You all may think this is a very stupid question but here it goes anyway......


I have a relative that has maxed out one credit card and is in the process of maxing out another. I have no doubt this person can't pay their bills because they are just paying the minimum and proud of it.....not to mention the fact they don't have the money to pay more! And their interest rate is high.......my guess is like 17%. If something happens to this person...(ie. hospitalization) will the credit card companies come after the other family for the debt collection? How do you know? Would it be wrong for me to say something to this person knowing that in the future THEY WILL COME TO US FOR THE MONEY for a bill anyway?

TY for replying........eventhough this may be stupid...

I am not trying to bump my own thread here but can someone tell me if I am over reacting or is it just none of my business....

I am not positive, but I don't think they can go after you unless the person running up the bills is some sort of dependent of yours/or unless you are a co-signer for him/her...can you claim the person on your taxes? Of course if the person for some reason passes away and you are an heir, you would have to pay any bills out of the inheritance, if there should happen to be one.

oh no this person is not a dependant....just lives alone and claims to be broke all the time. Yet, they still have money to run up on credit cards, and buying a bunch of stuff that they don't need........and I have to listen to them complain because they don't have gas in their car or groceries..etc. The bills keep stacking up and when they get paid they are only paying the minimum pymt.

You can forget inheritance either.....don't know how the Credit Card Co's. are going to get their money... like juice from a turnip...lol

They must be a co-owner (signer of the debt) as well for them to be able to go after another family member. For example, if me and my husband have separate credit cards, and something happens to me, the most they can do it go after my estate when I die for what is owed, not him directly. Now, if he and I have a credit card jointly, then the entire debt remaining on that account becomes his. You may have laws specific to your state so I would look into it on that level also to be sure you are protected.

Inheritance comes into play here with the death of a person who has liabilities. Most of those encumbrances are cleared through an estate attorney or probate before the inheritance is disbursed, so in essence, if you are an heir, then your actual inheritance may be reduced by their liability amounts. This is not a responsibility of yours however, but of their estate.

I want to add here, that if they become hospitalized or any situation where their income stream slows or stops and they can no longer paythe bill, that is between them and the credit company and how it is pursued. As far as I know, they cannot hassle you if you are not a signer of the debt also in some capacity. Credit card companies actually sell disability insurance to cover unpaid bills in the event of some finanacial difficulty on the credit card holders part i.e. illness or unemployment.

TY sooo much MSH and Kar for the insight......this is something that has been bugging me for a while. I will look into what may be specific to my state/legal codes.....TYTYTYTYTTY!