Recieved a Summons

[atvrcing]

OK, i live in Ohio, and here's my story.... A close friend of mine offered to help me purchase some items for my business using her credit cards, She had used 2 or 3 different cards to purchase items. She had added me as an "authorized user" of one of the cards. i do lawncare work, we purchased several items needed to upgrade equipment etc.... She has no interest in the items purchased or interest in the business, she had done this to help out a friend (so to speak) We had no contracts or anything in writing, but had agreed verbally that i would help pay the credit card bills when i had the extra money to give.....i was making regular payments for a few months until i had a spine injury and now i cannot work and need surgury. So i havent been able to help her at all for a couple months now. I recently recieved a summons from her Attorney and must answer within 28 days. What should i do ?
Any advice would be appreciated???

[seniorjudge]

Q: I recently recieved a summons from her Attorney and must answer within 28 days. What should i do ?

A: Answer the summons within 28 days and either admit that you owe the dough or deny that you owe the dough and want a trial.

Do you have any reasons why you should not pay this debt? You didn't put any reasons why you should not pay in your post, so I was just wondering.

[atvrcing]

Reasons why i cannot pay this debt is that i have have no income at the current time since my injury. I offered to help with the payments when i could afford it. But now that i cant, am i legally liable since i am not the card holder? If it goes to court, what can i do if i have no income?

[GreatGadsby]

you are not legally liable to the credit card company. but you had a contract with your friend and you are legally liable to her.

having no income now isn't really an issue. if your friend can obtain a judgement against you, they are typically good for 8-20 years. sometime in there, if you get money, she can take it.

[atvrcing]

We had no contracts...or anything in writing..the whole thing boils down to ...she tried to "buy my love" i know it sounds crazy but i had told her from day one that i wasnt interested in her other than being friends. But she kept trying to push the issue. And when she finally realized thats all it was gonna be is when she started hounding me for money. but me offering to her verbally to help pay the bills...is that considered a contract?

[aaron]

You're claiming that everything she did for you was in the form of a series of gifts, with no expectation of repayment?

[atvrcing]

Thats sort of the deal...as she knew in the very beginning that i dont have good credit or much of an income, Thats why she insisted on helping me out becaus ei didnt have money at the time...but she was expecting me to help as i told her that i would when i had the extra money. I had asked her to try to get the cards consolidated to make just one payment but she hasnt tried to do that, so im pretty much kinda stuck between a rock and hard place and dont know much of what to expect. I am not able to work right now and have applied for disability. I really dont know what to do. I would like to help her out, i know its a burden on her at the moment, but i cant put anything in writing payment wise since i have no income.

[Mr. Knowitall]

"Thanks for the gifts. I don't love you. Can I use your credit card?"

At best you strung her along to get more money out of her.

[atvrcing]

OK i'm gonna try to put this plain and simple...what would happen if i just refuse to pay her anymore?

[aaron]

You've already been sued, so the question of repayment will be resolved by the court.