Authorized User Collections
If the main card holder dies, will I, as an authorized user, be responsible for the debt now?
Due to the death of main card holder being an authorized user I was made the responsible party to pay balance. I called the card company and they said it would be paid off but when I got the answer back being a natural death would not pay. I had an accident and cut my hands could not work for over 3 months but being self employed not qualified for payment. I could not get insured on the debt protection a few years ago because I was only a user of the card. I find I'm still being charged over $100.00 month for the coverage even though after not getting help when I first needed it I ask to remove it but that and interest is all that being charged to the account. What can I do to have a credit for the charges of insurance and get this to where I can manage to pay a large part of all before something happens. I'm over 70 years old and would like to try and settle this if possible. Thanks
Generally speaking, an authorized user is not legally liable for the charges on a credit card, as the authorized user never signed a credit contract with the credit card issuer. While a credit card company can, and in many cases must, report the activity on a credit card account on the credit reports of the primary cardholder and all authorized users, only the primary cardholder is legally liable for charges on the account. If, when the deceased cardholder applied for the card, you also signed the credit application, you may be a co-cardholder, and therefore may be liable for the debt. However, if the person who applied simply requested an additional card for you, and you did not sign an agreement with the card company, then you likely are not legally required to repay this obligation.
Credit card companies and debt collectors frequently try to pressure authorized users to pay on accounts after the cardholder has passed away. Sometimes they even misrepresent the authorized user’s legal obligation to repay the debt, implying that the authorized user is legally liable for the debt. I strongly encourage you to consult with an attorney to determine your potential liability for this debt, as issues such as community property (if the late cardholder was your spouse) and whether or not you have used the card since the cardholder’s death may affect your liability. Frequently creditors try to mislead people, telling them that because they have made payments on the account, they are now liable for the debt; however, if you are not otherwise liable for the debt, simply making a payment on the account does not make you legally responsible for the debt.
If, after consulting with an attorney, you determine that you are not legally liable for this debt, you should consider notifying the creditor that you are not responsible for the debt and that you will not be paying it. In addition, you may want to send a cease communication demand letter to the creditor to stop any collection calls you have been receiving. You can find a sample cease communication demand letter at the Bills.com Debt DIY page. Hopefully, taking these steps will stop any further collection activity on the account. If the creditor or its representatives continue to call you after you have notified it that you are not liable for the debt, you may be able to file a lawsuit against the creditor for violating your rights under state and federal collection law. Again, you should consult with an attorney about what steps to take if collection activity continues after you notify the creditor to cease its collection efforts.
I encourage you to visit the Bills.com Debt Help page to learn more about debt and the options available to those struggling with their bills. In addition, the options described on this website may be able to help you if you determine that you are legally liable for this account. I wish you the best of luck in your efforts to resolve this debt, and hope that the information I have provided helps you Find. Learn. Save.
Best,
Bill
Did you know?
Debt is used to buy a home, pay for bills, buy a car, or pay for a college education. According to the NY Federal Reserve total household debt as of Q4 2023 was $17.503 trillion. Auto loan debt was $1.607 trillion and credit card was $1.129 trillion.
According to data gathered by Urban.org from a sample of credit reports, about 26% of people in the US have some kind of debt in collections. The median debt in collections is $1,739. Student loans and auto loans are common types of debt. Of people holding student debt, approximately 8% had student loans in collections. The national Auto/Retail debt delinquency rate was 4%.
The amount of debt and debt in collections vary by state. For example, in West Virginia, 37% have any kind of debt in collections and the median debt in collections is $1459. Medical debt is common and 24% have that in collections. The median medical debt in collections is $553.
While many households can comfortably pay off their debt, it is clear that many people are struggling with debt. Make sure that you analyze your situation and find the best debt payoff solutions to match your situation.
