Legal Question in Credit and Debt Law in California

Authorized User on Credit Card

My ex-husband had an account with American Express for some time when he added our adult daughter as an authorized user. Each month she paid online for the charges she had accrued, and her father paid for his. He is on SSI disability and after several financial reversals that depleted his savings, he stopped paying his AMEX bill. Subsequently it was turned over to a collection agency, which is attempting to collect the entire amount from her. Although they have her social security number, this debt has never before been reported on her credit report, and her father claims not to have given her SS number to them (he says he doesn't even know what it is and has never had it to give to anyone). The collection agency rep is telling her that she is legally responsible for the entire debt (she never signed an agreement). Can they legally collect from her?


Asked on 1/15/07, 1:15 am

1 Answer from Attorneys
Carl Starrett Law Offices of Carl H. Starrett II

Re: Authorized User on Credit Card

To the extent that she made purchases on the credit card and signed for them, she is liable. If you have ever read the credit card slip that you sign when you make a purchase, it usually incorporates the credit agreement by reference. Depending on the circumstances, the creditor might be able to make an argument signing the creditor card slips was signature enough to make your daughter liable.

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Answered on 1/15/07, 1:41 am


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