Family member took credit in my name...HELP!

upthatcreek

Hi,
I’m in a really difficult situation and am losing all hope of anybody knowing of a solution.
I’ve contacted debt charities (including Citizen’s Advice) and FOUR solicitors but nobody is able to give me solid advice.
I’m hoping someone out there could possibly help out...
I had a nervous breakdown a few years ago in my mid 20s and moved home with my mother. We have always had a volatile relationship as she was a heavy drinker throughout my childhood. But, I was vulnerable and she agreed to house me while I recovered.
She has always run one business or another of her own and her new venture at the time wasn’t going too well.
In my fragile state she suggested I ‘help out’ with the business to keep my mind active. I agreed and was soon signing all sorts of documents I didn’t really understand but was soothed by the promise that ‘it’ll all be ok’ and ‘I’m your mother, I’d never get you into any trouble’, etc.
I eventually ended up signing documents to take out credit cards which were immediately transferred into her filing cabinet and used to buy supplies for her business.
I moved out after 2 years when Mum became aggressive towards me and I realised I was in a toxic situation which was anything but helpful towards my state of mind.
I quite literally came to my senses!
I have now run my own business for the past 2 years which is going from strength to strength however; about a year ago I started receiving letters from all sorts of companies saying I owed them money. One was from a supplier to her business saying that as a company director for her business I was liable to a £25,000 debt she had run up and they put an order on my house. I wasn’t even aware I had signed anything to become a company director!
I managed to fight them off but began to receive letters from credit cards saying I owed money.
Bemused, I did an Equifax search on myself and discovered she has run up nearly £50,000 worth of debt in my name which I cannot afford to pay back.
I am not prepared to shop her to the police. In short, I’m afraid of her and what she’ll do but also she fights dirty and if it goes to court, she’ll talk her way out of it and show I signed documents and I don’t want to argue the toss with her manipulating side that I was in no frame of mind to argue at the time. I realise to anyone that just sounds like a bad excuse to try and get out of debt.
In addition to all the credit she has used in my name, she also managed to manipulate £80,000 from the sale of my house from me.
You must be thinking 'what an idiot'...I am too, in retrospect! Mental health is a mine field. Thank God I'm thinking more clearly now.
I’ve enquired into an IVA but I really can’t stand the thought of paying off a huge amount of interest.
I’m thinking about going bankrupt and starting again. Kind of a ‘clean slate’ scenario to get it (and her) out of my life but I just don’t know what to do and neither do any of the experts I’ve approached.
I realise I’m coming across as a real victim but I was fragile and am much stronger now and able to face the truth about how to get myself back on track.
Can anyone help???

determined_new_ms

Hi I don't really have much advice except to either go to the Police (I know she's ur mum and it doesn't seem right but if someone else fraudulently took out £80K in ur name, wouldn't u go to the Police?) or go bankrupt but I don't know anyting about that. I'm sorry this is such a nightmare for you

DaisyChainMaker

oh crikey... what a mess. My heart goes out to you. The problem with bankruptcy is that you won't be able to get any credit for the next 6 years and will lose any assets that you have. So think carefully before going down this route. Of course it may be your best (of a bad bunch) option.

It would be very difficult for you to prove that you did not sign forms for credit and your mum's business willingly. Your word against hers basically and of course it is your signature on the paperwork. So now you have to just deal with the mess.

There is a forum on this site for bankruptcy and there are a lot of fantastic people on here who are full of valuable information and advice. I really hope you can find the strength to get through this for your own sake. Get any support you need so you are not doing it alone. You have to do what is best for you to move on with your life and put this behind you.
Lots of luffs and huggles for you during this nightmare time x