Her Mom Asked To Use Her Credit Card For One Bill. She Spent $6K Instead And Tanked Her Credit. ‘She Took Out A Grand And A Half At ATMs’
A 21-year-old woman turned to Reddit recently in frustration and disbelief after a single act of trust spiraled into a financial crisis. What started as a favor to her mother quickly became an $8,000 credit card nightmare, leaving her overwhelmed with debt, a sinking credit score, and a shattered sense of trust.
A $1,500 Favor Turned Into An $8,000 Debt
The woman said she let her mom use her credit card in mid-December to pay a single $1,500 bill. But a few days later, she checked her account and was shocked to find $6,000 charged to the card. “Most [was spent] on paying her bills,” she wrote, “but she took out a grand and a half at ATMs.”
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The unexpected charges maxed out her credit utilization, causing her credit score to drop from 720 to 635. To make matters worse, she’d just missed over a week of work due to a hospital stay and has a high-deductible insurance plan. “I know it’s partially my own fault and I’m kicking myself for being so stupid and letting this happen,” she said.
She’s tried applying for debt consolidation loans and balance transfer cards, but has been denied everywhere. With two existing loans, one auto and one personal, her financial options are limited.
Community Reacts With Outrage, Sympathy And Advice
One of the most upvoted comments in the Reddit thread urged her to take immediate action. “Change your credit card number,” someone suggested. “Your mom may have saved your credit card information online or written it down and might try to use it again without your permission.”
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Others emphasized the importance of freezing her credit reports with all three bureaus, warning that parents in financial distress have been known to open new accounts in their children’s names.
Many shared personal stories of betrayal by family members. “My father asked me for money,” one commenter said. “At first he was grateful. Then it morphed into entitlement and irritation when I didn’t accommodate his requests.”
Another shared, “The worst mistake I ever made was not pressing charges against my mother when she screwed my credit before I was even an adult.”
Despite the setback, commenters reassured her that the situation is fixable. “Take a deep breath,” one person who was in an even worse situation wrote. “You’re young and you’ll be okay in the end. This is an expensive lesson but not a death sentence.”
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A Safer Way To Move Forward
If you’ve ever found yourself in a similar situation, where financial boundaries get blurred and mistakes have lasting consequences, getting professional guidance can help you rebuild and prevent future issues.
WiserAdvisor is a free tool that matches you with a vetted financial advisor who meets your needs, with no obligation to hire. Whether you’re recovering from financial damage or just want a long-term plan, speaking with a professional can be the first real step toward regaining control.
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