The sins of the father.....

[kwnancy]

We are currently in a chapter 13, just paid payment #13 of 36. No complaints or problems (yet!!!! )

Our 18 year old daughter has so far learned from our mistakes. However, upon pulling her free credit report, she was an 'authorized user' on our Bank of America credit card. This is showing on her credit report as current status: Charge Off. She was an authorized user when she was 17. Can she dispute this? I hate to see a negative on her credit report already. Will this negatively impact her credit scores, since she was only an authorized user, not responsible for payment.

Thanks for any guidance you may be able to provide.

[SinkingFast]

I took the liberty of moving your question to this section.

While you are a Ch 13 filer, the question is more Credit oriented. You're much more likely to get appropriate responses in this Section of the Forum.

Unfortunately, we have only recently filed and have yet to deal with the Credit Rebuilding side of BK.

There are others here that are much more experienced in Disputing that could advise you what course your daughter should take.

[lrprn]

We are currently in a chapter 13, just paid payment #13 of 36. No complaints or problems (yet!!!! )

Our 18 year old daughter has so far learned from our mistakes. However, upon pulling her free credit report, she was an 'authorized user' on our Bank of America credit card. This is showing on her credit report as current status: Charge Off. She was an authorized user when she was 17. Can she dispute this? I hate to see a negative on her credit report already. Will this negatively impact her credit scores, since she was only an authorized user, not responsible for payment.

Thanks for any guidance you may be able to provide.

Your daughter should challenge this. Reporting it as a charge off on her credit report when she was only an authorized user is inaccurate. There are form letters she can use in the Sample Letters and Forms section at http://www.bankruptcyforum.com/showthread.php?t=6636 .

The FTC (Federal Trade Commission) does an excellent job explaining how to dispute errors on credit reports at http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/credit/repair.htm .

Hope this helps and your daughter is successful correcting her credit report!

[jetset]

Actually, this same exact thing happened to me. I was on my parents Sears card, and they both filed Chapter 7. They included it on their bankruptcy, and now it reports on my credit reports (even after my bankruptcy) as being "Account Closed" with a zero balance, nothing negative at all.

It was actually that credit card which I believe got me into my problems. I was an authorized user at age 16 on that card. When I turned 18 and got my own credit card, since I had established credit from the sears card, I was given a $12,500 credit limit. That's wonderful if you are responsible with credit, and at the time I wasn't. The responsible thing to do with a 12,500 limit would be to call them back and say no thanks, 500 bucks will do. I regret not doing that, but life goes on.

jetset

[FilingOnMyOwn]

She should definately dispute it, as 'not her account'. Because after all, it really isn't her account.

[kwnancy]

Thanks for the prompt responses. I knew this didn't seem quite right to me. She printed some of the same letters and will fire off a letter tomorrow.

Nancy