Help stopping alcoholic family member using credit cards

Cottoncandy

Hi, any help appreciated.

I have an alcoholic family member who is using credit cards to access funds to purchase alcohol.

We keep cutting up the cards but he keeps applying for new ones.

We can't just close the accounts as he has built up a debt that needs to be repaid.

He says if we agree a payment plan with the credit card companies they will immediately put him on credit blacklist and he needs credit for a mortgage application.

What is the best way for us to prevent him having any future access to credit cards, and set up a plan to pay off the debt without affecting his credit rating?

Any help much appreciated, it's a very difficult situation.

Thank you

jonesMUFCforever

You can't stop him/her.
Eventually they will be unable to repay and their credit files will be trashed so lenders will not issue new cards.

THEN you will start to have problem because alcoholics/drug users will steal OTHER people's cards to feed their addiction.
Try to make sure that all cards in your household are secure and change passwords on internet devices so that someone else cannot use them.

PeacefulWaters

Stuff the mortgage.

He needs to hit rock bottom before his behaviour will change.

You've tried. But he hasn't.

Let him spend. Sooner or later he'll default. Then he might begin to see his addiction has consequences.

Sorry.

DCFC79

Is he getting help for the addiction ?

CLAPTON

he needs professional help with his alcoholism : he doesn't need financial help to buy more.
Why encourage him to get a mortgage knowing he will default?

chattychappy

How cooperative is the family member? Does he know he can't keep applying for new credit, but can't help himself - because that way he can buy more booze?

I wonder if you can "force" him to miss a couple of payments. This might be enough to stop him getting new credit. At the same time, the odd missed payment won't trash the record for years.

There is a danger he might then go to pay day lenders, illegal sources or steal from his family as pointed out.

C_Mababejive

He is an adult and can do as he likes within the law. Stop interfering with his cards and his life.

shortcrust

C_Mababejive wrote: »

He is an adult and can do as he likes within the law. Stop interfering with his cards and his life.

Just what I was thinking. You can offer help and support, but you can't take control of another adult's finances because you don't like what they're buying.

PasturesNew

Unfortunately there is no mechanism in place that can help you to save this person from themselves. As an adult they have the right to drive their entire life into the ground until they've lost everything, all possessions, all hope, all purpose and all reasons to go on.... and all you can do is watch.

jonesMUFCforever

Have we been had here?
No response - first post????

nicholaswitchell

C_Mababejive wrote: »

He is an adult and can do as he likes within the law. Stop interfering with his cards and his life.

Yes, this is exactly how it SHOULD be, but don't forget with live in this pathetic pansy nation nanny state.

Someones problems are always someone elses fault.