Family spent on my credit card and won’t repay: who helps?

Summary

Who helps depends on one fork: was the spend authorised or unauthorised? Authorised: the card issuer usually still expects you (the main cardholder) to pay; family repayment is a private debt and Citizens Advice helps. Unauthorised: card issuer dispute first, then Financial Ombudsman Service if needed, Report Fraud if it is clearly fraud.

Key information

• UK credit cards are usually in one person’s name. As main cardholder you are typically liable to the issuer for spend on the account, including by an authorised additional cardholder.
• An additional or secondary cardholder is usually an authorised user, not a joint account holder who shares the debt with the bank.
• “They won’t repay” after authorised spend is a family or private debt problem. Who helps: Citizens Advice (money guidance). A solicitor only if you later pursue recovery through court.
• Truly unauthorised spend. Who helps: card issuer, then Financial Ombudsman Service if needed. Keep dates, amounts, and whose card was used.
• Police or Report Fraud only for clear fraud or scams, not a family argument about a loan.
• If parents won’t repay authorised spend, you still usually pay the issuer. Citizens Advice for the money and family side. The bank is not the refund door.
• Section 75 is not the right door. That is for trader purchases gone wrong, not family use of your card.

Practical guidance

• Decide the fork: authorised additional card or permission, or no consent?
• Card issuer: if unauthorised, open a dispute in writing straight away. If authorised, ask how additional cardholders work on your account (expect that you still owe the issuer). Keep a written record.
• Citizens Advice for authorised spend and family won’t repay, or money pressure. England helpline 0800 144 8848.
• Financial Ombudsman Service: only after an unauthorised transaction complaint to the issuer ends in a final response you reject (or their time limit runs out).
• Report Fraud only if it is clearly fraud or a scam. Scotland: Police Scotland.
• Ask the Shaman if you are unsure which fork you are on. Ask: “parents spent on my credit card, authorised or not?”
• Solicitor last: large private debt recovery or serious fraud advice, SRA verified via Ask the Shaman. We do not endorse a firm.

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