Exactly, check your credit bureau file if you are a joint account holder then that Debt should show on your credit report. If nothings on there then probably you are just an authorized user.
Ask the collector from RBC whose name(s) is/are on the account as the Account Holders.
Then ask him to give you a copy of the original credit card application and tell him once you get that you will settle the debt if you are a joint account holder.

Sorry for being rather ignorant on the subject and needing it spelled out a bit more but do you mean contact the credit bureau to find out what they have on file? I am not even sure it is with the credit bureau yet. I had to wait until they finished with the estate before it was passed to someone who would deal with me directly. I am now communicating with and considering offering a settlement with a collector from RBC.

Your credit file Cindylou, to find out if you are listed as a joint account holder or authorized user on the account they are trying to collect.

What do you mean....check my file?

checked the credit bureau file and while I don't see "A" "J" or "I" anywhere it does say "This account is in your name only". from that I would gather that my wife is only an authorized user.
Checked her file and the account is not showing so I guess thats confirmation?
maybe Cindylou should check her file to establish her status re joint account holder or authorized user,
Great information thanks.

Hey fightback. Someone should be able to know if they are a joint account holder, I think because consent is needed to become a joint account holder. When you first get the card, you're asked to give out your account information. You can call the credit card company if you're not sure or you can pull up your credit report and check the account information. If it states "A" there, then you're probably an authorized user, and if it states "J", then you're probably a Joint account holder. "I" means that you're the only owner of the crediut card.

RE: Estate Debt
by fightback » Tue Mar 23, 2010 05:14:36 PM

Thanks for that bebiesean, one question how would one find out if when they add someone to a card as an authorized user thats how they are added by the Bank.
Whats to stop a mistake being made by the Bank and they are added as a joint account holder?
Would the statement have to be in both names if they were a joint account holder? or seperate statements?

Thanks for that bebiesean, one question how would one find out if when they add someone to a card as an authorized user thats how they are added by the Bank.
Whats to stop a mistake being made by the Bank and they are added as a joint account holder?
Would the statement have to be in both names if they were a joint account holder? or seperate statements?

What's the difference between a joint account holder and an authorized user? I found this answer to clarify the level of responsibility of the joint account holder and the authorized user on a credit card account.

This is a confusing topic for many people. Let's see if I can shed some light on it for you. A joint account holder for a credit card account is equally responsible for the balance of the account along with the other person named on the account and is legally liable for any amount due. An authorized user, on the other hand, is able to use the credit card account, but is not legally liable for the balance due on the account.

Keep two things in mind when deciding whether you want to be a joint account holder or an authorized user on someone's account or how you want to designate another person added to your account.

One, a joint account holder is responsible for the balance, so only add someone who you know is capable and willing to pay the account if you are unable. Likewise, only agree to be a joint cardholder if you are prepared to pay the account yourself. Otherwise, both people's credit will be negatively affected if the account becomes delinquent.

Two, an authorized user has the ability to use the account for purchases just as you do, but without any of the financial responsibility. Only add someone you can trust not to abuse the privileges that come with having access to your account.

Also, when you add an authorized user, you should ask to put a lower credit limit on that account. One of the more common uses for adding authorized users is to allow children to have their own cards, but you as the account holder are still in control. This is a great tool for teaching a responsible teen when and how to use a credit card wisely. As an authorized user on someone's account, that person is not legally responsible, but the account does appear on his credit report.

Many people add an authorized user to their accounts to try and boost the credit history of the person being added. However, because of abuse of that function in credit scoring, the VantageScore model does not consider authorized users in the calculation of scores. In addition, although FICO scores currently include them, the new FICO '08 does not include authorized user accounts either. The credit bureaus are scheduled to begin using FICO '08 sometime this summer. An authorized user account still appears on your credit report. So, if a lender is viewing your actual report and not just your credit score, the account, whether in good standing or bad, may or may not be considered by the lender in making lending decisions.

Take care of your credit!
Via Credit Guy

Well Montee IMo the point here is that it's a collector calling who works for the Bank. I would not doubt that they would not disclose all, maybe thats not lying but its not full disclosure.
We are after all talking here about someone trying to collect a debt, no court action has been threatened that I read about.
If the lady was just an authorized user (and we don't know the situation) A) would the collector know that or understand the difference. Not all Bank employees are Einstein's
B) In the real world would they care as long as they collected a debt.
sorry for being so cynical but not buying that the banks are the epitome of morality, used to work for one.

IMO... A bank can't really lie... they either have a contract in place or they don't... If they take a debt to court the judge will ask them for adequate proof that the debt exists.

If they don't have proof... you don't have to pay the debt.. Most times creditors will have their documentation in place.. sometimes they don't