On the positive side...

**akolb** · 09-14-2010, 12:41 PM

So I had a roomate who was my best friend for many years. In our last living situation, all of the utilities were in my name due to the fact that she has bad credit. Signifigant Other and I bought a house last December and moved out of the house we shared with her on not great terms. We are no longer friends, due to the fact that she does not like SO (We've been together 4 years now) and wants me to be miserable with her.

Fast forward 7 months to yesterday. I received a collections notice in the mail for an AT&T account. It was a number that did not match our account at our house, so I called them. It turns out that she did not pay the last month when she disconnected (HER satelite TV with extended cable and internet I might add, we never needed cable) and the balance on MY account is now $247!

I know it's still my fault for allowing her to be in charge of an account that my name was in, but you think you can trust someone. I've tried to get in touch with her, more just to let her know how upset I am that she never told me this was unpaid and now it's on my credit record. She of course, has not responded to me. For a 28 year old, she can be quite the spoiled baby.

HOWEVER, unlike in the past, I have enough saved in my ING savings account (that has been going to pay extra on CC balances) to cover the bill. So I don't have to a)beg money from my parents or 2) use a CC to pay it!

I'm pretty proud of myself for this one. I just want to pay EVERYTHING with what's in savings right now so I can get back to our financial plan. These 2 bills (last month of gas was unpaid as well...) and we will be officially DONE with her and that house!

Just had to vent. Thanks!

**Jenna** · 09-14-2010, 06:22 PM

That sucks that she took advantage of your friendship. Chalk it up as a learning experience, and make sure you have no other utilities associated with that house/roommate.

**craftypam** · 09-14-2010, 06:47 PM

You cannot trust anyone with your credit. Why don't you take her to small claims court. I'd do it just to make her have to show up in court.

**NikoSan999** · 09-14-2010, 06:58 PM

Never trust anyone when it comes to something in YOUR name and them paying the bill. It could have been worse.

**ttistin** · 09-16-2010, 09:25 PM

Dh's sister did something like this to him years ago. He was staying with her and she got a hold of his social security number and had a house phone turned on in his name. He was about 16 or 17 at the time. We tried to get phone on when he was 19 and found this out. It was a large amount also (don't remember exact) She denies it completely, saying someone must have done it after they moved out. Records showed it was while they were still living there though.

Just goes to show you can not trust anyone, even family, with personal information or your credit.

**Libby** · 09-16-2010, 10:54 PM

Sorry this happened to you but glad you have a plan of action to take care of this and move on.

**frugalfiend** · 09-20-2010, 01:39 PM

That was really rotten of her, but I'm glad it wasn't any worse than it was! Congratulations for having the money to take care of it and not have to use a cc!!

**Josephhgoins** · 09-20-2010, 02:50 PM

I hate this for you. If it makes you feel any better I had a similiar problem with DirecTv.

Was about $300 and I had to pay it as well.

Learned a real valuable lesson there.

**kita** · 09-20-2010, 08:27 PM

I have heard that for all the fear of strangers, identity theft happens most often among families, friends and aquintances. Which is not to say that you shouldn't shred private papers before trashing them but also watch for things like this. Parents using a child's SS # or siblings. Things which may start out friendly but end badly. "I shared my cell phone lines with them. As long as it was reasonable and the bill paid on time it should have been okay." Stuff can go bad very quickly.