Chapter 5 - MADISON'S SECRET CREDIT CARD
Rachel found another problem.
Claire’s credit report showed an authorized-user account she did not recognize.
Luxury department store card.
Primary holder:
Robert Bennett.
Authorized user:
Claire Bennett.
Balance:
$18,420.
Claire stared.
“I’ve never used that card.”
Rachel asked:
“Who has?”
Transactions:
designer clothing,
cosmetics,
handbags,
electronics.
Then one merchant:
LAVENDER LANE BOUTIQUE.
Madison posted from there constantly.
Claire called the card issuer.
After verification, they confirmed:
Claire was added as an authorized user eighteen months earlier.
Authorized users usually are not legally responsible for the balance.
Good.
But the account still appeared on her credit history.
Robert had used Claire’s strong credit profile to improve utilization optics and perhaps support household borrowing.
Then Rachel found a harder issue.
A personal loan.
$42,000.
Borrower:
Robert Bennett.
Co-borrower:
Claire Bennett.
Claire’s face went white.
“I never co-signed this.”
That was different.
Rachel stopped everything.
“Lawyer.”
They contacted attorney Maya Grant.
Maya reviewed the loan.
Electronic signature.
Claire’s name.
Email address:
a secondary family email Claire rarely used.
IP log:
Bennett home.
Purpose:
debt consolidation.
Claire asked:
“What debt?”
Maya answered:
“We find out.”
Then Claire remembered.
Robert once texted:
BANK SENT A FORM. JUST CLICK CONFIRM.
She had clicked a link.
No document opened.
She assumed it was identity verification.
Was that used?
May you like
Maybe.
They needed records.
