[TXgrandmom]

About 3 years ago I signed for 3 different credit cards and a department store card with my daughter as an authorized user. At the time her husband was working and making a good income but their previous credit was bad. Everything was o.k. and the bills were paid on time and in excess of the required payment. Then the wheels fell off when my son-in-law in a drug-induced state drove his car into their house and killed my 6 year old grandson and then turned the gun on himself.

The rest of the store is he had no insurance or retirement so it was a total loss of income for my daughter and I am retired. We are talking $30,000 plus debit.

The creditors understand the loss and are sorry for it but they still want their money. My husband's name is not on the applications anywhere - can he be held responsible at all?

We live in TX - what can happen to us now that we are unable to make restitution?

[Clough]

Don't know about the responsibility question as I do not know the laws in Texas. But, I do know that if you speak with people at credit card companies that frequently they are willing to make monthly payment arrangements with debtors for a greatly lowered interest rate. Plus, with payments that you can afford. If they need to take a loss, however, the credit rating of the debtor is going to be really bad.

Another thing is, that the credit card companies are in a lot of competition now. You could possibly transfer some balances to credit cards where the interest rate might not be so much and also then be lowering the greater amounts owed on the other cards.

I am sorry to hear about your situation.