<p>Open an account with another credit card company and call back your current one and select the option to close your account. You will be routed to the retention department who will try to convince you to keep the account open. Explain that you were a satisfied customer until they would not work with you re:disputed charges. You can briefly explain the situation and that if they could work with you ( remove the disputed charges without pressing charges, which I am not 100% sure they can really do) you will consider keeping the account open. You are a good customer who has paid steadily on your account. They probably do not want to lose you as a customer. If not, then close the account and so not give your parents any information re: the new credit card account. Good luck. This must be difficult.</p>
<p>Blue: we credit hop all of the time. Do exactly what jym suggests; it is very easy to do because at this time, you have good credit.</p>
<p>BTW: Merry christmas! There are a lot of people praying for you! Don’t lose hope!</p>
<p>Put a credit freeze on your social security number. Also change the ‘personal questions’ on your credit to something your parents can’t guess (so you should basically never use the most common one which is ‘mother’s maiden name’). Don’t be afraid to ‘just say no’ - disagree that it’s lying to say you don’t have any money even if you do - you don’t have money to give them. Change bank accounts - you are over 18 so your parents cannot legally ‘find your money’ at another bank. I don’t think the bank can legally just let it go, they have to pursue it as an identity theft issue. I would also talk to someone at the school to let them know what is going on, in case you need to declare independent status (there has to be some way that a child can get away from mooching parents). Is she really stuck to these people until she graduates? Because that would suck and I’m a parent but no reason she needs to be stuck to these people until she graduates.</p>
<p>I just spoke to the company. They said that they do indeed follow through so I guess there’s nothing I can do. Thanks to everyone for the advice.</p>
<p>what exactly did they say they would do by “following thru”? </p>
<p>The bottom line is that you have a MUCH better chance of your parents “making good” for their debts if they owe someone ELSE. If your parents are contacted by the company (which I doubt), they will likely be given an opportunity to pay up. So, they would have to pay the company…which they shouldn’t complain about since they “promised” to pay you, right?</p>
<p>I’m very curious as to what this company thinks it’s going to do. It’s supposed to “back out” those charges, and then your parents will owe those bills. </p>
<p>the OTHER way a credit card company will go after fraudulent charges is CIVILLY (not criminally). Your parents would be sued for the amount and have to pay. However, since we’re not talking about a large amount, I doubt the company would do that.</p>
<p>I HIGHLY doubt the police would be involved. The criminal courts wouldn’t likely pursue this because it wouldn’t be too clear whether your parents committed a crime…so not worth their bother for such a small amount of money (relatively). </p>
<p>the company was wrong for not reacting when it saw a lot of unusual charges made on your acct. </p>
<p>I don’t like the way that this company is intimidating you. Do you have any responsible adults who could help you negotiate/navigate this?</p>
<p>If you’re too afraid that your parents will be criminally prosecuted, then consider doing this:</p>
<p>Tell your parents that they have 6 months to pay this debt back (with interest if you get charged interest). If after 3 months half of the debt isn’t paid, you will file a small claims action against them.</p>
<p>Mom2collegekids, the bank has no civil claim against the parents since they have no contract with the parents, only with Blue. I work in banking, and I just don’t see things the way you do. We sue people for all kinds of small charges, from bounced checks to late fees to missed final payments, many times less than $100 but when you add attorneys fees and court costs that bounced check can cost you $1000. Don’t ignore demands from the bank/creditors. It all gets sent to collection or sued - if we have a contract. No contract? Only choice is criminal and private businesses can’t bring criminal charges, only the DA or police can. Bank can’t sue and say “You stole money from us” it can only file a police report of theft.</p>
<p>Blue had the responsibility to dispute the charges when they were made. She received notice that she was over her limit. If she didn’t dispute them within the contract time period after learning about them, she is responsible. That is the contract. The bank will work with her, but the price of that is to report the theft. She knows who made the charges, and she is required to report that if she wants to be excused.</p>
<p>The bank is not bullying her, just making her comply with the contract.</p>
<p>A $1000 is a lot of money on a credit card and the bank is not just going to ‘forget it.’ Everyone is advising Blue to get another credit card. NO. She has to clear up this one and not have another. No more charging, no more allowing parents to charge. There will be no pressure from the parents if she has no credit card. She is ruining her credit score. Close the card, pay it off.</p>
<p>Good points, 2in&done. But if the OP can toughen her skin and keep parents away from her credit and credit card, she might like the flexibility of having a card. </p>
<p>Threatening parents with small claims is meaningless. Even if OP went through the hassle and won, shed never collect a penny.</p>
<p>It is indeed handy to have access to your own credit card, especially for hotels, car rentals, purchases on-line and not having to carry around large amounts of cash. The trick is to CLOSE all your existing accounts and open new ones that mail to your safety deposit box. As was said, put a freeze on your credit report, so that they have to call you at your cell phone if ANYONE tries to open any accounts in your name or make any changes or inquires on your credit. You need to contact all 3 credit bureaus, NOW. It may cost $10 or so per account to do so.</p>
<p>A $1000 is a lot of money on a credit card and the bank is not just going to ‘forget it.’</p>
<p>The bank doesn’t have to “forget it”. The charges weren’t to restaurants and such (places where the charges couldn’t be recharged). The charges were for bills (such as utility bills, etc). The bank can back out those charges, and then the utility company and other companies will recharge the parents (who they DO have contracts with). </p>
<p>In my H’s case, the relative used H’s card numbers to pay for a cell phone bill. The credit card company “backed out the charge”…and then Tmobile rebilled the relative. </p>
<p>The same thing was on Judge Judy today. The “bad friend” used the “good friend’s” credit card to pay for a monthly bill. That charge was backed out. The good friend had given the bad friend her card to buy children’s clothes only, but the “bad friend” abused the privilege. The case really concerned that expense, since the other charges were “backed out”.</p>
<p>Since the parents didn’t use the card for expenses that can’t be “backed out”, the company should do this.</p>
<p>Any time I’ve had fraudulent charges on my credit card and tried to have them removed, the credit card company required that I file a police report before they would remove the charges. Sometimes that would be a nuisance if the card was used other than in my location, because my local police didn’t want to take the report. I fully understand why the credit card company would not simply remove the charges. OP, you need to get this credit card taken care of (either paid off or steps taken to have the charges removed) and then open a new account of which your parents have no knowledge and to which they have no access (meaning statements need to go somewhere other than home). I feel for you, but this situation isn’t going to stop if you don’t take concrete steps to make it stop.</p>
<p>*Any time I’ve had fraudulent charges on my credit card and tried to have them removed, the credit card company required that I file a police report *</p>
<p>That is quite strange. The fraudulent charge (from a relative) that was on H’s card was from another state. no problem to have it removed…a Visa gotten thru Wells Fargo.</p>
<p>I had a fraudulent charge on my card (AmEx Costco) and it was easily removed. </p>
<p>Oh, and H once had a waitress add a “bonus tip” on a restaurant charge (changed a $9 to a $29). That was removed . The restaurant was, of course, notified and the extra tip was backed-out…and she was fired.</p>
<p>But, none req’d special extraordinary work from us.</p>
<p>I’ve had fraudulent charges removed from my bill several times and NEVER had any participation in any police reports. Once it was a hotel bill for a reservation we NEVER made, once it was for a flat tire we didn’t cause on a rental car. It was no fuss, no hassle. I would definitely speak with the supervisor instead of taking the employee’s word for the options. Would also definitely cancel the card and explain why if it isn’t promptly resolved with the supervisor. Would also ask for a new card if you are going to keep the card at all.</p>
<p>*Once it was a hotel bill for a reservation we NEVER made, *</p>
<p>This reminds me…older son had a fraudulent hotel charge on his credit card last September. It took VERY little effort to have it removed.</p>
<p>I would be outraged if a credit card company req’d that I file a police report especially if the fraudulent charge was from out of town (as son’s hotel charge was). After resolving, I’d change credit card companies.</p>
<p>My hotel charge was for a hotel in LA where we weren’t staying, when we actually were in LA and at a different hotel. I would have had a tough time filing a police report in HI for the fraudulent charge placed on the card for the LA hotel, I believe. The fake flat tire was also not on the island where I live. </p>
<p>Would never retain a credit card that allowed people to make charges on my card when I previously notified the company I was out of the country.</p>
<p>Another Update:
I guess this next post may cause the thread to veer off topic. Anyway, I just got back from a four hour church service. I went to humor my parents;last time I argued about going to church my dad gave me a huge lecture about how I have everything because of God.
Anyway, during worship mother said I could sit down. My dad then proceeds to say that I need to praise God and I owe everything to him. This past year I’ve pondered the concept quite a bit, and I’m not religious anymore. Beforehand, I was apathetic but now I’m getting really tired of being dragged to these church services. And I get the concept their house their rules but it’s just a bit too much:
The tongues, the prophecies, the falling down, the devil/demons/witches are out to get you mantra,the illogical sermons, the very loud music, the shouting,being forced to pray,etc. We go to a charismatic church. I don’t believe in any of it, but yet my parents are shoving it down my throat. If I’m not mistaken I thought that one of the main tenets of religion was faith;if someone doesn’t believe or doesn’t want to participate you shouldn’t force them-it should be up to them.
Ultimately, my parents obviously don’t see it that way, but I don’t want to pretend any longer either. I’m contemplating writing them an email while I’m back at school, but they’ll probably just go ballistic and say I’m going to hell. Now I’m almost 98% sure that I need to find summer accommodations away from home. I simply cannot take this anymore. Moreover, I have a hard time pretending to follow their beliefs when they obviously have no regard for my financial well being and the toll their borrowing has taken on me.
My parents are just piling a lot of stress on me. Isn’t it supposed to be the opposite? Sorry for the rant, I just need to vent. Happy New Year to everyone.</p>
<p>Now would be a good opportunity to perhaps find a summer job as a residential camp counselor.
You won’t get paid a lot, but it will cover room and board and you will get fresh air & exercise!
Plus you’d be earning money for school & getting work experience.
[List</a> of Job Description Titles | American Camp Association](<a href=“http://m.acacamps.org/members/jobdesc/titles]List”>http://m.acacamps.org/members/jobdesc/titles)</p>
<p>Blue, you’ve had a very trying year.<br>
Now, put everything behind you and get some self-esteem and self-awareness.<br>
It doesn’t matter how much or little faith you have in a spiritual being as long as you have some faith and enough faith to believe in yourself. As the saying goes, “God don’t make junk”.
Happy New Year!
We won’t mind the venting; you need to do that.</p>
<p>blue–definitely try to find something to keep you away from home this summer. The idea of being a summer camp counselor is good. Also, as you are at school in Chicago–look for some good internships for the summer–immediately. Go to your Career office and see if they can help you. Another idea-- see if any of the U of C professors have need of a summer live-in nanny. Or try some of the nanny agencies in Chicago. A lot of moms need extra help in the summer when children are out of school.</p>
<p>blue, I grew up in a charismatic type of church, umm, yeah, 4 to 5 hour church services. You’re not going to hell if you leave that. Hoping you’ve done all you need to do to protect yourself financially and then run like the wind. I am now an LCMS Lutheran so yeah, it’s a bit different. Good luck over the summer. Be prepared to explain all of this to your school as I really think you should try to be declared independent some kind of way.</p>
<p>If your parents speak of God and steal your money, then they’re sanctimonious liars. :s They seem to be guit-tripping you and it’s worked since you won’t file with your credit card to make them pay (“pursue it” really means having the charge taken out, that’s it - they’ll have to pay what the owe. They won’t go to jail or anything. And perhaps it’ll scare them into stopping stealing from you). It’s awful to think about, but right now your parents see you as their piggy bank. So if you want to come to an understanding and appear as something else, stop it. As everyone said: change credit card, put on freeze ony our credit report etc, etc, etc as everyone said. This has gone on too long already.
They’re ruining your credit account - that will impact you down the road.
I agree: go to your career center ASAP and look for an internship; apply to be a summer camp counselor; see if a professor could use you for summer research. In short: make sure you don’t have to go home for Spring Break or Summer.</p>