Hi everyone, I’m looking for both advice and maybe just a place to let this out because it’s been incredibly stressful.
Last year, I made a huge mistake: I lent my American Express credit card to my mother-in-law (MIL). I trusted her, and she said she needed it temporarily. The card was used in the Philippines, and she ended up spending €10,000 mostly through cash withdrawals. I didn’t receive receipts or written proof since she always communicated by phone, never in writing.
When I confronted her, she admitted to the spending and agreed to repay it in monthly installments. But she quickly fell behind, and the amount ballooned to €20,000 due to late fees and interest. I was pregnant at the time, and the stress was overwhelming.
Initially, I didn’t tell my husband because my MIL asked me to keep it secret. But eventually, I broke down and told him everything. He confronted her, and suddenly, she denied ever owing me anything. That’s when things really exploded.
After that, she completely cut us off. She blocked us on social media and essentially disowned my husband. We decided not to let her meet our child we didn’t want that toxic energy around us. My parents helped me pay some of the debt, and we’ve been slowly recovering from the financial damage. Honestly, cutting ties brought us peace.
But now she’s back online posting about someone “using her name for €20k debt,” indirectly accusing me. She’s even convinced herself of her own lies. My husband’s siblings have started taking her side and are posting too.
Here’s the problem: I live in Italy, and I want to know is there anything I can do legally? I have no written agreement, no receipts, and she only called me when it was time to repay. But I do have the Amex records showing where the card was used (in the Philippines), and she’s the only one I gave the card to.
Can I still take legal action, or is it hopeless without formal proof? And is there any legal recourse for the defamation she’s now spreading online?
Any advice would help. Thank you.
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