am I responsible for my dead mothers mastercard bill?

Question

the account was in her name only but she applied for a supplementary card for me. The credit card company says I am liable for the unpaid balance

Answer 1

If you are an authorized user, then you are not responsible for the charges. If you are a co-applicant, which can be added anytime, then you are, it is considered a joint account. Authorized users, however, only have the ability to spend on the account, they do not have access to do account maintanence like address changes. If you are getting calls from the credit card company's collection department, they will often say stuff that's not true to get you to pay. If they are calling you, study up on the Fair Debt Collections Practices Act. If they are not in compliance with this then they can pay severe penalties. Additionally, sometimes just mentioning to the caller that "you are not complying with FDCPA, will scare them off". You can also write a cease and desist letter, barring any phone contacts at the numbers listed on the account. A written request needs to be honored indefinitely by law.

Answer 2

I really don't think so. When you add suplementary people to an account they don't check thier credit because the primary account holder is ultimatly responsible. So why would you be reponsible?

I don't know the answer but faced with it I would ask a few questions-

-The credit people lie so do some research
-If a lawyer is handling her estate talk to him, this could come out of the sale of the house
-If it is not 10,000 dollars or something tell the credit card company that you wish to be the primary account holder and you will pay it. Walla........ you now have credit and a means to start building your own. People pay thousands to even start to building it. Might be worth it for a couple of thousand.
-Odds are you are not responsible
-Even if it was YOUR card and you owed your would be able to negotiate to only pay half. They prefer that to nothing.

All in all it depends on what the situation is with all of her finances.

Answer 3

First of all i sorry about the lost...
second yes if you were on the supplementary card then you are responsible for the balance that is unpaid for. I know this is very stressful time through life...

Answer 4

Normally the estate of the decedent is responsible for payment of the bills. If there isn't any money in the estate to pay, the bill simply goes unpaid.

However, since your mother got a card in your name, the rules might be changed. If you signed the back of the card AND used the card at any time OR if you signed the agreement with the credit card issuer, you became a party to the agreement with the card issuer. In that case, you are legally responsible for payment of the balance.

If you never signed anything and never used the card, you're off the hook.

Answer 5

Check out www.moneymanager.com and check out Debt after death. The estate of your mother is responsible and if there is no money in he estate, then the credit card company must right off the debt. Already went through this situation. And let me also say, I am sorry for your lose.

Answer 6

I had the same situation the answer is NO unless you are on the account other wise its a dead account as they call it in the bussiness if they keep calling you tell them you are going to get an atterney and they will usually back off and leave you alone Hope this helps

Answer 7

tell them that you will be responsible for the purchases made by you and only you if you never used the card you are responsible for nothing but since you used it pay off what you purchased
only option

Answer 8

No, you are not responsible just because she gave you a card. The "estate" is responsible.

Answer 9

YES you are responsible. did your mother have life insurance. if so, i would use that money to pay off her debts.

Answer 10

yes ur responsible cos she handled the supplementeray........to you.