Ex's Credit Card Debt

[Joanna93]

What is the name of your state? ****land

Last night I received a phone call from Chase Bank about a Master Card my ex has/had with them. The account has fallen into default because he has not made a payment to them in over 18 months. I told the person on the phone that the ex does not live at the residence anymore and is in fact in jail. He proceeded to tell me that I am responsible for the debt because my ex had listed me as an authorized user of the card. I never used the card, or even knew about it. Can I be held responsible as an alleged authorized user? I told them that I refuse to pay his debt and was hung up on. What can I expect to happen now?

 

[JETX]

Can I be held responsible as an alleged authorized user?

Unless you actually SIGNED the agreement or otherwise obligated yourself for his debt(s), you are NOT liable for them.

From an online site:
While a co-applicant is equally responsible for paying all charges on the account, regardless of who made them, an authorized user is not legally or contractually responsible for any charges, including those that s/he made. The pri**** cardholder (the one who actually applied for the card) is considered to be fully liable for all charges on the account, including those made by any authorized users. Verbal agreements or instructions between the pri**** cardholder and the authorized user do not change this. There can be a big difference between a moral/personal obligation and a legal/contractual one.

The account may appear on an authorized user's credit bureau reports, with a notation of their status. This may help in establishing or rehabilitating their credit rating, although not as much as an account that they are officially responsible for.

What can I expect to happen now?

You can pretty much expect numerous calls like this one.... and you will have to be proactive on them by getting their name, address, etc., and sending them a 'cease and desist' and/or validation request letter (certiifed RRR).
Some good letters can be found at: http://www.creditinfocenter.com/forms/

Also, get a current copy of your credit report.... and keep checking to make sure that they don't try to put this debt on you.

For more:
http://www.dailypress.com/business/yourmoney/sns-yourmoney-0529cruz,0,1683707.story
http://moneycentral.msn.com/content/CollegeandFamily/Suddenlysingle/P45691.asp

 

[Joanna93]

That eases my mind a lot, thank you!

 

[honey32]

Joint account or only authorized user?

From personal experience, your question really depends on whether it is an actual joint account or if you were only an additional card holder.

And in some states it doesn't even matter. In TN, where I live, I am currently in court fighting over my ex's Doctor bills. Since we were legally married at the time of service, then I am responsible for them! So it also depends on if you were legally married at the time the card was issued and/or charges incurrerd and of course your state's laws.

Sorry my answers are not much help, but be sure your state's laws won't hold you responsible.

 

[LdiJ]

From personal experience, your question really depends on whether it is an actual joint account or if you were only an additional card holder.

And in some states it doesn't even matter. In TN, where I live, I am currently in court fighting over my ex's Doctor bills. Since we were legally married at the time of service, then I am responsible for them! So it also depends on if you were legally married at the time the card was issued and/or charges incurrerd and of course your state's laws.

Sorry my answers are not much help, but be sure your state's laws won't hold you responsible.

There is a difference between medical bills and credit cards. In some states a spouse can be held responsible for medical bills and CANNOT be held responsible for other debts. So don't compare the two issues.

 

[LdiJ]

If this debt was aquired during the marriage, she could be liable if ****land is a commmunity debt/property state.

The first person who responded to her is an attorney...so odds are she got the right answer there.

 

[JETX]

If this debt was aquired during the marriage, she could be liable if ****land is a commmunity debt/property state.

Since Mar-yland is NOT a community property state... your post is less than useless.
Why didn't you take the 10 seconds to verify whether it was or not before you wasted your time AND show the world your ignorance.....