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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Feb 2008
    Posts
    1

    Question Can You Dispute Debts Run Up by Family Members on Your Credit

    Okay, in brief:
    Wifes folks used her credit and didnt pay for any of the purchases. This happened over 16 years ago. We got married and her credit is shot before we said "I do". We recently got a collection notice from Visa for 3000 bucks. The lady we called at the agency stated that the limit started at 1000 and the extra was because of interest. There are several dept store cards also that were maxed and not paid on.

    Now for the questions:

    1. Is there any way we can get these off of her credit?
    2. If not, is there any legal way to make her folks pay? (we have asked them nicely, and they refuse because they said they did what they had to do to survive)
    3. Is there any way to get the invoices from the credit companies from that far back?

    I live in Texas.

    Thanks!

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    Toledo, OH
    Posts
    16,307

    Default Re: The Family Thief

    These debts are 16 years old? They are WAY out of the statute of limitations.

    First:

    If a debt collector contacts you regarding an old debt, do not admit that you owe the debt and do not agree to make any payments. Simply tell them that the "statute of limitations has run on this debt and do not contact me again". If they continue contacting you, send them a certified letter, return receipt requested, telling them not to contact you about the debt again. Remember -- DO NOT ADMIT THAT YOU OWE THE DEBT, DO NOT AGREE TO PAY THE DEBT, AND DO NOT AGREE TO SEND ANY MONEY TO THEM. If you do, then the statute of limitations might start running all over again, giving them the legal right to sue you.
    Send them all this letter and do some reading here.

    As to your questions:

    1. Dispute them all with all three credit reporting agencies. She should note that she did not open the accounts and was not aware of them until she began receiving collection notices.

    2. You can sue them. It's going to strain family relations, but it's the only way to hold them legally responsible.

    3. At this point, you're probably dealing with junk debt collectors. They likely don't have those things, but demand them anyway. And when the agencies can't produce these, write to the credit reporting agencies and demand these things be removed because the agency cannot verify the debt.

    Good luck.

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