Reader mail: Credit reporting of authorized user for deceased husband’s credit cards
I’m an authorized user on my deceased husbands credit cards. I have been making payments on the cards but, it is getting hard to keep the payments up. If stop making payments will this have an impack on my credit.
thank you ...
There are TWO issues - the credit rating and the ability of creditors to pursue YOU for the debts.
Re. credit reporting:
1) First notify the card issuers that you are no longer an AU and return the credit cards to them.
2) Dispute with all three credit bureaus who report the accounts (often not all report) and advise that you are no longer an authorized user.
Re. COLLECTION efforts by creditors and collectors:
Whether YOU are liable depends on YOUR STATE LAW and whether the debts were COMMUNITY property.
Of course the estate is also liable, but if there are no assets (as so often), creditors often turn into the most vile predators you can imagine. The HORROR stories I’ve heard are unbelievable and I personally know people who were continually harassed by creditors and collectors for their PARENTS’ debts—no matter how many times they explained that they weren’t their debts.
The bigger the bank, the more vicious the collectors. I had a neighbor who was tortured by Chase. I’ve seen major litigation such as MBNA pursuing an AU because she also made the payments. You can count on them trying to hold you legally liable because you made payments even if you’re not in a community property state. You should get some legal advise for YOUR state.
BUT—if there’s nothing they can take from you and you’re (near) judgment-proof, you might as well stop paying.
