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Acknowledgment of Disclosures and Authorization
By proceeding, I agree that I understand the following disclosures:
I. How We Work in Washington. Based on your preferences, we provide you with information about one or more of our contracted senior living providers ("Participating Communities") and provide your Senior Living Care Information to Participating Communities. The Participating Communities may contact you directly regarding their services. APFM does not endorse or recommend any provider. It is your sole responsibility to select the appropriate care for yourself or your loved one. We work with both you and the Participating Communities in your search. We do not permit our Advisors to have an ownership interest in Participating Communities.
II. How We Are Paid. We do not charge you any fee – we are paid by the Participating Communities. Some Participating Communities pay us a percentage of the first month's standard rate for the rent and care services you select. We invoice these fees after the senior moves in.
III. When We Tour. APFM tours certain Participating Communities in Washington (typically more in metropolitan areas than in rural areas.) During the 12 month period prior to December 31, 2017, we toured 86.2% of Participating Communities with capacity for 20 or more residents.
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V. Complaints. Please contact our Family Feedback Line at (866) 584-7340 or ConsumerFeedback@aplaceformom.com to report any complaint. Consumers have many avenues to address a dispute with any referral service company, including the right to file a complaint with the Attorney General's office at: Consumer Protection Division, 800 5th Avenue, Ste. 2000, Seattle, 98104 or 800-551-4636.
VI. No Waiver of Your Rights. APFM does not (and may not) require or even ask consumers seeking senior housing or care services in Washington State to sign waivers of liability for losses of personal property or injury or to sign waivers of any rights established under law.I agree that: A.I authorize A Place For Mom ("APFM") to collect certain personal and contact detail information, as well as relevant health care information about me or from me about the senior family member or relative I am assisting ("Senior Living Care Information"). B.APFM may provide information to me electronically. My electronic signature on agreements and documents has the same effect as if I signed them in ink. C.APFM may send all communications to me electronically via e-mail or by access to an APFM web site. D.If I want a paper copy, I can print a copy of the Disclosures or download the Disclosures for my records. E.This E-Sign Acknowledgement and Authorization applies to these Disclosures and all future Disclosures related to APFM's services, unless I revoke my authorization. You may revoke this authorization in writing at any time (except where we have already disclosed information before receiving your revocation.) This authorization will expire after one year. F.You consent to APFM's reaching out to you using a phone system than can auto-dial numbers (we miss rotary phones, too!), but this consent is not required to use our service.
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When my sister passed 5 years ago, leaving me in charge of her disabled husband, I was dismayed to find that she had been paying Discover only minimum payments on their joint account. Then, I "discovered" that they had a plan with Discover that stopped interest charges when an account-holder became disabled AND that paid off the entire balance when either of them died! I don't think the credit cards offer that anymore, but you might want to see if they had such a plan. Otherwise, I am of the opinion that joint debts should be paid, but there are plenty of suggestions given here about how to avoid it if you so choose.
When my husband passed away, I was responsible for his credit cards even though I was not on them. Some states might have different laws, but in IL...I had to pay them off or they would've come after me for payment.
They cannot garnish money from social security and/or pension. Check your state laws or do a free consult with an attorney.
No they cannot take her social security. They can only come after her if she has something of value...home, investments etc. She does need to apply for her husband ssi. They can call her but they cannot go into her bank account or anything like that.
If her name is on the account as a joint account holder, that means if her social security number was used to secure the account, they can pursue payment from her. If the card was in your father's name & she was just an authorized user, they cannot make her pay the debt. However, if your father died & had any assets, the credit card company/bank can attempt to collect the money owed from his estate.
Don't pay them. Credit card debt is unsecured debt. They'll send threatening letters, then they'll send offers to pay it off at pennies on the dollar, then they may sue. My parent had 20+ accounts, all with balances, when I took over his finances. He had been taking cash advances on one to pay another and then opening more and more. I stopped paying all of them. The credit card companies sell the debt and the companies that buy it have very little supporting evidence that a debt even exists. After a few years of calls and letters, they stopped contact. Only one sued. I went to court without a lawyer (but did a lot of Google research beforehand). I brought an income and expense sheet, showing my parent's inability to pay (that should be easy to show for your mom). The judge laughed at the credit company's lawyer and threw it out.
It will ruin her credit score, but does that really matter? With her level of income, she won't qualify for a loan nor be applying for a job nor anything else where a good score is important.
Originally, I thought to try chipping away at it, but I took a look at how much he had already paid in interest vs the original amount charged and had no qualms at all about not repaying them. Also, they extended credit to an 80+ year-old person with no income other than $1200/month social security and an enormous amount of existing debit. It was predatory lending. They were taking advantage of the fact that an elderly person will impoverish themselves trying to pay back the outrageous interest and fees without ever reducing the original debt.
Agreed--The poster's elderly, impoverished mom shouldn't stress herself paying back debt her dead husband ran up. Companies know of these risks and structure their rates to absorb certain losses.
If she is only an AUTHORIZED USER of the card, she is not responsible for the debt in any state, in the USA.
If she is actually a co-owner of the credit card, and her social security number was used to get the card, then she is responsible.
It is unlikely however that your father used her social security number and his to be approved for the card...., but remotely possible, if he had a low income.
Depending on the state, the card companies, and any other people owed money, can go after her estate, if probate was filed.
If probate was not file, in some states, anyone owed money, can go after joint bank accounts.
By proceeding, I agree that I understand the following disclosures:
I. How We Work in Washington.
Based on your preferences, we provide you with information about one or more of our contracted senior living providers ("Participating Communities") and provide your Senior Living Care Information to Participating Communities. The Participating Communities may contact you directly regarding their services.
APFM does not endorse or recommend any provider. It is your sole responsibility to select the appropriate care for yourself or your loved one. We work with both you and the Participating Communities in your search. We do not permit our Advisors to have an ownership interest in Participating Communities.
II. How We Are Paid.
We do not charge you any fee – we are paid by the Participating Communities. Some Participating Communities pay us a percentage of the first month's standard rate for the rent and care services you select. We invoice these fees after the senior moves in.
III. When We Tour.
APFM tours certain Participating Communities in Washington (typically more in metropolitan areas than in rural areas.) During the 12 month period prior to December 31, 2017, we toured 86.2% of Participating Communities with capacity for 20 or more residents.
IV. No Obligation or Commitment.
You have no obligation to use or to continue to use our services. Because you pay no fee to us, you will never need to ask for a refund.
V. Complaints.
Please contact our Family Feedback Line at (866) 584-7340 or ConsumerFeedback@aplaceformom.com to report any complaint. Consumers have many avenues to address a dispute with any referral service company, including the right to file a complaint with the Attorney General's office at: Consumer Protection Division, 800 5th Avenue, Ste. 2000, Seattle, 98104 or 800-551-4636.
VI. No Waiver of Your Rights.
APFM does not (and may not) require or even ask consumers seeking senior housing or care services in Washington State to sign waivers of liability for losses of personal property or injury or to sign waivers of any rights established under law.
I agree that:
A.
I authorize A Place For Mom ("APFM") to collect certain personal and contact detail information, as well as relevant health care information about me or from me about the senior family member or relative I am assisting ("Senior Living Care Information").
B.
APFM may provide information to me electronically. My electronic signature on agreements and documents has the same effect as if I signed them in ink.
C.
APFM may send all communications to me electronically via e-mail or by access to an APFM web site.
D.
If I want a paper copy, I can print a copy of the Disclosures or download the Disclosures for my records.
E.
This E-Sign Acknowledgement and Authorization applies to these Disclosures and all future Disclosures related to APFM's services, unless I revoke my authorization. You may revoke this authorization in writing at any time (except where we have already disclosed information before receiving your revocation.) This authorization will expire after one year.
F.
You consent to APFM's reaching out to you using a phone system than can auto-dial numbers (we miss rotary phones, too!), but this consent is not required to use our service.
Otherwise, I am of the opinion that joint debts should be paid, but there are plenty of suggestions given here about how to avoid it if you so choose.
They cannot garnish money from social security and/or pension. Check your state laws or do a free consult with an attorney.
It will ruin her credit score, but does that really matter? With her level of income, she won't qualify for a loan nor be applying for a job nor anything else where a good score is important.
Originally, I thought to try chipping away at it, but I took a look at how much he had already paid in interest vs the original amount charged and had no qualms at all about not repaying them. Also, they extended credit to an 80+ year-old person with no income other than $1200/month social security and an enormous amount of existing debit. It was predatory lending. They were taking advantage of the fact that an elderly person will impoverish themselves trying to pay back the outrageous interest and fees without ever reducing the original debt.
If she is actually a co-owner of the credit card, and her social security number was used to get the card, then she is responsible.
It is unlikely however that your father used her social security number and his to be approved for the card...., but remotely possible, if he had a low income.
Depending on the state, the card companies, and any other people owed money, can go after her estate, if probate was filed.
If probate was not file, in some states, anyone owed money, can go after joint bank accounts.