topic Re: Strange question? in Rebuilding Your Credit

Strange question?

Seb1010 — Mon, 05 Aug 2013 07:12:06 GMT

Hello,

I have been working on my credit for a few years now and unbeknownst to me, my Mom added me to her Macys & Sams credit cards. She ended up getting me cards and they are paid on time, zero late payments & I believe the accounts have been open for about 3 years now.

My question is: My Mom passed away last year. What now happens to these accounts? I have still been using them, still no late payents or anything, is the account still eligible for a credit limit increase? Since the primary on the account is now deceased, will they close the accounts? I have been working hard on my credit and one thing that they say hurts me is that my credit LIMITS arent high. On these particular cards the limits are $400 on Sams & $650 on the Macys card. Should I call and request increases or will that then begin the domino effect of them closing the cards?

Thanks so much!

Re: Strange question?

Seb1010 — Mon, 05 Aug 2013 07:42:04 GMT

Bueller?

Re: Strange question?

Shogun — Mon, 05 Aug 2013 07:44:59 GMT

Hello.

If your mother was the primary cardholder and you were an AU, the accounts should have been closed. But need to know, where you joint owner or just an AU?

Re: Strange question?

Seb1010 — Mon, 05 Aug 2013 08:00:20 GMT

I honestly dont have any idea How do I determine that?

Re: Strange question?

Seb1010 — Mon, 05 Aug 2013 08:02:45 GMT

I also just paid $62 to the myfico? to see my credit reports, I could only see one and was able to see the score of another one by using the score simulator but I cant figure out where to go to view all three reports. the two I saw were Equifax 618 & Transunion 629

All my credit cards and auto loans show paid on time, the only report I saw was EQ and it showed 4 medical collections, all of which were paid in full recently but are still showing a balance. Will paying those off increase my score at all?

Re: Strange question?

Seb1010 — Mon, 05 Aug 2013 08:07:41 GMT

*My Mom passed away in March of last year and neither of the accounts were closed nor were they effected at all. I believe she only added me as an authorized user but they do report to all 3 credit bureaus.

Re: Strange question?

Shogun — Mon, 05 Aug 2013 08:20:03 GMT

This falls under a "legal" issue and I'm not sure of the remedy. I know that sometimes you can assume the account and continue on with it, but that would be up to you and the CC company. Different states have different laws that would come into play here, and that would require proffessional legal advise.

I wouldn't use the card anymore, because it could be considered fraud since she has deceased. Do you have a balance on this card?

Re: Strange question?

Shogun — Mon, 05 Aug 2013 08:21:58 GMT

@Seb1010 wrote:
I also just paid $62 to the myfico? to see my credit reports, I could only see one and was able to see the score of another one by using the score simulator but I cant figure out where to go to view all three reports. the two I saw were Equifax 618 & Transunion 629

All my credit cards and auto loans show paid on time, the only report I saw was EQ and it showed 4 medical collections, all of which were paid in full recently but are still showing a balance. Will paying those off increase my score at all?

Actually, NO. A paid collection is the scored the same as an unpaid, but it will look better under a manual review. Since they are paid, I'd send a GW letter and ask if they will remove them.

Re: Strange question?

Seb1010 — Mon, 05 Aug 2013 14:22:50 GMT

(Sorry, I cant figure out how to quote posts here yet)

I do have a balance on the Macys card...approx. $50. The Sams card has a zero balance. If I was authorized to use the card, how is it fraud??

Re: Strange question?

Anonymous — Mon, 05 Aug 2013 14:28:41 GMT

You are allowed to use those accounts under the primary cardholder's authority. If the primary cardholder is deceased, she no longer has any authority.

Re: Strange question?

Seb1010 — Mon, 05 Aug 2013 14:50:22 GMT

Well damn

Re: Strange question?

Shogun — Mon, 05 Aug 2013 16:09:42 GMT

If you were to pay that other CC down, and have a $0 balance, you could contact them and ask if you could take over the account. There would be no money owed, so basically all they could do is say yes or no.

Re: Strange question?

Seb1010 — Mon, 05 Aug 2013 20:51:36 GMT

Then I would worry about them closing the account completely

Ughhhhh this whole process is s frustrating! Why did I have to be so dumb when I was younger!?!?!?!

Re: Strange question?

Shogun — Mon, 05 Aug 2013 21:46:13 GMT

@Seb1010 wrote:
Then I would worry about them closing the account completely

Ughhhhh this whole process is s frustrating! Why did I have to be so dumb when I was younger!?!?!?!

I do understand, I don't know you're entire situation, and I am not an attorney or an officer of the law. But continued used of a deceased person's credit could be considered fraud.