Re: National Arbitration Forum

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On 1/10/08, Jom-Jon wrote:
> My sister had racked up my step-father's credit card
> (Chase) for the amount of $3001. It has been charged off
> and was assigned to Mann Bracken. I have already made the
> first mistake of contacting them and was advised to $500
> monthly which I can not afford. I am obligated to pay for
> this bill since it is under my step-father's name. I was
> told by them that no other amount will be accepted and
> they can still file an Arbitration to take whatever assets
> my step-father has. Although my step-father is retired,
> they threatened to put a lien on the house or garnish my
> mother's wages. Please advise as to what the best action
> would be... So far I have not received any letter from,
> nor any phone calls. Should I prepare and embrace myself
> for one of their Arbitration tactics?
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I don't understand why you are responsible for your step
father’s debt. Did you sign an agreement to be responsible
or was your name on the card also?

Do you need to pay off the debt to protect assets of your
step father that you need and use? (like his house or car)

Even a wife is not responsible for the personal debts of her
husband unless she entered into a security agreement or is a
co-signer.

If your step father's debt is personal (that is a credit
card with only his name as an authorized signer) No one else
can be held responsible. If the house is marital property
(tenants in the entirety) then it can't be touched by his
creditors.

Neither can his wife be held responsible or any property she
owns as a tenant in entirety or as her personal property.

Before you do anything more, find out who is on this Chase
credit card. Just him or is his wife also on the card?

Find out how the deed to the house is written. Is it
tenants in common, joint tennant or tennants in the entirety?