Consumer Groups Offer Help To The Grieving

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - It's said the decisions we have to make after a loved one dies help to bring a necessary dose of reality to what can seem like a surreal experience.  Still, it can be all too frustrating to tie up loose ends, like canceling cable and phone service. 

Consumer advocate websites are filled with horror stories about people getting the run-around from what sound like heartless corporate giants.

Some continue to charge hundreds of dollars for service even though family members have called repeatedly to cancel.

Jennifer Kocher with the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission says it's best to be prepared well before a death:

"Having a file listing the utility names and customer service numbers for their relatives, especially if it's someone out of state who may not be familiar with who the local electric, gas, or water provider is."

Comcast, like many companies, requires a death certificate, obituary, or funeral receipt before shutting off service -- they say it's to avoid fraud.

Your local consumer advocate can help if you're stymied.

Reported by Ian Bush, KYW Newsradio