Additional Card Holder Question

lozza44

Hi everyone,

I'm new as you will have guessed but could really use some help and advice.

Not sure where to start really. Several years ago I added my Dad as an additional cardholder to my credit card account as I never used it myself. He was a bit strapped for cash at the time and he assured me he would pay the bill each month. I asked him every month if the card was paid and he assured me yes it was. Needless to say I am the soft touch in the family and was extremely naive. To cut a long story short, there is now £6500 on the credit card, all of which was spent by my dad, not a penny by me. My Dad is a mess for several reasons which I wont go into but it is clear he has no intention of doing anything about it and I am now left with the debt.

The credit card company are calling me literally 3 times a day now and I just dont know what to do. I can't afford to pay it all off obviously and can only afford a small amount each month as I have my own mortgage and bills to pay.

My question is - does anyone know if there is any way of legally putting this debt in his name? I was going to go and see a solicitor about it with my sister who he has also left with a debt (although much much smaller). The credit card company would be able to prove that every penny owed was spent on his card and I'm pretty sure that my dad would sign anything to agree.

It's probably a stupid question, I know the account is in my name and I am therefore liable but I am at my wits end with this. I can't afford to go into any debt management plan as I am only 32 and dont want my credit score affected forever by this.

Any help or advice is greatly appreciated.

Thanks, lozza.

leicsmarkyr

lozza44 wrote: »

Hi everyone,

I'm new as you will have guessed but could really use some help and advice.

Not sure where to start really. Several years ago I added my Dad as an additional cardholder to my credit card account as I never used it myself. He was a bit strapped for cash at the time and he assured me he would pay the bill each month. I asked him every month if the card was paid and he assured me yes it was. Needless to say I am the soft touch in the family and was extremely naive. To cut a long story short, there is now £6500 on the credit card, all of which was spent by my dad, not a penny by me. My Dad is a mess for several reasons which I wont go into but it is clear he has no intention of doing anything about it and I am now left with the debt.

The credit card company are calling me literally 3 times a day now and I just dont know what to do. I can't afford to pay it all off obviously and can only afford a small amount each month as I have my own mortgage and bills to pay.

My question is - does anyone know if there is any way of legally putting this debt in his name? I was going to go and see a solicitor about it with my sister who he has also left with a debt (although much much smaller). The credit card company would be able to prove that every penny owed was spent on his card and I'm pretty sure that my dad would sign anything to agree.

It's probably a stupid question, I know the account is in my name and I am therefore liable but I am at my wits end with this. I can't afford to go into any debt management plan as I am only 32 and dont want my credit score affected forever by this.

Any help or advice is greatly appreciated.

Thanks, lozza.

Sorry but there is not much you can do as the card is in your name and you are liable for any spend the additional cardholder makes. That will be the terms of any card.

Only thing you could do is sue your father and take him to court for the amount you owe the card company.

DestroyingAngel_2

Lozza44,

Looks like you really got yourself into this one all right. As the main cardholder, you are liable for all transactions made on the account, whether by yourself or the authorised user.

If it's any consolation, you're not the only one in the same predicament. Plenty of other suckers out there, yours sincerely included!!

ler01kjh

Agreed - you're stuck. Liability for the debt lies with you, the credit card company won't transfer it because they probably wouldn't let your dad have one...and certainly not with that sort of credit limit. The best outcome would be to reach an arrangement with your dad to pay the money to you but you'll have to pay the credit card yourself. If you're inclined, and it doesn't work out, you can always take your dad to small claims court to get a court order for repayment to you - but it looks like financial mismanagement than deliberate 'theft'