helpful, not essential – Barclaycard can find the account from other details |
| Your name and relationship | So Barclaycard knows who they are dealing with |
| Grant of probate / letters of administration | Only required if the estate is formally administered and there are funds to be released |
A grant of probate is not required to notify Barclaycard or place the account on hold. However, if the estate goes through formal probate, Barclaycard may ask for a copy of the grant before finalising the account settlement. Not every estate requires probate – see do I need probate? for guidance on when it applies.
What happens to the credit card account
The account is frozen immediately
When you notify Barclaycard, they will close the account to new transactions and cancel the card. Direct debits linked to the Barclaycard account – for example, a direct debit paying the monthly minimum – are cancelled as part of the account freeze. Ask the bereavement team to confirm this when you call.
However, if the deceased had a separate bank account (whether with Barclays or another provider) with a direct debit set up to pay the Barclaycard bill, that direct debit may still be active. You will need to cancel it through the relevant bank separately. Check for any payments that went out after the date of death – these can be recovered as part of estate administration.
Interest is stopped
Barclaycard stops charging interest on the outstanding balance from the point they are notified of the death, as confirmed on Barclaycard’s own bereavement pages. This is standard practice among FCA-regulated lenders. The balance at the point of notification is what the estate will need to address.
The debt becomes an estate liability
Any outstanding balance on a Barclaycard account held solely in the deceased’s name does not pass to their family. It becomes a debt of the estate – the executor or administrator is responsible for paying it from the estate’s assets before distributing anything to beneficiaries. Family members, including spouses, are not personally liable unless they were a joint account holder.
This is established by the Consumer Credit Act 1974, which governs all regulated credit agreements in the UK. The Act makes clear that credit card debt is a personal liability of the account holder. On death, responsibility transfers to the estate – not to surviving relatives. Barclaycard cannot pursue family members personally for a balance on a sole account.
| Situation | Who is responsible for the debt |
|---|---|
| Sole Barclaycard account | The estate. Family members not personally liable. |
| Joint Barclaycard account | The surviving joint account holder, for the full balance. |
| Additional (authorised) cardholder | Not liable. The estate is responsible. |
| Estate has no assets | Barclaycard may write off the balance. |
Credit balances on the account
If the deceased’s Barclaycard was in credit at the point of death – for example, because an overpayment or retailer refund arrived after the account was frozen – that credit belongs to the estate. Barclaycard will include the credit balance in the final account settlement rather than returning it automatically. When you contact the bereavement team, ask whether there is any credit balance on the account, and confirm how it will be returned to the estate.
Similarly, if a refund from a retailer arrives after the account has been flagged, Barclaycard will retain it and factor it into the final settlement. Raise any pending credits you are aware of with the bereavement team.
Barclaycard’s estate recovery process
If the estate has assets but there is a credit card balance to settle, Barclaycard may refer the account to Philips & Cohen, the UK’s dedicated deceased account management specialist. Philips & Cohen work sensitively with executors and administrators to arrange settlement from the estate, typically through a structured process that fits within the probate timeline.
The executor does not need to pay immediately. It is reasonable – and standard practice – to ask Barclaycard or Philips & Cohen to hold the account while you establish the full picture of the estate’s assets and liabilities.
If the estate is insolvent (debts exceed assets), Barclaycard’s credit card debt is an unsecured debt. Unsecured debts sit below funeral expenses, secured debts, and certain priority debts in the order of payment. Barclaycard may receive a reduced amount or nothing, depending on the estate’s position. See what happens to credit card debt when someone dies for a full explanation of how unsecured debt is handled in an insolvent estate.
Sole accounts vs joint accounts – what the distinction means
Sole account holder dies
The account closes. The outstanding balance becomes a debt of the estate. The executor is responsible for settling it from estate assets. No family member – including a spouse – inherits the debt personally.
Joint account holder dies
Credit card debt works differently from a mortgage or bank account when the account is held jointly. With a joint Barclaycard, both holders are jointly and severally liable for the full balance throughout the account’s life. When one joint holder dies, the surviving holder inherits sole responsibility for the entire outstanding balance. Barclaycard will convert the account to the survivor’s sole name and continue to pursue the balance from them.
This is different from an authorised additional cardholder (sometimes called a supplementary cardholder). An authorised cardholder can use the account but has no legal liability for the debt. When the primary cardholder dies, the authorised cardholder’s supplementary card is cancelled, but they owe nothing. Their status should be confirmed with Barclaycard at the time of notification.
If you are unsure whether you were a joint account holder or an authorised user, ask Barclaycard directly when you call – the distinction has significant financial consequences.
The Barclays Group and Barclaycard – an important distinction
Barclaycard is a trading name of Barclays Bank UK PLC, so the two are legally the same entity. One call to the Central Bereavement Team on 0800 068 2238 covers both Barclaycard and Barclays Bank accounts.
However, two related entities require separate notification:
- Tesco Bank – became part of the Barclays Group in 2024, but operates its own bereavement process. If the deceased held a Tesco Bank credit card or savings account, contact Tesco Bank separately. See our Tesco Bank bereavement guide for that process.
- Barclays Partner Finance – the consumer finance arm offering store credit and personal loans. Contact them on 0800 15 22 888 if the deceased had any products with them.
Minimum payments and the estate during probate
Once Barclaycard is notified and interest is stopped, the outstanding balance is treated as a fixed debt of the estate. There is no ongoing obligation for the executor to make minimum monthly payments in the way a living cardholder would.
Do not set up or continue automatic minimum payments from the estate’s bank accounts without first confirming the process with Barclaycard. Paying the minimum payment from estate funds does not change the amount owed and could complicate the estate accounts. Instead, wait for Barclaycard to issue a final statement of the balance and settle it as part of the overall estate administration, once the estate’s asset picture is clear.
If you are dealing with an estate that has complex or uncertain assets, it is also worth taking early legal advice. The executor can ask Barclaycard (or Philips & Cohen, if the case is referred) for a holding arrangement while probate progresses.
Business Barclaycard – a different process
Barclaycard also issues credit cards to businesses under the Barclaycard Business brand. The bereavement process for a business card is handled separately from personal cards.
Contact for business Barclaycard bereavement:
- Phone: 0800 161 5200 (UK), or +44 (0)1604 269452 (from outside the UK)
- Hours: Monday to Friday, 9am–5pm (UK time)
The key difference between business and personal Barclaycard bereavement depends on the legal structure of the business:
Sole trader
A sole trader has no legal separation between themselves and their business. The business’s Barclaycard debts are the sole trader’s personal debts. On death, they become debts of the estate – handled exactly as a personal credit card balance would be, through the estate administration process.
The executor should notify Barclaycard Business of the death, confirm the outstanding balance, and include it in the estate accounts alongside personal debts.
Limited company director
If the deceased was a director of a limited company, the company’s Barclaycard liability belongs to the company – not to the director personally (unless a personal guarantee was signed). The company continues to exist after the director’s death. Surviving directors, a company administrator, or whoever is managing the company’s affairs should contact Barclaycard Business to discuss the account.
The deceased director’s personal estate is not responsible for the company’s Barclaycard balance unless a personal guarantee was in place. Check the original card agreement if you are unsure whether a guarantee exists.
Partnership
In a partnership, if one partner dies, the remaining partners continue to be liable for business debts including any Barclaycard balance. The deceased partner’s estate may also have a share of liability, depending on the partnership agreement. Partnerships with a Barclaycard Business account should contact 0800 161 5200 and take legal advice on the distribution of liability.
Rewards, cashback, and Avios points
Many Barclaycard accounts earn rewards in one of two forms:
Barclaycard cashback and rewards
For standard Barclaycard accounts with cashback or rewards points, ask the bereavement team when you call whether there is any outstanding balance of rewards or cashback. Any credit balance belongs to the estate and should be included in the final settlement rather than simply cancelled. Barclaycard’s bereavement team can confirm the current position.
Barclaycard Avios
Several Barclaycard credit cards earn Avios through the British Airways Executive Club. The Avios accumulate in the cardholder’s British Airways account – Barclaycard acts as the earning mechanism, but the Avios themselves are held by British Airways.
What the terms say: British Airways’ published terms (clause 3.12.2 of the Executive Club terms) state that Avios, tier points, and lifetime tier points are cancelled upon a member’s death. They do not automatically transfer to a beneficiary or household account member.
What happens in practice: British Airways has a record of agreeing to transfer Avios to a beneficiary when approached formally with appropriate documentation. The approach most likely to succeed is a solicitor contacting British Airways Executive Club directly with a Grant of Probate, explaining the situation and requesting transfer. Some families have also reported success contacting BA’s Executive Club directly with a death certificate.
Who to contact for Avios: British Airways Executive Club – not Barclaycard. Barclaycard issues the card and earns the points, but the Avios account is a BA product. If the deceased’s Avios were earned through Barclaycard, close the Barclaycard account through the bereavement process and then deal with any Avios transfer separately with British Airways.
For more context on what happens to loyalty points and rewards on death, see resources such as Head for Points – what happens to Avios when you die.
Probate and estate liability
Whether probate is required depends on the overall estate, not on the Barclaycard account specifically. Credit card debt does not trigger a probate threshold on its own. However, if the estate includes significant assets – property, investments, or bank accounts above the relevant bank’s threshold – probate will usually be needed to collect and distribute those assets.
As part of the estate administration process, executors are legally required to pay valid debts before distributing to beneficiaries. This includes any outstanding Barclaycard balance. The executor should:
- Notify Barclaycard as early as possible so interest is stopped
- Obtain a statement of the outstanding balance for inclusion in the estate accounts
- Confirm with Barclaycard (or Philips & Cohen) when settlement can be arranged, once the estate’s position is clear
- Consider publishing a Section 27 notice in The Gazette, which gives creditors a two-month window to come forward. This protects the executor from personal liability if unknown debts emerge after distribution.
For more on the probate process, see how to apply for probate and how long does probate take.
Payment protection insurance
Some older Barclaycard accounts included payment protection insurance (PPI) or credit card repayment insurance. While the main PPI mis-selling claims deadline passed in August 2019, estates can still make valid PPI claims if the policy was active at the time of death and the claim relates to a qualifying event – for example, a policy that included life cover or a death benefit.
When you call the bereavement team, ask whether any insurance was attached to the account. If a policy did exist and covered death, it could reduce or clear the outstanding balance before the estate is asked to pay.
Regulatory status and consumer protections
Barclaycard is a trading name of Barclays Bank UK PLC, which is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by both the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority. Barclays Bank UK PLC’s FCA Firm Reference Number is 759676, verifiable on the Financial Services Register at register.fca.org.uk.
FSCS and credit cards
The Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) protects eligible deposits and savings accounts – it does not apply to credit card debt. If Barclaycard were to fail as a business, credit card balances would be managed by an administrator under insolvency rules. In practice, this is an extremely unlikely scenario for a major high-street lender, but it is worth understanding that the FSCS £120,000 deposit limit (as of December 2025) relates to savings and current account balances, not credit.
Consumer Credit Act protections
Barclaycard credit cards are regulated consumer credit agreements under the Consumer Credit Act 1974. This legislation governs how credit card debt is treated on death – the estate is liable for the balance, not the cardholder’s family members. It also means Barclaycard cannot pursue bereaved relatives personally or use unfair debt collection practices during bereavement.
The FCA’s Consumer Duty rules (effective July 2023) require all regulated firms including Barclaycard to act in the best interests of customers in vulnerable situations, which includes recently bereaved people. You can raise a complaint with the Financial Ombudsman Service (financial-ombudsman.org.uk) if you feel Barclaycard has not treated you fairly during the bereavement process.
How long it takes
Barclaycard will act quickly on notification – the account can be frozen on the day you call. Beyond that, the timeline depends on the complexity of the estate.
| Stage | Typical timeframe |
|---|---|
| Account frozen on notification | Same day |
| BRV reference number issued | Same call |
| Death certificate verified | 1–2 weeks |
| Account formally closed | 4–6 weeks from full documentation |
| Balance settled from estate | Linked to probate – weeks to months |
The main causes of delay are:
- Waiting for the original death certificate if you’ve sent a scan first
- Probate taking longer than expected (see how long does probate take)
- Disputes over the estate, or complex asset structures
If you are dealing with an estate that is straightforward – no property, limited assets, clear beneficiaries – the whole process can be resolved in a matter of weeks. More complex estates, particularly those requiring full probate, will take longer.
Things to watch out for
Get your BRV reference number and keep it. Barclaycard issues a bereavement reference number starting BRV when you first make contact. This is your case reference for everything that follows – write it on any letters you send, have it ready when you call back, and give it to anyone else dealing with the estate who may also need to contact Barclaycard.
Joint accounts and authorised cardholders are not the same thing. If the person who died was the primary cardholder and a family member held a supplementary (additional) card, that family member is not a joint account holder and is not liable for the debt. Their card will be cancelled. If you held an additional card, confirm your status with Barclaycard when you call – they can clarify whether you were an authorised user or a joint account holder.
Minimum payment obligations cease on notification. Once Barclaycard is notified and interest is frozen, the balance is treated as a fixed debt of the estate. Do not set up or continue automatic minimum payments from the estate’s funds without first confirming the process with Barclaycard.
Direct debits may still be active at the paying bank. Barclaycard cancels any direct debit instruction on the Barclaycard account itself when it is frozen. However, if the deceased’s bank (at a different provider) had a standing instruction to pay Barclaycard, that direct debit is separate and must be cancelled through the paying bank. Check bank statements for any payments to Barclaycard after the date of death.
Credit balance on the account belongs to the estate. If the account was in credit at the date of death – whether from an overpayment or a retailer refund – that credit belongs to the estate. Raise this with the bereavement team and ask how it will be returned.
Rewards and Avios are separate from Barclaycard. Any cashback or rewards balance on a standard Barclaycard should be resolved with the bereavement team. Avios points accumulated through a Barclaycard-linked BA account are held by British Airways and must be handled separately with BA’s Executive Club.
One call covers Barclays and Barclaycard together. If the person who died banked with Barclays and also had a Barclaycard, you do not need two separate calls. The Central Bereavement Team at 0800 068 2238 handles both within a single notification and ensures all relevant parts of the Barclays Group are informed. The exception is Tesco Bank (now part of the Barclays Group but notified separately) and Barclays Partner Finance (call 0800 15 22 888) – if the deceased held products with either of these, contact them directly. See our Barclays bank guide for the full Barclays account closure process.
Payments that arrive after notification. If the account shows a credit balance after death (for example, a refund from a retailer arrives after the account is flagged), this credit belongs to the estate. Barclaycard will retain it and include it in the final account settlement – it will not be returned automatically. Raise this with the bereavement team if you are aware of any pending credits.
Business Barclaycard is a separate call. If the deceased ran a business with a Barclaycard Business account, notify that separately on 0800 161 5200. The personal Barclaycard bereavement process does not cover business accounts.
Summary
To notify Barclaycard after a death:
- Call 0800 068 2238 (Monday–Friday 8am–5pm, Saturday 9am–2pm) or use the online form
- Have the deceased’s name, date of birth, date of death, and card number (if available)
- Barclaycard will freeze the account, stop interest, and give you a BRV reference number
- Send the death certificate when you have it – scan online, post to PO Box 1495, Sunderland SR5 9YB, or have it certified in person at any Barclays branch
- The outstanding balance becomes an estate debt – family members are not personally liable unless they were a joint account holder
- If the person also banked with Barclays, the same call covers both – see the Barclays bank guide for full account closure details. Check separately whether they held any Tesco Bank products
- If the deceased had a Business Barclaycard, call 0800 161 5200 separately
- Avios accumulated through Barclaycard are held by British Airways – contact BA’s Executive Club separately if you wish to request a transfer
For wider context on how credit card debt is handled in an estate, see what happens to credit card debt when someone dies. For help with the probate process, our probate section covers everything from whether probate is needed to how to apply.
If the person who died also held an MBNA credit card – another major UK card issuer, now part of Lloyds Banking Group – see our MBNA bereavement guide for that separate notification process.
Phone number, postal address, and process verified against Barclaycard’s bereavement support page and Barclays bereavement guidance. Business Barclaycard contact number sourced from Barclaycard Payments bereavement page. Consumer Credit Act 1974 provisions verified at legislation.gov.uk. FCA registration verified at register.fca.org.uk. Tell Us Once coverage confirmed at gov.uk. Avios death policy sourced from British Airways Executive Club terms and Head for Points. Last verified: June 2026.