My wife’s bills are piling up
My wife and I are going through a divorce. Previously, we each had a credit card from a shared account. After she left, I got notices from the credit card company that she had charged $1,875. I signed on to the account, but she’s the primary card holder.
I’ve also gotten a $1,200 medical bill for a procedure done after the separation, as well as a utility bill from her current home where we used to live. The utilities are still in my name. How can I make sure I don’t have to pay all of this?
‘ Lee
Dear Lee,
I’m sorry, man, but you’re liable for any bill that is from a service for which you signed up ‘ like the utilities and credit card. You need to take your name off the utilities immediately, along any checking accounts you once shared.
You also need to contact the credit card company by mail ‘ return receipt requested ‘ and notify them that you will not be liable for any charges made to that account starting the day they receive your letter. Technically, you’re still liable up until then because you signed on to that account. It also doesn’t matter that you weren’t aware of the $1,875 she charged after you guys separated. You both signed up for the account, so you’re both liable for any charges made to it. But you are not responsible for the medical bill because you didn’t sign for that debt.
You can always try and negotiate for her to pay the bills she has run up since your separation as a part of the final divorce agreement, Lee. Regardless, I’m sorry you have to go through all this.
‘ Dave
Dear Dave,
We have five children with another on the way. We have two vehicles ‘ a 1995 mini-van and 1989 Honda Civic. With the new child, we’ll have outgrown the mini-van. The Civic isn’t big enough for all of us, but both cars are paid for, and the only debt we have is a couple of credit cards. We’re working on our budget and trying to pay our debt down. How do we move to a bigger vehicle without going deeper into debt?
‘ Carrie
Dear Carrie,
How about this. Let’s trade your van for one that’s full-size? Don’t worry, I’m not suggesting you go into debt to make this happen. Just get a larger vehicle that’s an even swap for your mini-van. You might end up with a van that’s not as nice, but it will carry more people and get you around until you get your debt cleaned up. Then, you can save for a nicer van and pay cash for it.
‘ Dave
Dear Dave,
I sent in my final two car payments totaling $400 to pay off my car. I had gotten behind, and they had been calling me about the debt. They continued calling even after I’d sent in the payments, and a guy finally told me they had changed their mailing address and I’d sent the money to the wrong place. Then, he got nasty and started demanding that I make the payment over the phone. He wouldn’t even give me the correct address. What can I do?
‘ Jean
Dear Jean,
Never, ever make any kind of transaction like that over the phone with a creditor. Call the bank right now, and put a stop payment on the check you sent to the wrong address.
Next, you need to call these people back and flat out ask for the correct address to send your payment. Chances are you won’t get the same guy, but if you do just hang up on him and call again. You’re trying to make things right, and all you need at this point is information. You don’t have to put up with being verbally abused by this jerk.
Take charge of the situation, Jean. If the phone jockeys continue to harass you, demand to speak to a supervisor and let him or her know that you’re willing to overnight a check to them, but there’s no way you’re giving someone whose been rude, obnoxious and unprofessional electronic access to your checking account!
‘ Dave