Legal Question in Consumer Law in California

My Niece got Grandma to co-sign for over 8,000 worth of furnifure,

My niece took grandma to purchase over $8,000.00 worth of furniture. Grandma co-signed for the furniture but was not informed or was aware that she was going to be responsible if my niece defaulted on the payments. This happened in 2006. Grandma informed us a few weeks ago that she has been receiving calls from people who were very rude and threateneing about '' making payments ''on this account. She is 84 years old and has no clue what they are talking about. We approached my niece and she informed us that it would be paid off.To date the bill is over 11,000.00. What can we do?


Asked on 3/15/08, 4:55 pm

2 Answers from Attorneys
Jeffrey Cogan Jeffrey A. Cogan, Esq., Ltd.

Re: My Niece got Grandma to co-sign for over 8,000 worth of furnifure,

If you hire me I can get all the telephone calls to stop. If a person hires an attorney, the creditor can no longer call that person under Fair Debt Collection Practices Act.

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Answered on 3/15/08, 7:14 pm
Michael Meyer Law Ofc. Of Michael J. Meyer

Re: My Niece got Grandma to co-sign for over 8,000 worth of furnifure,

This sounds like financial abuse of an elder.

If it is, there are two ways to proceed. First, you could contact Adult Protective Services where your grandmother lives, and let them investigate / prosecute. Second, your grandmother could hire an attorney to sue your niece as well as challenge the enforceability of the cosignature. These two options are not exclusive; you can do both.

You should contact an attorney near your grandmother to discuss or your options. If you don't know where to start, determine her county of residence and call that county's bar association for a referral.

Good luck.

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Answered on 3/16/08, 2:27 am


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