[jfrazee]

I am a secondary card holder (NOT a co-signer) on my mother's credit card. The card has now been sent to debt collectors (she claims it is all my debt and I say that it is shared, but no one is paying on it). What type of impact does the bad debt have on my credit report? Can she take her name off the account? If it goes to the point of the collectors filing a law suit, who is responsible? Can anyone give me some advise??

[CaptainForest]

Since it is your mother's cards, she is responsible for the entire amount of the debt.

The credit company can only come after her.

When they sue, they can only sue her.

Now, she might then turn around and sue you, but that is another issue.

But in terms of who can the credit card company come after, only your mother, since this is NOT your card.

My grandmother added my mother to her credit card. Why? Because it's hard for my grandmother to get out always, so this way my mom used this credit card and the bill goes straight to my grandmother.

If my grandmother stopped paying, my mother would NOT be responsible at all for the debt.

[RickJ]

In the US, "secondary" cardholder usually means "also responsible". The term for another user of the account who is NOT responsible is "authorized user".

You should call them directly and ask them flat out which one they show you as... and if they say "secondary" and also responsible, tell them that you dispute this and ask them to send proof of it.

[mcb1]

In the uk credit cards have a primary cardholder who is responsible for all activity on the card and any activity carried out by any additional cardholders they will have to sign a form stating they understand this before most issuers(if not all) will add a additional cardholder.

Im not sure on us cards but I believe the gentlemen above have advised you.

Out of interest what company was your mother with ?

[LUNAGODDESS]

You both are responsible