£17k on CC - Not worked for 20 Years!

PBA

Stewboy1978 wrote: »

Around 20 years ago (ish) my Auntie was working and had a decent job etc - However for whatever reason she had some form of breakdown and hasn't worked since, most of her time is now unfortunatly spent in hospital.

The only information the bank gets is what they're told. If the card was taken out when OP's aunt had a decent job then they'd assume that was still true until they were told otherwise. The bank would only have been increasing the limit because they saw the account was being well run and that, in the absence of any new information, they believed that the cardholder was still employed. I don't see how the bank could reasonably have been expected to stop this situation.

turbobob

PBA wrote: »

The bank would only have been increasing the limit because they saw the account was being well run and that, in the absence of any new information, they believed that the cardholder was still employed. I don't see how the bank could reasonably have been expected to stop this situation.

Not automatically increasing the credit limit without authorisation is one thing that springs to mind.

mum2one

Thats teh banks for you, once they see the credit card being used and payments being made they then increase accordingly, they work on the basis that if the cardholders situation has changed then its up to the cardholder.

Sorry I know it sounds harsh, its not meant personnaly just how the banks work.

I noticed you said your Aunt had a breakdown, without being personal, is she capable of manageing her money or has someone in the family got power of eternity on her accounts, you would also need to cheek if its only the one card that she has,

Frozenace

It's possible that the card still has credit protection on. If she's now in hospital and used to work, I guess that qualifies for protection, doesn't it?