Daughter Betrays Family to Pay For Her Own College Tuition, But Will the Her Ignorance Push Her Parents to Press Charges?

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When the Original Poster (OP) and his wife unearth a shocking secret – their daughter has accumulated a staggering $60,000 in loan debt under their names without consent – their world turns upside down. Trapped between the looming threat of financial ruin and the emotionally devastating prospect of pressing felony charges against their daughter, they grapple with a moral and financial dilemma that tests their family bonds.

Unveiling a Family Secret

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OP and his wife discover their daughter has accumulated an alarming $60,000 in loan debt under their names without their permission. This deception stems from the daughter’s decision to use their personal information to apply for a Parent Plus Loan for her college education.

The Initial Request

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Initially, the daughter had approached her parents for help with her college finances. With school loans offering minimal support, she requested for them to fill out paperwork for a $14,000 per year loan. However, OP and his wife, unable to shoulder the financial responsibility, decline, offering alternatives such as scholarships and work-study programs instead.

The Unspoken Promise

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Together, OP and his daughter apply for various scholarships, and she even starts a part-time job to support her college expenses. After these efforts, she no longer approaches her parents about her financial situation. OP and his wife, trusting their daughter’s capabilities, believe she is managing her finances independently.

Unraveling the Lie

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Years later, the family receives a letter from the Department of Education notifying them of a defaulted loan. Confused, OP and his wife contacted the school, only to find that their daughter had applied for the loan online, using their personal information, all behind their backs. She cleverly filled in her own contact information, thus concealing the loan from her parents.

The Options Unveiled

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On discovering the truth, OP and his wife are left with two heart-wrenching options. They can either accept the loan and incur a debt they cannot afford or take legal action against their daughter, which could lead to her facing felony charges. The possibility of their daughter serving a minimum prison sentence is a distressing prospect.

Emotional Turmoil

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The thought of pressing charges against their own daughter leaves OP and his wife emotionally shattered. They are in the midst of a moral and financial dilemma, incapable of choosing a path without dire consequences.

Seeking Help

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In a desperate bid for advice, OP turns to Reddit, opening up about their predicament and asking whether pressing charges would make him the antagonist in the story. Through sharing his family’s turmoil, OP finds a community willing to provide the support and perspective they so desperately need.

The Burden of the Plus Loan

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Clarifying the loan situation, OP explains that a Plus Loan is typically taken out by parents to support their child’s education. The daughter isn’t involved in the repayment process at all; in fact, she isn’t even eligible to make payments towards it, adding to the weight of the loan on OP and his wife.

The Influx of Support

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The response to OP’s story is overwhelming, leading to an outpour of support. Users assure him that he would not be the antagonist for pressing charges against his daughter. Despite the assurance, OP remains split on how to proceed.

Unveiling the Medical Debt

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OP and his wife are already struggling with approximately $40,000 in medical debt. The revelation of the college loan only worsens their financial situation. Their financial burdens continue to mount, putting them under extreme stress.

Daughter’s Future at Stake

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Despite the potential legal implications, the daughter doesn’t seem to grasp the severity of her actions. She continues to downplay her fraudulent behavior, focusing only on her educational needs. Her ignorance of the potential consequences only deepens OP and his wife’s concern for her future.

Unveiling the School’s Complicity

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OP is left to wonder why the school didn’t properly verify the information provided during the loan application process. They allowed the daughter to apply for the loan without parental consent or verification, which could have prevented the entire situation.

Resolution Elusive

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The daughter seems to be resistant to acknowledge her actions, OP and his wife are torn about legal proceedings, and the threat of financial ruin looms large. The once united family applying for scholarships and working together to build their daughter’s future is now strained.

The Ultimate Choice

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Finally, a decision must be made, one that could either save the family or shatter it forever. The path OP and his wife choose will determine not only their daughter’s future but also the fate of their family.

Would Pressing Charges Against Their Daughter Be Appropriate?

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The readers in the forum had a lot of mixed views on the matter. Here are some of their responses:

Forum Responds

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One reader said, “I understand this will be extremely difficult to do, but your daughter is dangerous. Stealing $60,000 by ruining your credit with a loan you don’t know about and can’t afford if you did is not a mistake. It’s extremely destructive behavior.”

Another Commenter Thinks

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Another responder wrote: “Your daughter was fully aware that what she did was wrong. She knew what she was doing. I can’t imagine that pressing charges would be easy, but it’s not fair to let her mistake ruin your financial future.”

A Third View on The Story

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A different person states, “You’re in a really tough spot. But family isn’t a free pass to defraud family members. It’s not going to be easy for you either way. Either you don’t press charges, and they see they can get away with using you. Or you press charges, and the relationship takes a hit.”

A Final Perspective on the Matter

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Another viewpoint on the story: “Let’s think this through logically, from a parent’s point of view and not just a legal frame. No one here knows your daughter as you do. No one knows her potential and her heart. If you don’t think she’s a sociopath, this might be a great opportunity for her to grow up and become responsible immediately, but she will have to fix this. Not you.”