How can I find if really joint account

[alironz]

Please give me more advice. I have made payments twice on this account since my Dad died based on the threat they told me my credit would be ruined. I have another payment due in a week. I did today write certified mail to COO, CFO, VP of Customer relations and Credit Services. I told them all my story with copies of all correspondence and their letter saying this account was opened over the phone so they cannot provide me with the information I seek. I just don't know what to do.

[Flamingo]

Please give me more advice. I have made payments twice on this account since my Dad died based on the threat they told me my credit would be ruined. I have another payment due in a week. I did today write certified mail to COO, CFO, VP of Customer relations and Credit Services. I told them all my story with copies of all correspondence and their letter saying this account was opened over the phone so they cannot provide me with the information I seek. I just don't know what to do.

I think you have been given excellent advice on here and there is not too much else you can do until you hear back from Chase. You mentioned there was an attorney who handled the probate of your dad's estate for you - you may want to give that attorney a call about this situation and get some advice. If this account had your father's name on it at the time of his passing, it should have been included in his estate paperwork.

[alironz]

The account was in my Dad's name and there were not sufficient funds to pay for funeral let alone credit card. Should I make another payment to Chase do you think? I asked the lawyer if I was responsible for my Dad's debts and he said no there is no estate. If I understand correctly if I am an authorized user I do not have to pay this but if it is joint account I do. I just did not ever sign that I would be a joint user. Thank you for all your help.

[fltoo]

If you did not sign an application for a credit card and are only a joint user, you are not responsible for the debt. Stop paying it and send copy of death cert to Chase. Happened to a friend of mine and the death cert stopped Chase in its tracks.

[alironz]

Received another letter from Chase today stating they are replying to my request for copy of application for credit card. goes on to say the account was opened october 8, 1987 and they are unable to locate a signed application. says if more questions call 800 number

[magyar123]

Received another letter from Chase today stating they are replying to my request for copy of application for credit card. goes on to say the account was opened october 8, 1987 and they are unable to locate a signed application. says if more questions call 800 number

Do you have any idea when your dad added you as "authorized user?

[alironz]

No idea

[PoorGrammyinBK7]

I think they are just trying to bluff you into paying it.

But then again - have you used this card since your Dad died? If so, you might have implicitly made yourself responsible.

[magyar123]

I think they are just trying to bluff you into paying it.

But then again - have you used this card since your Dad died? If so, you might have implicitly made yourself responsible.

Woudn't be surprised if these bums are trying to bluff.

[justbroke]

Be careful. Some cardholder agreements, AMEX is notorious for this, have provisions in which an "additional" cardholder (or joint card holder), is liable for charges that the "additional" cardholder themselves made on the card.

If you used the card, and can't prove you paid for the charges that you incurred as an "additional" cardholder... coupled with the fact that you made payments towards the debt, they will probably pursue you.

Having wrote that, if you were just an additional cardholder and made no charges (or paid for everything you charged), get a lawyer and tell Chase to pound sand.

[Flamingo]

The account was in my Dad's name and there were not sufficient funds to pay for funeral let alone credit card. Should I make another payment to Chase do you think? I asked the lawyer if I was responsible for my Dad's debts and he said no there is no estate. If I understand correctly if I am an authorized user I do not have to pay this but if it is joint account I do. I just did not ever sign that I would be a joint user. Thank you for all your help.

The executor of your dad's estate was responsible for getting your father's information on his passing (short certificate) to Chase. I advised you in a previous posting to include that with your correspondence to Chase when you sent in your letter to get a history on the account. Because this was not taken care of by your executor, you will have to get it cleaned up. Upon receiving official notification of your father's passing, the account would have had to been closed out. Since they did not receive that, with your name and SS# on there they are going after you. You will get this resolved but I cannot tell you whether or not to stop paying on the account because since it is now reporting in your name, you will have another mess to clean up with late payments on your credit report since they have it under your name. I would give Chase a few days to receive the information you mailed them and if you don't hear from anyone prior to the due date on the account, make some more phone calls to the head of the credit dept. stating you are following up on your letter date xxxxx. Unless you actually showed up on person in a Chase Bank if one is in your area, I don't know what else anyone call tell you until you work with the bank on this matter with someone outside of customer service to straighten it out.

[Flamingo]

To the OP - here is a thread started on here today which might help you:

http://www.bkforum.com/showthread.php?t=14731

[magyar123]

Don't pay Chase another dime. Let them send the account to collections. Once the collection goons contact you demand a complete validation, (and don't pay them a dime either.) If they haul you to court they/Chase will have to prove that your dad made you joint card holder and not just authorized user.

[alironz]

Update

I want to thank all of you for your advice. I received a fax this morning apologizing for inaccurate information they have been reporting on this account and have removed it from my credit report. They are putting it back in my fathers estate but since there was no estate I assume I am done with this. Again thank you for all your help.

[TEW]

My Dad did not have credit card insurance and will was probated but as I said not enough to even pay for funeral. I did not ever agree to a joint account and am trying to resolve this. Thank you all for your help.