Credit card debt

[doldrums13]

My husband has sprung £13,000 worth of credit card debt on me today.

He was always sure that his role was to be in charge of the money but obviously I cannot trust him. I'm looking at my options as a single parent going forward.

Where do I start? What can I do?

Are the debts in his name only or joint names? What were they spent on like did he fitter it away on gambling etc or was it on household, general day to day things or maybe even holidays that you benefitted from? All these need to be clear first

How long did it take to accumulate that debt? How long would it take to pay off given your joint income?

What has caused the debt? If it's normal household expenditure gradually building up over a length of time, I think you should take some responsibility for it. If it's his gambling debts, obviously this is different.

More information needed.

What's the household and employment situation?

How did the debt build up?

Is he usually trustworthy and responsible?

The only solution here is to go to the credit card company or companies and get the credit cards cut up and the outstanding balances frozen and changed into a loan that you repay weekly/monthly till the debt is cleared. Sorry you have found yourself in this situation.

Firstly don't panic, it seems a lot but in the morning it's never as scary as late at night. Next you need to consider your relationship as a whole, it's a big breach of trust but together you can get through it, only you can decide if it's too big a breach to continue your marriage.

Either way download the step change spreadsheet and list all your income and outgoings, call the credit card companies and say you are having problems. Work out a payment plan and look to see if there's a way of reducing expenses and/or increasing income

Thank you all. Apparently its been building over two years, he told me he'd had an inheritance and that's what was being used for big spends.

I worked full time but went on maternity in March. He worked part time but went full time in September. Honestly I'm in a bad position because I don't know what is where - this is changing and I am taking control. I know I've been stupid but if you can't trust your husband who can you trust?

Lying about having an inheritance, not good.

Crikey. Was there an inheritance that ran out, or did he make that up? That's quite the lie...

There was a death but I don't know anymore. I thought there was an inheritance but I don't know.