friends daughter applied for credit card in her name without her knowledge - advice needed

[anastasia74]

My friend told me today that her daughter applied for a credit card in her name without her knowledge. This happened a while ago, and she found out about this about a year ago - but she has only just told me, shes very upset. The daughter knows that her mum has found out about the fraud, there is already a few thousand pounds debt on it. Daughter still lives at home.I need to sort this out for my friend. what can I do,thanks.

Is the daughter working to pay off the debt? If not then I think you friend should consider calling the police. Her daughter must understand that what she has done is wrong and impacts on many lives including her own. If she doesn't seem to undertstand this - and your friend wants her too - then the police would definately be my first call.

I personally wouldn't call the police. They have very little discretion these days. They would have to record a crime and the daughter would more than likely be arrested and interviewed. What happened next would depend on various factors, but the daughter could end up with a police/ criminal record.

If she wants to frighten her, I would certainly mention the police, but don't get them involved.

What needs to be done depends on how the daughter is reacting to being caught. As Northernlurker says, if she is repaying the debt and is genuinely remorseful then perhaps the lesson is learned. If not, then a more hard-line approach might be appropriate, but not calling the police IMO.

How old is the daughter?

Shes 25. she is paying the card off apparently a few hundred a month. but friend is worried about her running even more debt up. She has had money issues before running up credit cards and was made bankrupt. would there be any way of my friend cancelling the card. she doesnt know passwords etc its an online account apparently. or is there any organisation that could help my friend without involving the police at this stage. even though I personally feel that some v. strong action is needed.

That's digusting. Why did she do it?

Has she been making the payments?

First thing to do is to check her credit record, if she's missed payments, this could cause years of problems.

The daughter needs to transfer all cards, passwords, etc. to her mother IMMEDIATELY. Otherwise she definitely should call the police.

If daughter has any assets, car, etc., they should be sold to pay off the debt at once.

This is between the mother and daughter. Her daughter commited identity fraud to this credit card company. As a bankrupt as well she would never have received a card in the first place had it been applied for in her own name.

Would get the police involved in these circumstances as her daughterwas previously a bankrupt. The credit card company certainly need to be informed and the card cancelled.

Well, she's 25 so in that case I have very little sympathy and I would call the police. I thought you were going to say she was 16 or something.

Have suggested to friend to call police, but they still live in same house and my friend has lived with this for a year - so is over the initial shock/anger of it. just wants to gain control again and stop any more debt going on card, this is all she is prepared to do at this stage - I'm afraid. I agree the girl should be taught a very tough lesson or this will escalate to even worse senarios.

It must be very frustrating for you to sit by and watch your friend being walked all over like this Anastasia, this young woman seems to be calling all the shots, despite having shafted her own mother in a dispicable way. I'm not sure what else to suggest if your friend won't take any further action but she is living in a fairytale if she thinks this will all just go away on it's own. I would have thought the very least your friend's daughter could do is cut up the card, the fact that she's still using it leaves me gobsmacked. Your poor friend, she must feel like crap.