scubadiving1998
New Member
This is a long story. My father passed away in September of '06. Years ago, he opened a credit card (Visa) and put me on as an authorized user. I have a card with my name on it, but I am not to my knowledge, considered "an owner" of the credit line.
To that point, I have tried to call them many times over the years and ask questions, etc., and they respond with, "we must have "Mr. Smiths" authorization to speak to you, etc." Sometimes they answer me since I know his SS#. But they mainly acknowledge that I am not in charge of this account.
It was used by me and my mother on mad shopping sprees and sometimes my father over the years.
Anyway, when he passed away, there was approximately $9,000.00 on it. The credit line is $35,000.
I have been the person who has made the payments since the card was opened. (1991)
So, he passes away, and I just keep on using it like always and paid it like always and have racked up quite a debt. It is now at $20,000, or so.
On top of that, I have been paying off other credit cards and student loans and department store bills, trying very hard to dig my way out of debt and decided that since there is still about $15,000 of open credit remaining, I will transfer $14,000 from another card just to consolidate them and have 1 debt, and one payment.
So...the card my father opened in 1991 is up to its limit of around $35,000, but only $9,000.00 of it was on the card before he passed away.
I hope I am making this clear.
We have 3 sets of money on this card:
The original $9,000.
The $11,000 that I added by irresponsible spending and
The $14,000 that I transferred from another account
After speaking to a few friends who probably know nothing, we have come up with several questions:
1. Would the creditor (Chase Bank) forgive the $9,000.00 since this was really "his" credit with me as an authorized user if I provide them with a death certificate? It not has been a year yet since the date of his death in case that is pertinent.
2. Will the creditor forgive the second set of money, since my mother who might be considered the next rightful owner, as the wife, even though I do not believe that her name is or ever has been on this account.
3. Will this creditor keep the account open or transfer the balance of the account to my name since I transferred the $14,0000 from a card that was in my name?
4. Am I going to be in trouble for using this card after his death? It was suggested that I could be charged with identity theft or fraud since I continued to use the card after his death AND transferred more money from the other card.
Ugh...what have I done? What can I do? Does anyone know?
Could some or all of this money be wiped out since he is gone?
I am so confused. And apparently stupid.
Help please.
Thank you.
To that point, I have tried to call them many times over the years and ask questions, etc., and they respond with, "we must have "Mr. Smiths" authorization to speak to you, etc." Sometimes they answer me since I know his SS#. But they mainly acknowledge that I am not in charge of this account.
It was used by me and my mother on mad shopping sprees and sometimes my father over the years.
Anyway, when he passed away, there was approximately $9,000.00 on it. The credit line is $35,000.
I have been the person who has made the payments since the card was opened. (1991)
So, he passes away, and I just keep on using it like always and paid it like always and have racked up quite a debt. It is now at $20,000, or so.
On top of that, I have been paying off other credit cards and student loans and department store bills, trying very hard to dig my way out of debt and decided that since there is still about $15,000 of open credit remaining, I will transfer $14,000 from another card just to consolidate them and have 1 debt, and one payment.
So...the card my father opened in 1991 is up to its limit of around $35,000, but only $9,000.00 of it was on the card before he passed away.
I hope I am making this clear.
We have 3 sets of money on this card:
The original $9,000.
The $11,000 that I added by irresponsible spending and
The $14,000 that I transferred from another account
After speaking to a few friends who probably know nothing, we have come up with several questions:
1. Would the creditor (Chase Bank) forgive the $9,000.00 since this was really "his" credit with me as an authorized user if I provide them with a death certificate? It not has been a year yet since the date of his death in case that is pertinent.
2. Will the creditor forgive the second set of money, since my mother who might be considered the next rightful owner, as the wife, even though I do not believe that her name is or ever has been on this account.
3. Will this creditor keep the account open or transfer the balance of the account to my name since I transferred the $14,0000 from a card that was in my name?
4. Am I going to be in trouble for using this card after his death? It was suggested that I could be charged with identity theft or fraud since I continued to use the card after his death AND transferred more money from the other card.
Ugh...what have I done? What can I do? Does anyone know?
Could some or all of this money be wiped out since he is gone?
I am so confused. And apparently stupid.
Help please.
Thank you.
