Credit card fraud ?

[Amandinexxx]

Hi,

I am so glad i found this site. I don't think anyone will be able to help me but i am that deranged with it all at the moment, any port in a storm so to speak.

I have done the most stupid thing ever known to man, i feel highly embarrassed, guilty, stupid, you name it i feel it. I can't sleep, eat and can't stop crying.

I was friends with this woman for 35 years, i had lent her money on many many occasions and she had always paid me back in full and on time as she has a good job so i never had any doubt about loaning her money.
3 years ago she was struggling, her husband had just left her and she was ill with it all, we had been good friends for so long i wanted to help her. I had an empty credit card, a nil balance so i said to her, use two thousand to get yourself straight and pay the bill when it comes..she was paying it back no problem and then she used more than she should have done on the card. The interest on the card was crippling her so i, me, stupid, transferred the balance on a 12 month interest free card so she could pay it quicker with no interest. I took the card from her, which i still have in my possession. She was paying the other card no problem then last week i received a letter from Wescott saying i owed them 6 grand, i phoned them and they said a card had been requested in my name to her address, she had signed it and used it. i went to the police and they said it was a civil matter. I went back to the police again and they have given me a fraud number with the police to phone, i cant face phoning them, i am so frightened. It spiraled out of control and i buried my head in the sand. Meanwhile, to cut a very long story short she has run up 15 thousand on the other account, I got frightened when i found out about the other card and had words with her, we fell out but we both agreed to have the bills sent to her address so she could pay them without me keep having to go to her house and face her with them. Then...she had a breakdown re these bills and her husband and was sent to hospital for a spell. She spent a long time off work and could no longer pay these bills. The first i heard re the first card when i received the letter from Wescott, i phoned her and she informed me...No longer my problem, see you in court.. ...to cut a long story short the bill is now 20 grand, i know i have been stupid and i know it will all come back to me, i keep thinking bankruptcy and them taking everything i own, i have a young son and am out of my mind. I know this is all my own fault but i just don't know what to do, i keep thinking about death and such..i just dont know what to do.

I kept phoning her and going to her house but she wouldn't face me, i eventually got hold of her a few days ago and she said to me....phone the card company's up, offer them so much a month and i will pay it to you...i said i wouldn't do that because she didn't pay them before and i am not accepting the debt back because it isn't mine even though i am sure the credit card company's will say different. She again said, see you in court, i am willing to work it out with her, consolidate the debt to one debt and her pay a lower monthly bill but she wont do that. She is back in work and refuses to pay anything.

I am sorry this is so long, i have made an appointment with the CAB but i just don't know where to turn now.

Thank you for reading

Amanda

[ceylon]

2 options, take her to court.

use the letters from here, but you will get a bad credit rating so its up to you but when you realise its all fake anyway you will laugh.

there are a lot of videos on the home page i would watch and educate yourself first, then make a more informed choice

[ellie12022]

You are not the first person to be let down by someone they trust and you won't be the last either. If you yourself are receiving demands for money you did not borrow you need to make Wescot (or whoever) prove that it was you who owed it. (if you make payments on it, it could look as if you are accepting the debt).

Here's a list of other organisations that may be able to help too, from christians against poverty.

https://www.capdebthelp.org/en_GB/otheroptions

Also moneysavingexpert.com has a wealth of expertise on it, really helpful people on the debtfreewannabe forum. Consumer Action Group is also good for the legal side of things.

And when dealing with debt collectors, always keep things in writing.

It may not seem it now, but you will come out the other side and you will be stronger

And if when you've looked at all your options you want to come back here, you will find lovely helpful people on here too!

[Amandinexxx]

Hi

Thank you for your replies, very kind of you, it's so good to know there are websites like this so well done..I feel a lot better after reading here and i will take both your advice and have a good look round. I am unemployed at the moment so that's a worry as well, i am a student.

Ceylon, thank you for your advice but not sure what you mean saying i will laugh ..when you say take her to court, do you mean the small claims court? I really really don't mind about having a bad credit rating, i have always had a fantastic credit rating hence me being able to have credit cards, i never want a credit card again. i was thinking if i go bankrupt will they want what is in my house or all the furniture she bought amongst other things on the cards?...sorry to be a pain and asking questions but i dont know where to go next.

Ellie, thank you for your kind words....if anyone would like i will keep you updated as you never know someone might learn from my experience.

I will keep popping back and i am so very grateful for your advice

Amanda x

[ellie12022]

Of course, you can update us - and remember - there is lots of help available and paying credit cards is a low priority debt - food, utilities etc come first - CAB will be able to go through things with you. Also consumer action group is a very helpful site.