Identity theft of her own children!!
I am the step-mother of now grown-up kids 23 and 25. In 2000, their mother opened up credit cards in each of their names without their knowledge and added herself as a signer. In the case of the 23 year old, she knew of the credit card as her mom told her that it was her to use through college for gas and emergencies. What she didn't know was that it was based on her own credit and not her mother's. In 2003, the mother lost her job and stopped paying all of the credit cards and now creditors have been trying to collect on the debt of over $7,500 between the 2 kids. Because the initial card statements went to their "home" address (even though they were both in college) they cannot dispute the charges (plus, the 23 year old did make charges on her card). In the case of the 25 year old, he didn't even know of the card. They are now threatening judgements on them both and cannot yet afford to make it go away. Their mother says that they were paid (lies), yet the kids semi-understandably do not want to press charges against their mother. Any suggestions?