Expert: Ray A Miller - 1/14/2011

Question
Dear Ray:  Until recently, I thought I was a joint card holder for a business credit card.  In reality I have just learned that I was only an authorized user.  I have been the only person using the  card for the past 5 years with personal and professional expenses on the card.  The primary card holder is still associated with the organization, however I resigned my position.  To my knowledge, the primary card holder used his personal financial information to obtain the card and not any of the organizational information.  I assumed full responsibity for the debt on the card and all of the contact information, statements, etc. was for me solely.  The primary card holder removed me from the account this week.  The fraud dept with the card company contacted me because my contact information was still associated with the account even though the primary card holder removed me from the account.  I have contacted the card company twice in an attempt to make payment arrangements for my debt but they insist I am not legally obligated to pay the debt because I was only an authorized user.  This does not remove me from my moral obligation.  The primary card holder will not communicate withe me and I am unable to make payment arrangements with the primary card holder.  The card company informed me that I can continue to make payments on the account with the old account number but I'm not sure if the primary account holder is seeking to file some kind of charges against me even though he willingly added me as a user on the account over 5 years ago.  Please advise.  Thank you for your time.

Answer
It looks like you have done everything you can to fulfill any moral obligation you may have had.  The only thing I can think for you to do is to send the portion of the credit card balance to the credit card company.  Otherwise, forget it.  I hope you have found this helpful.