Legal Question in Credit and Debt Law in Illinois

Is my husbands debt my responsibility??

My grandmothers husband passed away a few years ago. He had several credit cards that she was unaware of, with statements being sent to his own p.o. box, not to their home mail box. All but one of the credit cards wiped the debt when he passed away. This collection agency for two years has been harassing my grandma about this bill, I have called them, sent them the letters they instructed I needed to do, and no reply. I called them today, they have no record of my letters, my phone calls, her attorney's letter, nothing. My grandma never used the card, does not believe she ever signed a contract with the company. I wrote asking for verificationt that she indeed did sign the contract and they deny getting my letter and tell me they have no proof other than her social security number was on the contract. My grandmother is 74 with a bad heart, she does not intend to pay this debt. What can these collection agencies do to her??


Asked on 7/18/05, 4:52 pm

2 Answers from Attorneys
Gary Weingarden Gary D. Weingarden

Re: Is my husbands debt my responsibility??

If she didn't sign the contract, there is little they can do to her, other than bother her with letters and phone calls. But you can complain about the collection agency to both the state attorney general https://www.ag.state.mi.us/cp_division/w3cp_c01_new.asp and the federal trade commission. https://rn.ftc.gov/pls/dod/wsolcq$.startup?Z_ORG_CODE=PU01

The federal trade commission probably won't do much, but the state attorney general will probably get their attention.

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Answered on 7/18/05, 5:02 pm
Gary Weingarden Gary D. Weingarden

Re: Is my husbands debt my responsibility??

Ok. I missed the part about you being in IL. Try the IL attorney general instead. http://www.ag.state.il.us/consumers/filecomplaint.html

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Answered on 7/18/05, 5:06 pm


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