Bride Runs Wild with Father-in-Law's Credit Card

The merging of two families in the midst of a wedding can sometimes be tense, contentious, and high-stress. New in-laws can't agree on place settings at the reception or the menu for the rehearsal dinner. It is rare, however, when the drama before a wedding includes the bride turning into a credit card thief.

Montana bride Brittany Marie Lanaghan was upset because she had paid for gas for her future in-laws' cars and had not been reimbursed. She decided to get a little revenge by charging $5,776 to her soon-to-be father-in-law's credit card. Most of the 55 charges were wedding related, in particular a $1,609 charge to the motel where the wedding, but she also purchased diapers and a laptop computer as well as paying for her cell phone and satellite TV bills.

Lanaghan has been charged with deceptive practices by common scheme. She has officially plead not guilty, and she is currently free without bond.

Now, I got married last December, so the stresses of wedding planning are still fresh in my mind. While planning a wedding, people are going to clash and get into arguments. There is no avoiding it. Honestly, though, Lanaghan overreacted in the worst way. She didn't get reimbursed for gas, so she decided to steal her future father-in-law's credit card. Before her marriage has barely begun, she has destroyed any trust with her in-laws and her husband as well. What will stop her from running wild on her husband's credit card when she gets upset or doesn't get her way?

For stealing from her in-laws, I am awarding the Navin R. Johnson award to Brittany Marie Lanaghan. Really, Brittany, did you think you wouldn't get caught?

To learn more about responsible credit card use and protecting your identity, check out http://blog.mycreditspecialist.com, and go to http://www.mycreditspecialist.com to sign up for a free credit evaluation.