Reader mail: Credit counseling nightmare - “authorized?” user destroys mother’s credit
I have an interesting problem…
I set my mom up as a user (not a primary account holder) on my Target and Capital One accounts years ago. In the interim I ran into financial difficulty and could not pay them on time. I have recently signed up with a credit counseling service and am making payments.
My mother wants to buy a house (great timing, huh), but the accounts are now showing on her credit report. And showing as delinquent (despite the fact they accepted my payment). These accounts were not on her credit report before. She should not be held accountable for my problems. She is so angry with me, she can’t even speak to me and we live together! I’m at the end of my rope and don’t know what to do to fix this. I’ve contacted Target, Capital One and my credit counseling agency and haven’t gotten any help.
Is this a problem you can help with? I need to find a way to get her credit fixed, and I’ve been reading your site trying to figure out what to do.
HELP!!!!!
The million dollar question: Is your mother an AUTHORIZED user?
If so, she merely needs to contact Cap One and Target to have her name removed from the accounts and then dispute in writing with each credit bureau:
“[account names]—please delete these accounts as I am no longer an authorized user.”
If your mother signed an application, she’s in trouble. Hopefully she is really only an AUTHORIZED user.
And I really hope you’ll NEVER make another payment to CREDIT COUNSELING.
Your credit is SHOT!
That’s shot as in DESTROYED.
There is absolutely NO reason to finance the criminals who are maliciously destroying America.
It is VERY unlikely that they will sue you, especially if you take action to protect yourself. And until they have a judgment, there’s NOTHING they can do to get your money. You don’t seem to own a home and whether they can garnish your wages AFTER they get a judgment (IF they get a judgment) depends on your STATE law.
Stop paying collectors (credit counselors) to take your payments and if you really have no use for the money, donate it to your favorite charity.
At CreditCourt is the fully DOCUMENTED Capital One credit counseling fraud.
Don’t be a sucker, use your money to help the PEOPLE who are struggling to get by.
