Florian Büttner Photography
Sudden death throws those close to the deceased into a chaotic state of pandemonium.
A sign worded slightly more tactfully than the one pictured above, may be hurriedly hung in the window of a deceased shop owner’s premises, to inform the customers why the shop is closed. Many businesses and individuals of course now sell their products or services via digital shops. Where a simple visual sign sends a clear and direct message to customers who are visiting the premises, those dealing with the deceased affairs may not be aware of digital sales transactions that are due or overdue.
I can give an example here of a situation involving a popular online auction site. If no instructions have been given to another party about the ongoing transactions then a purchaser would not be aware that the seller had died. So instead of turning up at the shop and seeing the sign, giving you an understanding of why your goods were not available, the delivery would just not show up.
If you have already considered this, however, you will have made provision for your digital legacy. As a responsible digital salesperson, you would leave instructions for someone to be able to manage your digital life on your behalf. Unfortunately, this often does not happen, and bereaved relatives are left searching for passwords and account numbers trying to untangle digital affairs.
Under the terms and conditions of the particular online digital sales account that you might have chosen to use, you will discover what would happen if the sales were unfulfilled. In some cases, the organisation will refund the purchaser if they do not receive their goods.
Social Embers recommends that you record which digital accounts that you use, and to make a note of your accounts usernames and associated e-mail address. This will help anyone acting on your behalf manage your digital assets. Further information on this is provided in our two publications linked below.