Send Letter To Credit Issuer

Dear Ann Landers: My wife and I have been retired for nearly 10 years. We maintain separate bank accounts, and our incomes are equal. We each cover a share of our living expenses.

Several years ago, “Clara” managed, without my knowledge or consent, to get a major credit card. She ordered one for herself, one for me and one for our daughter, “Jennifer.”

Jennifer is a lawyer, but she had no credit cards of her own because her credit rating is poor. However, my wife trusted her anyway. Jennifer earned about $120,000 last year and spent money like there was no tomorrow. She used her credit card, and although she paid the bills at first, she claims business has fallen off and she can’t keep up.

Although my wife and I have paid our share of the bill, Jennifer refuses to pay hers. Our credit limit has been reached because of Jennifer’s charges, and we are now unable to use the card ourselves.

We have pleaded with our daughter to pay a little something every month or to stop buying things on the card, but she has refused. We then demanded that she return the card. She said that she would not and that we had a lot of nerve to ask. I sent her copies of the monthly statements, but she claimed she never received them. I sent the last statement by certified mail, and it was returned, marked “Refused.” I even tried inviting Jennifer over for dinner so we could discuss the situation, but she hung up on me.

Our friends say we are stuck. What do you say, Ann? We need your help. - Left High and Dry in Houston

Dear High and Dry: Here’s the result of my research: According to Suzanne Boas, president of Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Greater Atlanta, each person who opens an account on a joint basis is equally liable for any charges. Failure to pay the balance could subject you to legal action and affect your credit rating. Boas recommends sending a certified letter immediately to your credit card company asking to be removed from the joint account. Although you will still be liable for the charges that have already been incurred, you will not be liable for any charges after the letter is received by your credit issuer.

If you need assistance to work out a debt repayment plan, the National Foundation for Consumer Credit can help. Call 1-800-388-2227 to get the name of a trained NFCC counselor (Internet: http://www.nfcc.org).

Meanwhile, it seems to me that Jennifer has another set of problems in addition to her credit rating. Her hostility suggests that she is out of control in areas that have nothing to do with bad credit.

I fear you have been pulling your daughter’s chestnuts out of the fire too long. Stop it, and let her take her lumps. It’s high time she faced the consequences of her out-of-line behavior. And please, insist that she get some psychological help. This young woman sounds as if she is at the breaking point.

Gem of the Day: It is far better to give money to a friend or a relative than to lend it - and it costs about the same.

xxxx