Credit Card

[masma]

My son is an out of work alcoholic who lives with us. He's recently been given a credit card, at first it only had £100 limit but it's now been put up to £500. His bill at the moment (I found a statement) is just under £300. My question is... if he can't pay this will we be liable as he lives with us. Also why do the credit card companys give them out to someone with no means to pay for it?

[CheekyChops]

You will not be liable for any debt that he runs up in his sole name.

As to why he was issued with a card in the first place, who knows. Did he lie on his application and say that he was employed or did he tell them he was unemployed? If the latter, it certainly seems irresponsible of the lender.

[ummmm]

No, the card holder liable.

[rockyracoon]

I got a credit card a couple of years ago, the limit started at £1000, it's now £5000 without me ever asking for an increase.

[SlackAlice]

I've had a CC for years and my limit has now crept up to £10,000. Only ever got it for Emergency purposes only. Only used it about 3 times and re-paid in full within 30 days.

Unfortunately, some people are too weak and use their card up to the limit and are unable to understand that it is just a loan, with a high rate of interest.

[ck1]

Definitely one to keep an eye on, very easy for these to spiral out of control

[masma]

If I emailed the credit card company and explained the situation would they keep it confidential or do you think they'd tell him I'd been in touch?

[factor-fiction]

I think they would say they can't act on anything you say or correspond with you about your son's account.

[belrec]

You are better off talking to your son, if he finds out you have gone behind his back he will be angry.

There are credit card companies that specialise in low limit cards to help people who have had trouble getting credit build up their credit rating. It is likely one of these.

Plus the credit card company dont care if he spends too much money unfortunately.

Good luck with this xxx

[anneasquith]

morning masma, im sorry about your son being no better. and the cc. it would seem is yet another stressful situation for you, take care . anne.

[ummmm]

The CC company won't talk to you.

[Peter Pedant]

If you search the internet - somewhere it will give you info about how you can sever the various people at the same address.

the credit card info is stored by address - and your son is likely to have a name like John Masma - sudduv like yours

and it is possible to write to the company asking/requiring them to record that the two of you are er different.

This means when the CCJs arrive, you have everything in place to say - its not me its him !

I agree who wants to pay a debt for someone else's booze ?

You have to get chapter and verse as other wise the credit card operatives will say oo I cant - data protection
whereas in fact they are obliged to - the act requires accurate information to be recorded...

[masma]

Thank you all for taking the time to help me xx

[masma]

Anne.... thank you (again) for your good wishes - unfortunately things have gone from bad to worse, son is now in hospital after suffering 3 seizures he's waiting to have a brain scan as they think he might have had a bleed due to low platelets. Don't know how we'll cope if he's brain dammaged :-(

[Hammer]

If the credit card is in your son's name then you have absolutely no liability and they cannot demand payments from you.

Peter is wrong about the information the credit card companies have. His account is his account. Nothing to do with you.

There *may* be a link to your son on your own credit history as recorded by the credit reference agencies, particularly if you have ever had any joint accounts. This is more about how easy it is for you to get future credit than being chased for old debts. It could make it more difficult for you to borrow in the future if he ever defaults on his CC. Just having a debt is not really a problem, missing payments on it is.

If you are financially separate (ie no joint accounts) then you can ask the credit reference agencies to sever the link between you and your son. Then his history will not appear on your reports at all.

http://www.experian.co.uk/consumer/faq/AR3.html

[masma]

Hammer... he has never been named on anything, financial or otherwise, with us. Thank you for your very helpful answer.

[anneasquith]

masma, im so sorry to hear your news about your son, please keep in contact. I will be praying ( if you wish) and send best wishes to you all. anne.

[masma]

Anne... Yet again.. thank you, any help be it on this level or from above would be very much appreciated. Just been to see him and he seems a wee bit better thank goodness xx

[chrissa1]

So sorry to read this, masma. You had such high hopes for him. Thinking of you. X

[Peter Pedant]

Oh ! I protest ! He tells you I am wrong and then tells you how to sever an association...which I raised anyway

and HERE is another batch of info about how to sever an association from the office of the info commissioner:

http://www.ico.org.uk/Global/faqs/~/media/documents/library/Data_Protection/Practical_application/credit_explained_leaflet_2005.ashx#page=21


as far as I am concerned, there are times when being wrong is being right !
ho hum....

[boxtops]

masma, can I suggest that you run a credit check on yourself with someone like Experian, to see if your son's name is linked in any way with yours? If so you can write back to them and have it removed. This DOES happen - when I had a credit report a while back, there were things on there that were nothing to do with me at all, not even my relatives - people who'd bought the house I used to live in, etc. It's worth doing.