A
female
age
30-35,
anonymous
writes:Hi. I broke up with my ex about 2 years ago and it was not an amicable break up. It was tough. And very difficult. During the break up he told me he had taken out 3 credit cards in my name totalling about £4/5k of debt. He also told me that he had also put a loan in my name for £9000 . He told me he could not pay for these as he had just quit his job so as they were in my name so I had to pay them. It was a “stay with me and We both will pay the debt” or “leave and your left with it all”. I ended up leaving for my sanity as things were so bad and knew it would be hard. I kept the 3 credit cards and I pay the small minimum payments and I do use them when I need to. He no longer has access to them so I am happy. They have been handy. But I have reduced the balances and are paid on time every month and don’t really get any issues with them. I paid off the full remainder of the £9000 loan a few months ago, it was costing me £500 a month (a quarter of my salary) but I managed, even though I struggled and was in my overdraft every month. It felt good to pay it off. After that I thought that my troubles were over and I wouldn’t have anymore problems. Fast forward, I’m doing great about to go on holiday for Xmas and I’ve just got home to a letter saying I owe another credit card which he hadn’t even told me about over £2000. A fourth credit card! ! Worst thing is I can’t even talk to anyone about it as I have no details or card. And I failed the security questions. So I’m in the dark completely about “ my own “ credit card! He has the card and all the details. I have messaged him but he isn’t responding. I didn’t want to talk to him again due to the break up and I certainly didn’t want to cause any trouble , is there a point where you just have to stop being civil though? Does anyone know what I could do in this situation. All I want is the card or the details so I can start paying this bill off , and so no further spending happens on it! I have a feeling he might have spent money on this card as I’ve heard he’s driving around in a flashy car now , if he had spent the money since we’ve been apart on my card, would I have any legal standing considering we were together at the time the credit card was opened? Even though I knew nothing about it? Anyone been in a similar situation. We were together almost 10 years.
View related questions:
broke up, debt, money, my ex, on holiday Reply to this Question
Share |
Fancy yourself as an agony aunt? Add your answer to this question! A
reader, anonymous, writes (21 December 2018): Yes, it's called FRAUD! If you won't report it, I'm not sure why you're writing a advice site about. You know opening cards in another person's name without their consent and forging your signature is a felony. Why are you here when you should be filing a fraud report to the credit card companies and getting yourself a lawyer.
What's the matter with you???
A
female
reader, mystiquek  + ♥, writes (21 December 2018):
 OP, I find your post really sad. Are you that nice or (forgive me) that stupid??? WHY oh WHY would you let your ex charge things and you just pay them??? Stop being a doormat! What your ex did is FRAUD. People go to jail for doing what he has done! Contact the credit card companies immediately, I'd also contact the police. I just can't believe you willing paid off HIS bills and suffered greatly for it. WAKE UP honey! Go after him. I honestly don't know how much can be done at this point but you damn sure had better go after him. What a jerk!
...............................
A
female
reader, anonymous, writes (21 December 2018): Speak to the credit providers fraud department immediately. Contact the police and tell them that these credits have been fraudulently taken out in your name. And you could contact citizens advice for further assistance. I think you should also get a copy of your credit report to make sure nothing else has been taken out in your name. I believe you may be able to access these for free.
...............................
A
female
reader, Honeypie + ♥, writes (21 December 2018):
 You do know in order to take out a credit card you need to fill out a form ON paper? Right? Which means HE would have HAD to fake your signature or use his own. THAT is how you SHOULD have gotten him by going DIRECTLY to a solicitor about the cards. Unfortunately you wimped out, rolled over and just TOOK the darn cards back.
HE can CONTINUE to take cards out in your name if you DO nothing!
What you SHOULD have done, not sure you CAN do anything since you have started to pay them off...
1. Contact the Credit Card Issuer's Fraud Department
2. Report the Identity Theft
3. Consider a Fraud Alert or Credit Freeze
4. Initial fraud alert
An initial fraud alert stays on your credit report for 90 days and notifies lenders that you may be a victim of identity theft.
5. Dispute Fraudulent Information With the Credit Bureaus
UNLESS you SINGED off on the order-forms FOR the credit cards, they are FRAUDULENT cards. HOWEVER, you have waited WAY to long to do anything, you should have DONE something the MOMENT you found out about the first card. Regardless of you were dating or not.
YOU NEED to contact your bank/credit firm for a Credit report and see if any FURTHER cards were taken out. If there are CANCEL them immediate.
I don't know how it works in the UK, but I would (if I were you) contact Citizensadvice and see if you can cancel them last ones he took out in your name. As you have been paying them off it might prove impossible, because PROVING what he spend and you spend (as you also lived together at some point) might be difficult.
The LOAN he took out in your name? I'd take him to court.
If you can afford a solicitor, get on and see what can be done. My guess is, he had done this to more than just you. which will help you have a stronger case.
NEVER EVER let ANYONE take out a loan or a CC in your name. NEVER.
...............................
A
male
reader, N91 +, writes (21 December 2018):
 I am absolutely gobsmacked that you’ve not even tried to contest these credit cards. You’ve willingly taken on over 10k worth of debt from an absolute scumbag. The first port of call should of been the credit card issuers fraud department. The guy has broken the law multiple times and you’ve swept it under the carpet for him!
DO NOT try and find out the card details, tell the company that it’s fraudulent! I’d be trying to do it retroactively on the other cards also, I wouldn’t hold out much hope on those but it’s worth a shot. You can’t let him do you over like this and just get away with it, he’s probably done this to his current partner also.
...............................
A
female
reader, Youcannotbeserious + ♥, writes (21 December 2018):
 WHY are you being so civil to him? Despite no longer being together, this guy is still living off you. I cannot believe how accepting you are of that!
If YOUR actual agreement was never given to these debts, he took them on fraudulently. You should have approached the credit card and loan companies at the time and told them this and let them pursue HIM for the money.
You should DEFINITELY do that with the latest card and any other things he chooses to FRAUDULENTLY take out in your name. Phone the credit card company, tell them he has taken out the card in your name but without your knowledge, and ask to speak to their fraud department.
STOP BEING SO NICE TO HIM. How long are you going to keep bankrolling him?
...............................
|
