So I Get This Phone Call Today

When's the most recent activity -- payment or charge -- on the account?

 

I can`t tell by looking at my Trans Union printout.

 

The reason that's important is that if it's too old for them to sue you, but not old enough to have fallen off your credit report it may only have a minimal impact on your score. If that's the case, paying it will actually make it "current" and actually lower your score.

On the other hand --- if it's fairly new, you may want to explore paying it for the sake of trying to save your score, as nearly all credit products are now score driven. That includes the interest rates you get charged on credit products you currently use. Also, beware of these "compromise" offers from collection agencies. Two reasons:

1) These "compromises" are often paid on the compromised terms --- only to have another agency buy the old paper at some later date and go after the debtor for the remainder.

2) Even if the compromise is honored, it will show as a negative on your credit report.

Also, as to whether you or your ex are legally responsible for the debt, actually you both are, "jointly and severally". That is to say, you both are responsible for the entire amount. Now, as you've shared that your ex has been discharged in bankruptcy, I would suspect that that leaves you holding the whole enchilada. Sorry for the bad news.

 

The news could always be worse. I no longer use credit cards and if I need a loan for any reason I have an unused equity account to draw from. I haven`t needed to use the equity since I refinanced Jan of 2007. Kohl`s is going to have to write this off as a loss. I could care less about my credit score. Its not like I`m in my 20s and struggling to make ends meet.

 

...and that's a business decision -- risk management decision that's yours to make. Good luck. Hope all works out.

 

Pay it and take her a$$ to small claims court if nothing other than kicks and giggles.

 

Never even gave either one a thought. I knew I wasn`t going to pay a $1000 for some other person . The second part is just not the way I roll. You`d have to be vindictive and pretty much hate someone to do that. I can`t think of anyone I actually hate.

 

Understandable. I just said pay it to keep it off your record, but apparently that's already occured. Good luck! I hate those discount store credit cards because I always forget to cancel them. That's one of the reasons I pull my report each year just to make sure I don't have any that I forgot to cancel. My wife keeps opening the damn things.

 

lol
I fixed this problem. Two wives were enough for me, when I want a woman now I just rent one. Now thats true love. hehe

 

You pay.....

....the rented ones to leave.