Can a credit reference be held liable fora debt?

Get Legal Help Today

Compare Quotes From Top Companies and Save

secured lock Secured with SHA-256 Encryption

Can a credit reference be held liable fora debt?

I had a added a friend as a reference for a credit application. The amount owed is past due. A collection agency is now calling her harassing, telling her that she is now going to be summoned to court because of it. Can this really happen? And what legal rights due references have?

Asked on January 26, 2011 under Bankruptcy Law, Arizona

Answers:

M.T.G., Member, New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney

Answered 13 years ago | Contributor

Oh my goodness!  Absolutely not!  The collection agency is violating the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) and a whole host of other laws!  Your friend can not be help liable for anything at all unless she was also on the original application as an borrower. She could not even be held liable if you had added her as an additional cardholder without her signature on the original agreement.  You need to report this agency (or she should) to the appropriate agencies in your state.  Start with the state Attorney General's Office.  Then the FTC.  And the BBB.  She should also consider filing harassment charges against them. This is outrageous conduct and should not be tolerated. Good luck.


IMPORTANT NOTICE: The Answer(s) provided above are for general information only. The attorney providing the answer was not serving as the attorney for the person submitting the question or in any attorney-client relationship with such person. Laws may vary from state to state, and sometimes change. Tiny variations in the facts, or a fact not set forth in a question, often can change a legal outcome or an attorney's conclusion. Although AttorneyPages.com has verified the attorney was admitted to practice law in at least one jurisdiction, he or she may not be authorized to practice law in the jurisdiction referred to in the question, nor is he or she necessarily experienced in the area of the law involved. Unlike the information in the Answer(s) above, upon which you should NOT rely, for personal advice you can rely upon we suggest you retain an attorney to represent you.

Get Legal Help Today

Find the right lawyer for your legal issue.

secured lock Secured with SHA-256 Encryption