Expert: Edward Martinovich, Esq. - 10/31/2006

Question
A friend of mine had been using an online dining service over the last month
in charges adding up to around 800-1000 dollars. I had preciously used his
computer to also pruchase something from this site. My information had
been saved on his account which he used to make purchases. He voluntaril
ordered about 20 times before my bank, which is a foreign bank contacted
me and i noticed it on my account. I told them that i had not ordered in those
amounts, and my signature was not present on the recepits. I contacted him
and he told me that he had used it and offered to pay me back, but the dining
website based in MA and my bank based in UAE have already started to push
forth with the fraud. I do not want my friend sued, penalized, deported, or
criminally chased by anyone as i completely understand what happened and
he is already paying me back the amount spent.

what do i do so that nothing happens to him, (we are both foreign college
students in MA on visas), and also what could happen to him?

what would happen if i tell both companies that i will take teh charges and
then have him pay me? will they stop their investigations on him?

I need an answer fast, i dont know what to do...i dont want my friend to get
arrested or anything. and i am willing to take the charges and then have him
pay me, as i dont want the company sueing him or anything.

Answer
Joseph:
I really am not sure there is anything you can do.  If you're really concerned, perhaps call your bank and CC company and offer to let the charges stand, tell them that you intend to pay for them, let them sit on the Credit card, that they are legitimate charges.  
Then you're friend can pay back the monthly amounts.