I was put as an Authorized User on my former boss' American Express card. I did not have to sign anything and she just gave me the card with my name on it.
Specifically, she said to use the card for outings with her daughter and if I needed anything. She also said that if, at any time, her daughter and I went out, she would pay for the BOTH of us. (I was a nanny and she paid me under the table.)
I quit in early November, and at the end of that week in November, she told me she looked over the last two statements of the AmEx card, and said she expects me to pay her the $3000+ that was charged. I looked over my statements and highlighted what was charged for my personal use only. That total came out to about $1700, not as much as the $3000+ she wants me to pay back. (All other charges were charges that I made with/for her daughter, as she has verbally told me I was allowed to do.)
At the time of this meeting, she made me sign an agreement to pay back that money of $3000+. She was holding some of my personal belongings (my laptop and other stuff that was mine) and would not give them back until I signed the agreement.
Signing the agreement was probably the worse thing to do on my part, but if I didn't sign she wouldn't have given me my laptop and other personal belongings back.
I know I owe her money but I know that I also do not owe her that big of an amount. She plans to take this to court and to the police and make this all into legal matters; what are my options? Or what can I do?
I've been told to send her a certified letter stating that I will only pay the $1700. I've also been told that what she did was blackmail (making me sign something in order to get my stuff back.). To be honest, I'm confused and not sure what to do.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Specifically, she said to use the card for outings with her daughter and if I needed anything. She also said that if, at any time, her daughter and I went out, she would pay for the BOTH of us. (I was a nanny and she paid me under the table.)
I quit in early November, and at the end of that week in November, she told me she looked over the last two statements of the AmEx card, and said she expects me to pay her the $3000+ that was charged. I looked over my statements and highlighted what was charged for my personal use only. That total came out to about $1700, not as much as the $3000+ she wants me to pay back. (All other charges were charges that I made with/for her daughter, as she has verbally told me I was allowed to do.)
At the time of this meeting, she made me sign an agreement to pay back that money of $3000+. She was holding some of my personal belongings (my laptop and other stuff that was mine) and would not give them back until I signed the agreement.
Signing the agreement was probably the worse thing to do on my part, but if I didn't sign she wouldn't have given me my laptop and other personal belongings back.
I know I owe her money but I know that I also do not owe her that big of an amount. She plans to take this to court and to the police and make this all into legal matters; what are my options? Or what can I do?
I've been told to send her a certified letter stating that I will only pay the $1700. I've also been told that what she did was blackmail (making me sign something in order to get my stuff back.). To be honest, I'm confused and not sure what to do.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
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