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Hi All. I'm needing to vent.....again. It seems that my brother has =
probably committed credit card fraud on me. I just received a letter =
stating that "I" have a convenience check that was $300 overlimit on a =
credit card account in my name with my social and date of birth. =20
The credit limit on the account is $500, balance currently at $490. I =
am so upset not only because of the money, but because my brother has =
let me down. Since my injury 7-98, my brother and I have (or at least I =
thought) gotten closer. We have been talking on a weekly basis and =
involved in each other's lives. We had drifted away from each other =
when he had gone away to college about 5 years ago. We began to =
re-connect while I was in the hospital and he "helped" me out by moving =
into my apartment and assuming my rent and bills. =20
I was somewhat apprehensive about this because my brother did not have a =
great credit history - he had committed credit fraud against my parents =
when he was in college and was known to not be really good at keeping =
his bills paid up. I think my parents had bailed him out back then, but =
I'm not real sure. At the time of my accident, he was living with my =
parents, but looking to move closer to work. My apartment was 10 =
minutes from his job. I was also desperate for someone to take care of =
my cat. It seemed logical, and I hoped for the best. While he was =
living in my apartment, he was late on a few bills, which sent me into a =
tizzy because I had never been late on any of them since I had lived =
there for 4 years.
Anyways, since then I had moved into a first floor apartment in a =
different complex and had all of my bills put soley in my name and his =
were listed under his name only. I thought I was safe and that he had =
changed. I guess I expected too much and was too optimistic. I always =
seem to want to give people, especially family, more chances. =20
After speaking to the credit card company, I was told I am responsible =
for the bills totaling almost $800 even though I did not open the =
account. I was given 2 options: Talk with my brother and try to get =
him to set up payment plans with the credit company or report him for =
fraud.
I have not talked to him yet, but left a message. I am feeling so taken =
advantage of mainly because I thought I could trust him and that he =
really cared about me. It enrages me to think that he just bought a =
brand new computer system and took his girlfriend on a week vacation to =
the Smokey mountains! Not to mention he moved within the same complex =
to a larger apartment! UHHHH!
I guess he just signed my name to a pre-approved credit card account =
through my auto insurance company. I can't think how else he would have =
been able to get away with it. He was smart enough to have the bill =
sent to his address and not mine. I probably would not have known about =
it if I had not sent in a change of address form for my auto insurance. =
I guess I need to send for a credit check, huh?
I feel helpless again like I first did after my injury. Like things are =
not ever totally in my control, no matter how hard I try or how much I =
think I am. I 'm not sure as to how I am going to handle the =
conversation with him yet. I want to yell and scream and curl up in a =
ball and cry all at the same time.
I don't mean to whine to everyone - it's just not been a good week. If =
anyone has any suggestions, I am all ears because my head is swimming =
just like my emotions.
Thanks,=20
Carri =20
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