How to stop elderly mom from abusing credit cards?

I would definitely get POA for her financially. That way you can speak with the credit card companies, close accounts, lower the limits. I would also run a credit report on her to see where she is with her credit. Everyone is entitled to one free credit report per year, you can do it online.There is a way you can opt out for further credit card offers with the 3 credit reporting agencies, that you can also do online. Another thing you can do it have her all her mail forwarded to your house, that way you can see what is going on. Just take the cards away from her and sign up for paperless statements. Is she physically going out of the house to do the shopping or is she buying from offers that come thru the mail or from TV...Maybe you can arrange to take her shopping one day a week, that way she won't feel like she is being totally cut off from buying things she needs or wants. It won't be easy, she may fuss at first but once you take control of her finances and she see's how much money she is saving, she will be thankful. Trust me I have been in your situation. Good Luck!

Without knowing how close you live to your mom or whether or not you have a POA for her financial issues, it's hard to answer, however, here is what I did with my mom. I have several siblings who were taking advantage of mom financially, using her debit card whenever they needed money because she had given it to them and gave them her pin number. I got a POA, took over her finances totally, pay her bills for her online, I hold the debit card, checkbook, one credit card she has and no one gets money from mom without going through me first. My sibs aren't happy that the Bank of Mom is closed, but, I did what had to be done for my mom. (My mom now lives with me and guess what? None of those sibs ever call or come to visit unless they need money! Very sad, but their loss.) Good luck with your situation and I will be praying that all ends well.

Stop her however you can. I didn't know about my dad's credit card habit until it was too late. After lots of arguing and dragging him to an attorney, he finally agreed to stop using them and stop paying on them. I took them and cut them up. He had run through every penny he had, making minimum payments and paying late fees. He has nothing to show for it and now is completely broke. Please stop your mom now. Run a credit report on her to see exactly how much debt she has and who she owes (if she's a true credit addict, she might not be entirely truthful in disclosing how many credit cards there are - my dad had a couple dozen). Good luck!

Cut them up!!

you can have an email sent to you to let you know when the card is being used and you can put a stop/block authorization on the cards. If you call the credit card company and explain the situation to them,they will work with you.It is a good idea to have a POA on all your parents stuff.I sent thousands of dollars in mail order stuff back my father had ordered from Publishers clearing house cause he thought he had one the million dollar prize.I called them and told them he had Alz.and anything else they sent I would concider a gift to him and it would not be paid for.I then sent an email of what I had said to covemy butt. That nipped it in the bud.The last straw was they sent him The Kamasutra,after I picked myself up off the floor,I called and told them no-no........I don't think so.You can lower the credit limit on the too.

There was a commercial years ago that showed a younger gal watching a TV informercial. She had put her credit card into a block of ice, so when she had the impulse to buy something, she was frantically chiseling. It was so funny, but did have a plausible idea there I think. I should do that with my credit cards.