Wife's debt

Matthaus73

Hi advice needed please.
I recently found out my wife has run up around 10k worth of store card and credit cards debt. She managed to keep this from me for a long time as she used her elderly fathers address.
She is now on a payment plan of £200 pm. 
My question really is if she defaults on payment am I jointly liable for the debt and how likely is her father to get a visit from debt collectors?
I've never had credit or store cards in my life so its all new to me  

[Deleted User]

If the accounts are in her name, she is solely liable.

If she's making some kind of repayment, no one will visit.

Sandtree

Matthaus73 said:

My question really is if she defaults on payment am I jointly liable for the debt and how likely is her father to get a visit from debt collectors?

You can only be legally jointly liable if you signed up to a joint account however credit cards are always single name (additional cardholders are not co-account holders) and the vast majority of store cards are too. What you agree between yourselves is a separate matter.

How likely debt collectors turn up depends on if she keeps up with her payment plans etc and if the debt is still with the credit provider or if they have sold the debt to a third party. If she pays her £200 a month as agreed then no one will come, though obviously you should be correcting the address now.

Whilst you are not jointly liable if you do have a financial connection (eg both on the mortgage or have any joint accounts etc) then her debts and non-payments etc will show up in any credit checks done on yourself so could influence lending decisions.