questions & answers

Question: My granddaughter had me open an account with a store for a fence and now she refuses to pay. Lawyers for the store are taking me to court. I can't afford it. The house has been sold and new owners are enjoying the fence. I don't know what to do. She has moved to Florida but i don't know where.

Answer: If you opened an account and made a purchase for someone else, you will be responsible for paying the amount that was charged. If you opened an account and added your granddaughter as an authorized user, then you would also be responsible for the amount that was charged. (A.R.S. 44-7803) If you and your granddaughter had a joint account, then both people on the account are responsible for the amount that was charged.

If you would like to collect money from your granddaughter you should speak with an attorney. You may have had an oral contract or written contract with your granddaughter and an attorney could determine whether or not you have a claim for breach of contract.  To see if you qualify for a reduced fee attorney, call our Legal Learn line at 866-637-5341.

To get help managing your credit card debt you could speak with a credit counselor. There are non-profit organizations that will provide free advice on how to solve your financial challenges.  (https://www.nfcc.org/)

You can also see if you are eligible for any other assistance through the Area Agency on Aging. To find out about the services provided by the Area Agency on Aging, go to http://aaaphx.org/, or call the Senior Help Line at 602-264-4357.