My ex has run up credit card debit. Help what do I do now.

scammell3

I have have just found out my ex girlfriend has run up a £5,500 debt on a credit card where I was the main account holder. As always she assured me she had stopped using it, but last week I found out that the debit had been passed to a collecting agency by Barclaycard. The card is registered at her address. Any idea where this leaves me, practical advice please. I have tried the Citizens Advice but they were not too helpful. The Court Service has given me some documents but is this feasable. By the way the card is cancelled now.

surfcat

I can't think of any legal redress you have, as if she was an additional cardholder (was she? or was it your card used without permission - in which case police) then you have signed away your rights I'm afraid.

Still if the card if registered at her address (your old one?) then could you find a way in and remove some possessions? If they were bought jointly on your credit agreement, then I think you could return them to shop of purchase, using your card statement as a receipt.

bethyblue612

Have you tried making an offer to the debt collection agency? As surfcat said, I don't think you can escape the fact that as it was your account, it is technically your debt.

One question - as it is your account, why were the statements going to her address? Had you only just moved out and not got round to telling Barclaycard yet?

scammell3

Yes had moved out, and was a bit slow in cancelling card, and the statements were going to her flat, and I had no idea what was on the card. I was pretty slow there. Hard mistake to make.

Thanks for the reply

burbs_2

Mate i feel for you, i know someone who went through the exact same problem with his ex and with Barclaycard. The only difference is she racked up 8 grand before he found out.

Barclaycard did not care about the whose, whys and wheres, all they cared about was recouping their money. The worse thing about it was that it was his credit history that went down the pan, him that owed the money and him that ended up paying it in full.

The collecting company thaty Barclaycard used di not mess about either, they went to his ex address who informed them that he no longer lived there, they asked for a forwarding address which she happily gave and they came to his house and ordered him to start making payments or else they would remove goods.

This is a hard one mate, have you spoken to her about whether she is willling to pay it off or if it is just going to be down to you? If so then i think you are going to be left very unhappy here and have to pay it. If CAB were no good perhaps you should invest in a little meeting with a solicitor or the like, see if he can give you the best course of action legally.

scammell3

Thanks Burb

A nice message, am talking to her, hoping she will cough up before everything really goes pear shaped.

Your support is great. :A

Smiley_Mum

Could she not open a credit card account and have you transfer the balance of the card she ran up onto it so you are clear. Bummer when it is your credit rating that will be affected by it.

Just had a look on Google and came across this link that maybe of interest to you and people in similar situations, about STDs (Sexually Transmitted Debt).

http://money.guardian.co.uk/creditanddebt/debt/story/0,1456,1324737,00.html

Good Luck!