Can my wife file - I already filed and am an authorized user

[shaaregeulah]

I filed about 4 1/2 years ago.

Now my wife is in debt about $40k and wants to file as well - HOWEVER - she added me as an authorized user for a few of her credit cards! I was told this could be a problem.

Is it indeed a problem? And if it is, what if I remove myself as an authorized user and wait a few months?

[aachudneymiles]

,

[aachudneymiles]

I filed about 4 1/2 years ago.

Now my wife is in debt about $40k and wants to file as well - HOWEVER - she added me as an authorized user for a few of her credit cards! I was told this could be a problem.

Is it indeed a problem? And if it is, what if I remove myself as an authorized user and wait a few months?

Nope no issue, as long as your an authorized user and not a joint card holder your golden.

Tell your wife to call the credit card companies and delete you as an Authorized user. Authorized User are NOT responsible for any debt associated with the card anyhow, but Joint account holders are.

[shaaregeulah]

Nope, as long as your an authorized user and not a joint card holder

I finally got through to my lawyer and asked him this question just a few minutes ago. He said that the creditors can actually throw me the bill and that I would have to take responsibility! How the heck is that possible?!!

[lrprn]

Pull your wife's and your credit reports to see how each card is designated.

If you are a co-signer (in other words, you signed an agreement to be responsible for the debt), then you will have to pay the debt on that card if your wife files alone.

However, if you are only an authorized user, then as aa said, you ARE NOT responsible for the debt.

Your lawyer (or more likely, a paralegal or one of the office staff) may have misunderstood your question. If you clarify this and your lawyer tells you again that you are responsible if you are an authorized user, then I strongly recommend finding another lawyer as soon as possible.

[aachudneymiles]

I finally got through to my lawyer and asked him this question just a few minutes ago. He said that the creditors can actually throw me the bill and that I would have to take responsibility! How the heck is that possible?!!

I use to work for a major card credit card company and I know this as fact. I believe he is thinking of a Joint user. However things could have changed. This is what you can do call the credit card companies ask for a credit card service rep. or a customer service rep., ask them simply whats the difference between a authorized users and a joint user?

It's like this, you never sign a contract with these credit cards or disclose your social security number right? If you did Not sign your name or give your ssn -how could you be liable? your not

TO ADD: its very important you know if your an Authoized User or A Joint Card Holder. As LRPN said pulling the credit is a good way to know or call and ask.


Good luck

[aachudneymiles]

Please let us know the outcome. Thnx..

[shaaregeulah]

Thanks all! I'm going to call all of the creditors that I've been added as a user to and confirm that I am not a joint user (I doubt I am being that I never gave them my SS# or signed anything). And I'll remove my name as a user as a safe measure. Then I'll get the ball rolling for a debt free life.... again...

Thanks again!