Legal Question in Civil Litigation in Florida

Credit card debt

I was seeing a girl who had just been divorced. Her ex had taken her through bankruptcy and she had only bad credit. So, nice fool that I am, I co-signed a credit card to help her re-establish her credit. Well now she's jack it to the limit and cant or wont pay it off. Ive asked her to get another loan on her own to pay it off and get me off the hook. But she hasnt, so Ive been forced to clear this credit problem myself. So how do I make her responsible for this debt, a) pay the credit card then sue her, B) sue her into paying the credit card, or C) just pray she does someday pay the bill.


Asked on 10/28/97, 3:37 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys

William W. Fernandez, Sr., J.D. Law Ofc. Wm. W. Fernandez, Sr., J.D., Atty. at Law

Credit Card Co-signor Liability

Nice Guys Finish Last. You are liable for the debt and if you don't want bad credit, you have to pay it. No easy answer on the limited facts. Suits are expensive and there is no guarantee you could force her to do anything.You don't say if she works outside the home or has dependants. Possible garnishment of wages if she is not the head of a family and has a job. She has to have assets and then you have to find them before you collect anything.I had a case where a wife had to pay her ex"s joint judgment debts. Creditor agreed to give an assignment of the judgment and we went after the ex. Took a lot of time and energy but we finally got back at him.You might have learned an expensive lesson.Write the credit card co. if you haven't already and cancel your guarantee for the future. Then decide if what you have to pay to clear your name is worth what it will cost in time and aggravation as well as money to hopefully collect anything from her. Get a credit report first before you invest too much time and money. Good luck.

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Answered on 10/28/97, 7:30 pm


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