Authorized User Never Paid Bill!

[tetal]

I have a problem! I have an authorized user under a Macy VISA card. The bills are sent at the AU address. Without me knowing, this person has not been paying the bills, and a notice was sent out. It was not untill Thursday that I found out that the account was never being paid. I called the card company and they told me that the account has been reported to the credit agencies. I am willing to pay off the amount that is due. I would like to know what steps I need to take to get the not paid account off of my credit report?

[lyrech]

Authorized users are not required to pay the bills. The account holder is responsible for that. You *might* be able to get the lates taken off by paying the bill and either calling or sending a goodwill letter.

Good luck

[DocDon]

Have the account holder remove you as an AU. When you dispute, the info can't be verified since you are no longer associated with the account.

[RedDog]

Are you the AU or is someone else?

If you are the AU then have yourself removed from the account like Doc said.

If you are the primary account holder remove the AU (so called friend) and make their payments and try the GW letter route.

Which CC are we talking about? Some are easier than others.

A side note. Why where the statements being sent to another address?

[tetal]

Are you the AU or is someone else?

If you are the AU then have yourself removed from the account like Doc said.

If you are the primary account holder remove the AU (so called friend) and make their payments and try the GW letter route.

Which CC are we talking about? Some are easier than others.

A side note. Why where the statements being sent to another address?

I am the primary account holder. It's a Macy's Visa card. I'm going to call the CC company again and ask them why were the statements being sent to the AU's address. How do I go about writing a goodwill letter? Is there a template that I can follow?

[DocDon]

Hold on a sec.

If you were the primary account holder, were you not concerned you weren't receiving any billing statements?

Seems to me you understand what an AU is (as opposed to a joint account holder) and knew you were responsible for the payments.

[tetal]

I called the CC company and they told me the credit card is under a joint account. I asked them to send all the account activities. The lady I spoke to said that the non payment will be on my credit report for 7 years. So, is there anyway I can take that off if I start to pay off the balance?

[DocDon]

Then that's not an AU issue. AU's are not the same as joint. Did you sign this person up as an AU or jointly on the account?

[tetal]

Then that's not an AU issue. AU's are not the same as joint. Did you sign this person up as an AU or jointly on the account?

Jointly.

[DocDon]

Then if it's joint, you surely would have received some notification that this account was not being paid, and was in jeopardy of going into default - either by letter or by phone. It makes no sense that you're just now finding out about this.

If it's never been paid, it means the account was opened only 180 days ago (which is when they must charge it off)???

Something is not clicking with the way you're explaining this situation....

Regardless, you'll have to write the executive offices at the OC and work out a settlement arrangement with them directly. Be sure everything is in writing before paying any money.

Good luck! Keep us informed.

[workinninetofive]

Exactly as Doc said...don't pay the bill unless you have to.

[tetal]

Then if it's joint, you surely would have received some notification that this account was not being paid, and was in jeopardy of going into default - either by letter or by phone. It makes no sense that you're just now finding out about this.

If it's never been paid, it means the account was opened only 180 days ago (which is when they must charge it off)???

Something is not clicking with the way you're explaining this situation....

Regardless, you'll have to write the executive offices at the OC and work out a settlement arrangement with them directly. Be sure everything is in writing before paying any money.

Good luck! Keep us informed.

All of the bills and notices were sent to the joint account holder's address. I found about the bill not being paid when I went over to my brother's house, where the joint account holder lives, and he gave me the letter because it was under my name. The telephone number the cc company called to notify that the account was past due was the joint account holder's telephone number. The person talked to the CC company and agreed to a payment arrangement, but started not to pay. Visa hasn't sent this to a collection agency yet. I called Visa and they told me I can still pay. I'm thinking of paying it off and then writing a good will letter to get the late payment removed.

[DocDon]

O.k. well... I'm sure you didn't put any other address/phone number than your own on the application???

If they screwed up, fine. I just can't believe that it never even occurred to you to check up on an account that you were equally liable for. That's all.

You can still pay because they still own the account. But, you are going to be hard pressed to get any information removed after you make payment, but feel free to try your method.

[tetal]

I see, thanks for all of your input.