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I have been using my parents credit card for a game... What do I do?
I believe I am highly under the influence of greed. I have been using my parents credit card for a game that I often play and I need to know if I should tell them or lie to keep myself out of trouble. What should I do and how should I do it?
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you are better off telling them cause it is worse if they discover it themselves.
That is good that you feel guilt for it, so you cannot be too bad/greedy.
There is hope for you yet : )
They will be more understanding and will be proud that you were upfront about it. If you were my kid I would not punish you at all if you told me about it before I got my bank statement in the mail. By the way..... you cannot avoid being caught cause people check the monthly statement to check for possibly being charged for something they didn't buy. So you have no real choice but to fess up.
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The thing about credit cards is that each month, the card owner gets a statement of purchases and other activity. So, the truth is going to come out sooner or later, whether you like it or not.
Even if they don't routinely check their statement, when they realize the balance is going up more that expected, they will.
Honesty is the way to go here. It just about always is with some rare and unusual exceptions. Come clean to your folks and be mature enough to take whatever punishment they dish out. I'm betting that at the very least, they will be happy that you decided to tell the truth rather than wait for them to uncover it.
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In practice you're going to have to tell them. They'll notice the transactions on a statement and will naturally challenge them, as unauthorised use of the card. The card isuer then agrees to look into it, and part of the process is that your parents agree to the card issuer having access to internet activity. Plus they'll have to answer questions regarding who may or may not have had access to the card itself. They deal with this a lot. They're very good. They will almost immediately find proof of when the card was used, internet protocol address etc. In short, you WILL be caught with the 'smoking gun' in your hand. And your parents claim of fraudulent use of the card is then fraudulent. And the card issuer won't like it. And neither will your parents. Someone is going to have to pay this (credit cards are NOT paid at point of sale from an account, that's a debit card). You should discuss the greed/compulsive behaviour pattern with them. And apologise, and offer to pay of course, by some means. I doubt they'll be pleased about the situation as a whole, but they should find it a relief that you're facing up to your problem and want to help you all they can once it becomes obvious you're fighting a bit of a demon here. Good luck. It will be better if you address the situation BEFORE they get the statement.
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You realize it's their credit card? So they can see the transactions on there. They'll look and see what it's being spent on.
It's not your money so stop spending it.
You won't be keeping yourself out of trouble. Go tell them. You wouldn't be asking this if you didn't know it was wrong.
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I'd say you're highly addicted to your game if you are constantly spending money on it, not your own either. Also, you are using someone else's identity, even if a parent, that is wrong. I shouldn't have to tell you this. You are writing because you already know you are not acting on the level here. You have figured that eventually they will spot these transactions on their credit card statement. It isn't a matter of how little money you may be spending but the fact that you did not have permission. I am sure you actually know better and it's your conscience that has you writing in for help. Thats a good thing, that you do have a conscience.
So obviously, continuing to do the same thing is not going to let your conscience rest. I have no idea what lie could make them take their focus off you unless you try to pin blame on a sibling which will bring hassle to a sibing and may create a rift in your relationship with them. If you try to get the parents to believe their card number was swiped last time they used a credit or debit card somewhere, they will check with their bank. Banks now have superior systems to look for evidence of even a debit card used to buy grocery, and some one having rigged the machine somehow to report card numbers to the purpetrator who then begins to put charges on cards. If too many people report charges that weren't theirs and all were purchase transactions at the same place, as in my case, the banks of those having used their cards somewhere one day will automatically cancel all cards used and reissue even of some haven't had false charges show up yet. So if there are several charges already and you keep adding more, you know an investigation will ensure and banks can determine whether it was a situation such as happened to me, with the bank calling to say they canceled my card and a new one is in the mail, or whether someone with access to the card is purposely making these purchases. Eventually, they will come to suspect and question you and there will be no one else to point the blame at. If you say nothing and do not confess now BEFORE they discover these transactions, the consequences will be worse. Either way, there will likely be consequences, and hey, that is a part of growing up. When we are young, we all make bad choices, partly due to our age if below 25 or so. Our brains don't mature until mid 20s and before then we don't think out our choices and find it hard to see possible consequences to any action before taking it, only after when it happens you're caught. Not giving you an excuse here, but it is an explanation that shows why many younger people have problems such as this. We can all beware of the possible problems to look out for and choose an adult, parents or other trusted parent aged adult to pass in idea by to see if they would agree its a good choice or not. If you can already see they saying its not a good idea, you don't have to ask, you have your answer, its not a good idea.
The only choice you have, to avoid worse penaltys is to come out and tell them. If they already know you play the game, start with the game and how you're so into it that you want to purchase game money to do more things on your game. Then tell them that instead of asking them, you just used their card to purchase something for your game but since doing that a couple times, your conscience kicked in and you are feeling bad for being dishonest and secretive and you know it's not right. You tell them they have every right to dish out consequences, and not trust you now as easily. (trust once broken is hard to rebuild so you are going to have to expect them checking up on you more often if you still get to play or take away any devices you use to play your game on for a while. Maybe they will expect you to pay them back. And you may be urged to earn your own money, just enough pocket change to put in your own bank account. If under 18, parents have to cosign, but you can have your own debit card to use to make these purchases with your own money. If you are not willing to work for the privilege of having money to spend on a game, I fear the issue the parents will have will be greater than just dishonesty and using their card and broken trust, but hounding you to find a job whether in school or not. Your parents have only certain things they must by law provide for you, a roof over your head, food in your stomach and clothes on your back. fancy brands aren't necessary, nor are any other extra's like your own cell, tablet, computer, or paying for your game. Those are not required at all by law. So if you want some fun things for yourself, you'll have to earn it on your own somehow. Hope this helps you to take the right actions. Good luck.
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