How much trouble is my sister going to get in for paying for surgery with my credit card?

[quincy]

Here are links to California’s grand theft laws and penalties:

Penal Code §487: https://law.justia.com/codes/california/code-pen/part-1/title-13/chapter-5/section-487/

Grand theft laws and penalties, published by the Legal Clarity organization:
https://legalclarity.org/understanding-californias-grand-theft-laws-and-penalties/

 

[torame920]

Wait, please. Okay, I'm old, I've had LOTS of surgery. With and without medical coverage. What kind of surgery, what kind of bill? All in one whop, to one single service provider, or as is the usual case, in and out and with a whole lot of incremental bills which might eventually total up to $8000? So did she have lasix for him, a cataract surgery for him, "not covered by their insurance?" Hm. So they have health care insurance, but this was not an approved surgery? What age is this child? So she had to come up with the money on the barrelhead before he had the surgery? Are you sure she didn't ask you? When did you find out this had happened? What did she say when you confronted her? Have you given her an opportunity to make it right? This sounds like something you might be able to work out without having to press charges against her and get the law involved. There are charitable organizations and clubs that specifically help with eye issues. My son raised enough money for his cat to have surgery through a simple "go fund me." I'm not sure you're ready to throw her under the jail yet here.

It was just one lump payment. The procedure is called cross linking. It's supposed to stop further deterioration of the corneas. Apparently the procedure is only covered by insurance for people over the age of 14 for some reason. Her son is only 11. The issue is that the condition usually rapidly progresses the younger you are when you are diagnosed.

She didn't ask me for the money, but thinking back her telling me all this might be because she was trying to get me to offer. She did try to say she'll pay me back or figure it out, but honestly I just don't believe her. I'm kind of at the point where I feel like I need to separate myself from this relationship tbh. I have had other unrelated issues with her.

 

[torame920]

How long ago was the charge made? If it was recent (e.g., within the last 60 days), you should be able to dispute the charge with your credit card issuer. If it was longer ago than that, did you dispute the charge? If so, what is the status of your credit card issuer's investigation? If not, why not?




Both fines and imprisonment are possible. Given the amount, over a year is possible (albeit probably not likely for a non-violent crime - especially if she has no prior criminal record).

It was last month so yeah I am going to dispute the charge. I haven't yet though because I wanted to post this first.

 

[LdiJ]

It was just one lump payment. The procedure is called cross linking. It's supposed to stop further deterioration of the corneas. Apparently the procedure is only covered by insurance for people over the age of 14 for some reason. Her son is only 11. The issue is that the condition usually rapidly progresses the younger you are when you are diagnosed.

She didn't ask me for the money, but thinking back her telling me all this might be because she was trying to get me to offer. She did try to say she'll pay me back or figure it out, but honestly I just don't believe her. I'm kind of at the point where I feel like I need to separate myself from this relationship tbh. I have had other unrelated issues with her.

I suspect that she was pretty desperate to save her son's vision. You do realize that if you go through with this and she goes to jail, her son is likely to blame himself for it? It is a pretty traumatic thing for a child to go through. You would be perfectly within your rights to see that his mother is punished for her crime, but the one who is ultimately going to pay is going to be your nephew.

Do you and she have any other family?

 

[quincy]

It was just one lump payment. The procedure is called cross linking. It's supposed to stop further deterioration of the corneas. Apparently the procedure is only covered by insurance for people over the age of 14 for some reason. Her son is only 11. The issue is that the condition usually rapidly progresses the younger you are when you are diagnosed.

She didn't ask me for the money, but thinking back her telling me all this might be because she was trying to get me to offer. She did try to say she'll pay me back or figure it out, but honestly I just don't believe her. I'm kind of at the point where I feel like I need to separate myself from this relationship tbh. I have had other unrelated issues with her.

How sad - for your nephew and your sister and, ultimately, for you.

I wish her son the best.

 

[torame920]

I suspect that she was pretty desperate to save her son's vision. You do realize that if you go through with this and she goes to jail, her son is likely to blame himself for it? It is a pretty traumatic thing for a child to go through. You would be perfectly within your rights to see that his mother is punished for her crime, but the one who is ultimately going to pay is going to be your nephew.

Do you and she have any other family?

No, she doesn't.

 

[LdiJ]

No, she doesn't.

So you are ok with your nephew going to foster care if his mom gets locked up? Please think about what you are doing here. The child is innocent in this whole thing.

 

[torame920]

So you are ok with your nephew going to foster care if his mom gets locked up? Please think about what you are doing here. The child is innocent in this whole thing.

I get that, but it's just one of those things where I feel like I can't set myself on fire to keep others warm.

 

[quincy]

I get that, but it's just one of those things where I feel like I can't set myself on fire to keep others warm.

Okay then.

I don’t see that there is anything left for this forum to say. Good luck to you.