Another question regarding co-signer

If someone is just an authorized user, they have no obligation to pay the debt. The cannot just be "turned into" a co-signor, as far as I know. A co-signor generally has to apply for credit along with the applicant. An authorized user never even goes through the application process.

DMJ is right, as far as my experience goes. There is a difference between co-signer and authorized user.

~Mary

there may be some differences if the authorized user is married to the owner, but as far as i know unless the someone is considered an account owner or has signed a cosign agreement of some sorts, they are not a cosigner... hmm just had a thought what does the original card agreement say about authorized users?

That's a good point, JJ...absolutgyrl, you may want to go back and check the original paperwork for the account and see what it says. (Thanks JJ)

~Mary

Thank you I will have to look.

My understanding was that they were two different things - there was no co-signing/co-applicant.

I appreciate the input. Thank you very much!!!

back in 1996 my mother put me on a credit card as a co-applicant (or maybe an authorized user, i'm not sure). she never paid off her debt, left the country, and the debt collectors came after me. i never signed a single thing, never asked to be a co-applicant. but since 1998 they've had a judgement against me (in california) and put a lien on my bank account. i closed my bank account, left the US to go to grad school abroad. Want to move back to the US now, open a bank account, buy house/car, but afraid that the debt collectors will try to collect their money. last time i checked my credit report, everything was cleared, had no bad history, but i noticed that the collection agency had made a recent 'inquiry' into my account.
please help what can i do to solve this mess?
i just feel that if I never signed any credit card application back when my mom put me as a co-applicant, how come i'm the one being sued?

I think you would win this one in a court battle, you need to contact the original creditor and ask them for a copy of the agreement. Was the bill sent in both names or just your mothers? You need to get your hands on the original agreeement to prove you are not a co signer. You need to find out what the oc holds the authorized user responsible for.