[neatdesign]

I am 19 years old and have a big problem. I have an overspending addiction. Recently I have been using other people's credit cards to buy things. I've gone into my mom's purse a few times too. I am in serious trouble and need help.

First, I want to commend you for seeking help for your problem. And from the way you've described it, it's become a BIG problem.

That said, while you may be addicted to spending money, let's not mince words here. You have become a thief. You've stolen money from your mother. It does not matter what the reason is, it's still stealing.

At some point your mother is going to notice these charges on her credit card statements, and one of two things is going to happen:

1) She will call her credit card company to report fraudulent activity on her account. This will require her to have her credit card number changed and have a new card reissued. If she has any automatic billings on her credit card (internet service, cable bill, magazine subscription, etc.) she'll have to contact each merchant to update her new number. If she has her credit card number saved for online purchases (like at Amazon.com) she'll have to update those as well. Bottom line: BIG HASSLE. Not to mention the concerns she'll have about identity theft. Of course, if you steal her new credit cards then that will cause this process to start all over again.

2) Your mother somehow figures out, either directly or indirectly, that you stole her credit card and made charges on them. She calls the credit card company to say that certain charges are fraudulent because her daughter stole her card and she wants the charges reversed. The credit card company will tell her that the only way the charges will be reversed is if she goes to the police and has charges pressed against you for theft. Would your mother press charges against you? If not, then she's stuck with paying the charges -- or somehow will get you to pay them back for her. If she would press charges, then you are in an even bigger mess.

In either case, your mother (plus whoever else you've stolen from) will be put in a very bad position through no fault of her own.

I'm not saying this to lecture you, but to present some of the realities of the possible consequences you face. Please look at the bottom of this page for "Similar Threads" and see what those have to say. Whatever you do, stay strong and know that you'll get control over it again if you work at it.

Best of luck,

~ Jenney