Family and identity theft

[Sportchick_04]

I live in Texas.

My father has been disabled for about four years and cannot work, and seems too proud to apply for disability. Now, my parents decided that when I turned thirteen they would get me credit cards so that I would have credit when I went to college. Somewhere this went horribly awry. I've been in college for a few years and I was recently told my credit is not as "up to snuff" as it should be. I checked it (none of these cards are in my hands, nor do I use them) and my dad has 8 cards, only two of which I knew about.

Now, when I was younger and had to talk to the credit card companies because of screw ups, my father had me call, and he told me what to say. This continued from the time I was thirteen to seventeen. I had to verify my birth date (which was set to be years older than I really was) and give them information. But my dad has not been honest with me about his card use. He has been using my credit to support himself. I want this to stop. But I don't want... criminal repercussions, I guess. I want to put my credit out of his reach, but I don't want him fined or in jail.

I also need to know if I can suffer charges of some kind myself. I was a child, doing as my father bade me, but I did lie. I didn't know what kind of crud it was going to cause later, I thought it was supposed to help me, and again, he had authority over me which he no longer has. My parents used my credit as a lifeline for my parents when they were faltering financially, I think to stave off bankruptcy. For a while, my credit was good, but now it's just going down the toilet.

My father has been paying the minimum balance on all of these, but there are so many and the debt is piling up. When my credit limits are 2000 dollars and he's got them as high as they will go, he cannot pull $$ from nowhere to pay one card with another anymore. He and my mother have filed bankruptcy and my father has credit cards in my grandmothers name also, so regardless of the bankruptcy, there are still these cards to pay. He's paying them, and I'm not saying he shouldn't, but I want this to become impossible for him to do in the future.

Can I heal my credit report? Can I make this stop without punishing my dad? Am I liable for all these debts that aren't mine but in my name? In the event my father dies, what am I going to do with this debt? What can I do?

[TinkerBelleLuvr]

You have two options: you can pay the bill, or file a police report on the identity theft and implicate your father.

Rock, meet hard place.

[debtcollector`]

Actually, since the OP was a party to the fraud, they can pay the bill regardless.

DC

[Sportchick_04]

I'm not sure what OP stands for, but I deduce it refers to.. me?

So you're saying that there isn't an argument against the fact that I was underage, living under his roof, and could not say no? *sigh* Alright, thank you.

[fairisfair]

Originally Posted by debtcollector`

Actually, since the OP was a party to the fraud, they can pay the bill regardless.

DC

a party to the fraud at the age of 13????? Oh C'mon

exactly how??

[debtcollector`]

Originally Posted by fairisfair

a party to the fraud at the age of 13????? Oh C'mon

exactly how??

Nope -- from the time they were 18 until the day they take action.

I've been in college for a few years

So the OP knew about the fraud and conspired to maintain it for a few YEARS.

That would be a party to it.

DC

[ecmst12]

OP = Original Poster

At the very least, you want to get all of those cards cancelled RIGHT NOW so your dad can't keep using them!

[Sportchick_04]

I was under the impression all of this was over and done with when I entered college at seventeen... It started out that I had a credit card under my parents business that I could use for emergencies, which turned out to be my dad's emergencies, and thus became a ton of more cards. My dad told me he had cut them all up, apparently my credit started going bad at that time (just before college) and my mom threatened to leave him. I didn't know that til now either.

But mail keeps going to my fathers house (where I do not live anymore) addressed to me, and offering me credit, and he has apparently taken these creditors up on it. Is there a way I can halt ALL credit card activity for a while? Like, be alerted maybe, if someone gets a card in my name, so I can cut it down? I've considered calling all the current card companies but if my dad runs out of stuff to pawn, he may just apply for another card and I won't know without paying each time for a credit report, right?

I am nineteen now and I am just now becoming aware of all of this. I tried to apply for some financial aid and there was a hold up, and I checked my credit for the first time (never had to before, I don't have any cards that I hold). I guess the school was like, "wait, you're almost 10k in debt? and you want money? we don't think so. " ):

I still depend a lot on my dad, I live with my dying grandma, and when I need help, he's the one I have to talk to... my aunt, for instance, recently let my grandmothers account get overdrawn to the tune of 738 dollars and didn't tell anyone, so we had no groceries (my grandma has no idea what numbers mean anymore so my aunt is supposed to be managing finances). I had to ask my dad to get us food, and he probably used my cards to do it... I don't feel like I'm in a position to threaten him, if not for my own sake then my grandmothers. I guess I need to grow a set... but I'm scared of confronting him for many different reasons.

Anyway, thanks for your help/suggestions (and your translation (: I'm not very experienced in forums...)

[lwpat]

Many states allow you to put a "freeze" on your credit report. You can also opt out of all the free offers. Contact the credit reporting agencies.

[debtcollector`]

Okay. you are going to have to file a complaint with the police. Given the time, that may not hold up, but you still need to do it.

That said, you might also want to talk to a lawyer about helping you. You have a mess that is going to take a while to resolve and the companies will listen to the attorney before listening to you.

Also, federal student loans are not credit based. If there is a hold up, it is for some other reason. You should check with your financial aid office.

DC