This is so sad/disturbing...
| QUOTE |
Brian Dean was a private, reclusive man, one who went to and from his Lancashire, England home by the dark of night, one who paid his bills on time, and one who obviously had a quite substantial amount of money in his bank account. Because when he died in his bed about two years ago, the automatic withdrawals kept occurring to fund his utilities and other expenses, and no one thought to knock on the door.
Police officers broke the door down and discovered his body and a huge pile of unopened mail inside his door. It wasn't reported how they were inspired to check on the 70-year-old Dean.
While this is surely an extreme example of the blind efficiency of modern conveniences -- and is an argument for being connected to one's community -- it makes me wonder if setting up automatic bill pay from an account large enough to pay bills for years isn't ultimately a bad idea. Today I discovered that my Fidelity 401(k) account could be configured to pay my bills; and it seems a little too convenient to think that I could sell some stock to pay my water bill. I've always thought that keeping investments and savings less accessible and definitely separate from your checking account was the prevailing wisdom. Are we sacrificing too much for ease-of-use? |
| QUOTE (Paula @ Aug 7 2008, 08:40 PM) |
This is so sad/disturbing...
| QUOTE | Brian Dean was a private, reclusive man, one who went to and from his Lancashire, England home by the dark of night, one who paid his bills on time, and one who obviously had a quite substantial amount of money in his bank account. Because when he died in his bed about two years ago, the automatic withdrawals kept occurring to fund his utilities and other expenses, and no one thought to knock on the door.
Police officers broke the door down and discovered his body and a huge pile of unopened mail inside his door. It wasn't reported how they were inspired to check on the 70-year-old Dean.
While this is surely an extreme example of the blind efficiency of modern conveniences -- and is an argument for being connected to one's community -- it makes me wonder if setting up automatic bill pay from an account large enough to pay bills for years isn't ultimately a bad idea. Today I discovered that my Fidelity 401(k) account could be configured to pay my bills; and it seems a little too convenient to think that I could sell some stock to pay my water bill. I've always thought that keeping investments and savings less accessible and definitely separate from your checking account was the prevailing wisdom. Are we sacrificing too much for ease-of-use? |
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wow..didn't the guy have any relatives at all?... that's terrible!
| QUOTE (Paula @ Aug 7 2008, 08:40 PM) |
This is so sad/disturbing...
| QUOTE | Brian Dean was a private, reclusive man, one who went to and from his Lancashire, England home by the dark of night, one who paid his bills on time, and one who obviously had a quite substantial amount of money in his bank account. Because when he died in his bed about two years ago, the automatic withdrawals kept occurring to fund his utilities and other expenses, and no one thought to knock on the door.
Police officers broke the door down and discovered his body and a huge pile of unopened mail inside his door. It wasn't reported how they were inspired to check on the 70-year-old Dean.
While this is surely an extreme example of the blind efficiency of modern conveniences -- and is an argument for being connected to one's community -- it makes me wonder if setting up automatic bill pay from an account large enough to pay bills for years isn't ultimately a bad idea. Today I discovered that my Fidelity 401(k) account could be configured to pay my bills; and it seems a little too convenient to think that I could sell some stock to pay my water bill. I've always thought that keeping investments and savings less accessible and definitely separate from your checking account was the prevailing wisdom. Are we sacrificing too much for ease-of-use? |
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wow..that's so sad!!...How can yu NOT notice someone staying inside their apartments or whatnot for 2 years??? ... (and furthermore... if he passed away...which kinda energy did he use?? ...for the bills I mean)
sad :(
Yeah, I guess he wasn't in contact with anyone in his family or anything for them to not have noticed they hadn't heard from him in two years. What an awful thought. -_-
| QUOTE (twinzz-dorien @ Aug 7 2008, 02:58 PM) |
wow..that's so sad!!...How can yu NOT notice someone staying inside their apartments or whatnot for 2 years??? ... (and furthermore... if he passed away...which kinda energy did he use?? ...for the bills I mean)
sad :( |
I'd assume he still had things plugged in/running, like his refrigerator, clocks, etc. He probably had a cell phone plugged in to charge overnight (I'm assuming, since he was tech savvy enough to have all of his bills paid online). If he's one of those people who falls asleep with the TV or a radio on, one of those could have been running all that time, too.
These stories of peoples' bodies left to rot for long periods after they die with nobody noticing are always so depressing. How do you become THAT cut off from the world? What a lonely existence.
| QUOTE (Paula @ Aug 7 2008, 09:25 PM) |
Yeah, I guess he wasn't in contact with anyone in his family or anything for them to not have noticed they hadn't heard from him in two years. What an awful thought. -_-
| QUOTE (twinzz-dorien @ Aug 7 2008, 02:58 PM) | wow..that's so sad!!...How can yu NOT notice someone staying inside their apartments or whatnot for 2 years??? ... (and furthermore... if he passed away...which kinda energy did he use?? ...for the bills I mean)
sad :( |
I'd assume he still had things plugged in/running, like his refrigerator, clocks, etc. He probably had a cell phone plugged in to charge overnight (I'm assuming, since he was tech savvy enough to have all of his bills paid online). If he's one of those people who falls asleep with the TV or a radio on, one of those could have been running all that time, too.
These stories of peoples' bodies left to rot for long periods after they die with nobody noticing are always so depressing. How do you become THAT cut off from the world? What a lonely existence.
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yeah..it's really, REALLY sad..
But I'm wondering...If, as a neighbor, you notice that your next door has the television on 24/7... and you NEVER see him come out... lightbulb anyone...
the things in his fridge must've...smelled aweful :unsure:
