[Maestro]

Here are the option I see

Ask for proof the merchant is being charge $5K:

1. If proof exist:
   1. Then pay what is being asked for and consider himself lucky that he does not have felony conviction on his record
   2. Do not pay and wait for the police to show up at the door and the Judge to order restitution and probation/jail time
2. If no proof exist:
   1. Settle the $1K debt and tell the Merchant if he says anything you will turn him in for blackmail and both can go on your marry ways and thank the merchant for not turning his ass in. Also hope the merchant does not turn his ass into the CC company, since they may still press charges.
   2. Pay the $1K debt and go get a lawyer and turn yourself in and see if you can work a deal to go after the merchant for blackmail and failure to report a crime. They may be more interest in this and let CC thief off with a warning.

Obviously it may not play out this way, since you can never control what another person may or may not do, but there are definite ways he can lessen the total impact. If he does nothing he can pretty much be certain the merchant will turn him in to either the CC company or the police or both. In all cases he is going to be out at least the $1K and possible more.

As someone else pointed out the merchant maybe trying to avoid a bigger issue himself you never know but try to get someone to pay $6k for an obvious $1K debt may indicate he no on the up and up himself.

[upstatedoc]

Tell your friend to break into the merchants shop and steal his car back. and then hope the merchant doesn't know his real identity. He's already a criminal, what could go wrong?

[kevinbahnz]

Originally Posted by upstatedoc

Tell your friend to break into the merchants shop and steal his car back. and then hope the merchant doesn't know his real identity. He's already a criminal, what could go wrong?

+1.. us this gonna be on the next episode of MOB wives. or the gotti family thingy show.

[Focus]

Originally Posted by upstatedoc

Tell your friend to break into the merchants shop and steal his car back. and then hope the merchant doesn't know his real identity. He's already a criminal, what could go wrong?

That was funny, LOL.

As said before, after this, he is no longer in my life.

To clear a few things:

1. The car is in his name, credit card in a business name, the merchant knew this before processing and processed the transaction anyways over the phone without verifying any type of id.

2. He spoke to a lawyer and you are all correct, he got a voice recording of the extortion options that were given to him and will be headed down there soon.

3. The merchant didn't call the bank to verify the card, he processed the transaction then waited days later to call and report it as he thought it may of been fraudulent.

4.The merchant had no immediate proof, besides his word that he was charged, so this case pretty much looks like it's in the bag.

Thank you guys for all your responses and ideas. Slowly but surely as i've gotten older i've had to cut more and more people out my life because of their irrational decisions but...that's life i suppose.

[Inspired]

Pretty much a lose/lose situation. Just try to work out a deal with the merchant.