Wife took out credit in my name and her own bank account

Ubique

My son came to me and told me that his wife had taken out credit in his name but she used her own bank account. The accounts are for Studeo and Next. He is worried that he maybe held responsible for the debt.... thank you.

[Deleted User]

As it stands, yes, he's responsible.

Depending on his preference, he can pay it off, tell her to do so or report it as fraud and name her. 

tacpot12

Are they together, or have they split up? If split up, are they trying to separate amicably, or is it acrimonious? All these factors will need to be weighed up in the light of zx81's advice.  

comment_as...

Deleted_User said:

As it stands, yes, he's responsible.

Depending on his preference, he can pay it off, tell her to do so or report it as fraud and name her. 

Just to stress he would HAVE to name her. They will make him sign something under the Proceeds of Crime Act to say whether he knows who could have benefited, so he could get in serious trouble if he tries to say it's nothing to do with him without also pointing the finger at her.

Sandtree

Ubique said:

He is worried that he maybe held responsible for the debt.... thank you.

Not sure why he is "worried", if its in his name its his debt.. though I would double check that he is the actual account holder rather than her just adding him as a secondary cardholder to her account.

Unfortunately family issues are messy when it comes to financial services products and companies can struggle to get to the truth. As such, companies will normally require matters to have been reported to the police if there are allegations of fraud or son taking dad's car without consent etc.

It is somewhat inevitable what reporting your wife for fraud will do to a relationship.

[Deleted User]

The only way he'll get out of the debt (and indeed, probably stop her doing that again) is by reporting it as fraud. If he doesn't, the companies will take it that the debt is legitimate and he will have to pay.

Ubique

Thanks for all your comments they are appreciated. He works away (RAF) and is not home on a regular basis but due to COVID.he has been stuck at home and of course he received the mail as he was there and this was the first time he was aware of the use of his name on the accounts. I get the comments that he may well be responsible for the debt but if it is that easy to put someone's name on an agreement with their own bank account free living comes to mind... 

[Deleted User]

It's only free living if he permits her to do so.

Ubique

He's only just found out that 2 accounts exist in his name only. Is there a responsibility by the creditors to show due diligence and actually check who's name the account is in...?

Ubique

I will be writing to the companies and asking those questions ... it just seems to me that as long as they have a name and an account number they put it through. Doesn't sit right with me. Of course I am a concerned Dad and I will get this sorted out for him.

Edi81

Your son is a grown adult so why are you writing anything?

He needs to discuss this with his wife and apply for a protective CIFAS.