Citifinancial letter rec'd just recently

[OutofTime]

Not sure if this would be the right area but figured I'd try and knowing it's my first post, im hoping to get some help. I have been at least 90 days late on my cc's and rec'd a yellow letter from citi regarding a Wickes Furniture opened in '06. Now i've been paying this bill and it has always been in my name but noticed on this recent letter that it now included my spouse's name on there. It threw me off a bit because I plan on filing in Jan '10 and if anything, was not aware that this was even a joint acct. We went ahead and pulled up a free cr for spouse and noticed that the one blemish on the cr was for this Citi acct.

My question is, is it too late for me to remove spouse on this account because I plan on filing separately? According to my recent statement, balance is around $1,300 but I would rather use this money to save for attorney fees. If I can get some advice, then it would ease my mind a bit since this has me worried. Thanks in advance!

[justbroke]

Only the creditor can tell you if you can remove the spouse from the card. If you actually did this as a joint account, it's unlikely they'll remove it, especially in collections. However, there's nothing lost in trying! Give them a call.

[OutofTime]

It looks like Citi is close to sending it to collections because they sent it via wire to the post office or it was in a special yellow paper. I do not believe my wife is a joint owner but could have been an authorized user. Anyone here with experience regarding difference btw auth. user and joint owner? They are closed today so i'd like to give them a call tomorrow but it's just a shock that it affected my spouse's credit rating and for the last 3 years the bill was only sent in my name. I'm hoping someone else has gone through this little predicament because I'd like to file end of Jan. 2010 but don't want to have to pay this 1.5k balance just because my spouse is supposedly on it (haven't spoken to citibank yet). Everyone on her cr is great except this citibank wickes furniture.

[justbroke]

Yes, I know the difference, but when it comes to collections, a creditor does not put an "authorized user" on a collection letter. (This is generally speaking.) As I wrote, you need to contact CitiFinancial and find out if she's an authorized user or a joint account holder. If you feel this is inaccurate, then you need to ask CitiFinancial to provide the application that shows it was joint.

If it is joint, do not pay this. It's just throwing money away. Wait until after you file and see what happens with it. You need to work with an attorney since this is secured debt and I'm guessing you still have the furniture.

[OutofTime]

Thank you very much for your advice justbroke. I will have to call citifinancial tomorrow and find out exactly why it is on her credit report. I will not be filing with my spouse because her credit is clean and we've put everything under my name and social except I guess this citifinancial acct. I guess it could be worse and it was one of my other accts that have over 10k in balance. This would most likely delay my filing a couple months if in fact I do have to pay it to get it out of spouse's credit.

[walkthaplank]

Did your wife sign any of the account paperwork? Sign any receipts?

[OutofTime]

No she does not recall signing anything, as a matter of fact, spouse was not even present when I was finishing up the credit app. Wouldn't her name be on the citifinancial bill as well if she were a joint owner. I've been reading today that some creditors will place delinquencies including the auth. user so in hopes that the auth. user will pay for the debt. I hope this is the case so my spouse can have this report removed and i'm not forced to pay the amount on the bill which in turn is going to be for atty fees. Hope all turns out well for me...Thanks for the support!

[SunshineGal]

The credit report will show if it's a joint account or if your spouse is just an authorized user.

[OutofTime]

Good news is that I spoke with Citi this morning and they stated spouse was just a co-borrower or considered an authorized user. I went ahead and removed her name and I'm guessing all she has to do is have it removed by the credit reporting bureaus. What a relief for the time being....I really appreciate being able to vent and have people help and give advice here!

[justbroke]

Good news is that I spoke with Citi this morning and they stated spouse was just a co-borrower or considered an authorized user. I went ahead and removed her name and I'm guessing all she has to do is have it removed by the credit reporting bureaus.

Very good! (However, I don't like the word co-borrower, but if they let you remove her that easily, then she was just a authorized user.)

[treehugger1]

Yes, you should have your wife file a dispute with all three CRA's. "Not my account" was the reason I've heard others have given.

[OhioFiler]

It looks like Citi is close to sending it to collections because they sent it via wire to the post office or it was in a special yellow paper. I do not believe my wife is a joint owner but could have been an authorized user. Anyone here with experience regarding difference btw auth. user and joint owner? They are closed today so i'd like to give them a call tomorrow but it's just a shock that it affected my spouse's credit rating and for the last 3 years the bill was only sent in my name. I'm hoping someone else has gone through this little predicament because I'd like to file end of Jan. 2010 but don't want to have to pay this 1.5k balance just because my spouse is supposedly on it (haven't spoken to citibank yet). Everyone on her cr is great except this citibank wickes furniture.

I'm not sure I understand the special yellow paper rule and how that indicates it is near being sent to collection. What was special about the yellow paper?

[frogger]

I'm not sure I understand the special yellow paper rule and how that indicates it is near being sent to collection. What was special about the yellow paper?

I got one of those letters from GEMB. Perhaps they thought that I would pay a yellow letter better than a white one? It was all official looking and junk, but I'm working on my 0% settlement plan with them.

[justbroke]

I'm not sure I understand the special yellow paper rule and how that indicates it is near being sent to collection. What was special about the yellow paper?

Colored paper and envelopes are a marketing strategy to distinguish one mailpiece from another. Nothing special. They'll even use clever wording on the front like "Parcel Post" or "Express Delivery" or something else that has nothing to do with its content or any legal process.

[OutofTime]

Looks like according to Transunion after a dispute stating "not my account", citi is saying it is joint responsibility but a rep from them last week stated spouse was an authorized user and I had her removed. Anyone know how long it takes for things to update? I'm trying to hold off filing as long as I could so I can save money for fees but Citifinancial is one pain is the rear!