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Scotty13 · Apr 22, 2010, 03:45 AM

This is her son, Scott. I’ll try to make this short. My father recently passed away and they had a joint account with CITI Bank credit card. My mother paid her card off but didn’t pay my dads. She was informed two different answers by the Probate Supervisor, that she didn’t have to pay off my fathers balance and another one said that they would settle with a payment of $2500, and not the $3800 that is owed. The supervisor couldn’t say if it would affect her credit or not.

TWO main questions…

1. Does she have to pay my fathers balance off if it’s a joint account if they had two different numbers?

2. Would this affect my mother’s excellent credit, if she doesn’t pay it?

Thank you so much in advance.

Scotty13

ScottGem · Apr 22, 2010, 03:58 AM

I'm a little confused here how she knows what was hers and what was his. If you have a joint account where both signed as co-borrowers, then, while the charges may be listed separately, the balance is co-mingled so it would be impossible to separate out. So we need more info on how the balances are being separated.

If it is a joint account where your mom signed as co-borrower, then she is responsible for the balance. If she is signed as co-borrower, then it would go as a delinquent account on her credit. Didn't the estate have money to pay these things off?

Scotty13 · Apr 22, 2010, 04:46 AM

Sorry, maybe I’m wording it wrong. I’ll have to update later when she wakes up. Please, ck back in a few hours. I really do appreciate it and my mom too.

Scotty13 · Apr 22, 2010, 09:49 AM

This is not a joint account. My mom has an additional card with the same number. She is not resposiable, but they can't say how this will affect her credit score. Would this affect her credit?

Thanks, Scotty13

ScottGem · Apr 22, 2010, 03:55 PM

If she is not a signator on the account, then she shouldn't be responsible.

Scotty13 · Apr 22, 2010, 03:58 PM

Thanks for that. But will it affect her credit score is the BIG question. I will leave positive feedback.

Thanks Again, Scotty

ScottGem · Apr 22, 2010, 04:05 PM

If she is not legally responsible, then her credit cannot be affected. If they try to include it on her report, then she should file a challenge. She should subscribe to a credit monitoring service to make sure she catches it if they try.

Fr_Chuck · Apr 22, 2010, 08:06 PM

But his estate is liable for the debts, so if dad had anything that was required to go though probate court, then they can take action against that