Joint responsibility
Question
I have a joint loan with my ex-boyfriend. Even after the split he continued to pay it off for a while but now he's just stopped. I've asked him to start paying again but he refuses. Is there anything I can do?
Answer
As the loan is in both your names, you are 'jointly and severally liable' for the debt. Basically, this means that the loan company can ask either one of you to pay off the entire loan. They might do this is they can't trace one of you or the other person does not have the money to pay their part of the debt.
If you have your boyfriend's current address, or his parent's address, you would be within your rights to forward this on to the loan company, so they can chase him as well as you. You could also try contacting the loan company to explain the situation and ask if they will split the loan so you only have to pay your share. It's worth trying although it is doubtful that they will agree to this.
If you end up being the only person the company chase for money and you can't afford to pay the contractual amount, remember that you can always ask if it's possible to reschedule the loan so you can afford the repayments. It might be useful for you to visit your local Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB). They may be able to help you renegotiate the loan. You can also call National Debtline on 0808 808 4000 for more information and advice.
Updated: 12/04/2010
Question answered by CAB
