My protagonist in a second childhood novel will use his credit & debit card from his previous life. What happens later?

OK, I can’t be bothered to write your novel for you unless I get a decent ghost’s pay, but here is a must. The whole thing begins to unravel when investigators of thse bogus charges made to the dead man’s credit cards track the purchases down to young Tanaka and charge him with murder.

Only 1% of identity theft cases are prosecuted. In the real world, chances are, he won’t get caught.

1. If his parents aren’t monitoring his internet activity, why would they notice or care of packages arrived in his name?

2. He wouldn’t open his mail after only 19 days, nor would any charges show up that quickly.

3. One must assume a person’s image is part of their identity. And since he’s no longer Tony, why would he even care?

I’m through answering these questions. They aren’t relevant to the story unless it’s a story about identity theft, which it’s not.

Now kindly deposit to my PayPal account for services rendered, but no stolen credit cards. Use your own.

@ETpro Tony is in a coma and when he wakes up, the soul of the original Tanaka possesses him. Didn’t you pay attention?

Also, Fluther is a volunteer site. If I looked for people to pay to help me with this story, I’d ask at a pay venue.

@Futomara For #2, when Tony’s body wakes up, he’s no longer Tony. The transfer is permanent; it’s a switch.

Belated disclaimer to all: Fluther isn’t an advice-for-pay site. All advice given on anything, whether it be legal, medical, or literary, are freely given and freely received here.

(Wow, why do a couple of users believe that I have to pay to receive literary advice? There go a couple of Scrooges for Christmas…)

@EgaoNoGenki – You’re funny. You don’t even know your own story. Re-read what you asked in Q.2 and my response. Now read your response to me.

So, when, and how, in the short period of 19 days did his twin brother get granted power of attorney? It’s a federal offense to open mail not addressed to you.

Geez.. My fee just doubled. Now I want to be paid in gold.

The kid would be busted for identity theft, and Tony’s parents would have him committed to the state hospital for the insane, since any 20 yo guy who keeps insisting he’s a 5 yo kid named Tanaka is obviously off his rocker.

@EgaoNoGenki Tell the truth, I didn’t read that far. When you lapsed into soul transfer, my eyes glazed over. But such drivel is all the rage these days, Look at the following Dan Brown has developed with fiction much more far-fetched than this. So fare the well in the writing, and Happy New Year. :-)

@ETpro Accidents change personalities.

(A few of them do, anyway.)

I can’t think of alternatives. Tanaka needs to become a college student trapped in a 5-year-old’s body.

@Darwin Yes, (the original body of) Tony will be put in an assisted-living facility to relearn from Kindergarten onward. But when Tanaka gets discovered for Identity Theft, what’s his penalty going to be? Are 5-year-olds even prosecutable for such an act?

@Futomara I suppose that when Tony III is in a coma, and they’re uncertain when he’ll wake, that they’ll grant his twin the power of attorney within 2 weeks. And when he wakes to demonstrate that he’s no longer 20, his twin keeps it for good.

And well, if you also use Askville, I’ll transfer you the Quest Gold, if there’s such a transfer mechanism available. (Haven’t explored that yet.)

In the meantime, you’re entitled access to my Prologue and first Chapter of the story on my blogsite. That’s my Christmas gift to you. (Or Boxing Day gift, as is now the case.)

Would the parents and brother of the original Tony, who now has power of attorney, still press charges on a 5-year-old for identity theft? Or would they settle somehow out-of-court?

It would be up to a District Attorney whether a complaint was filed or not based on the parents (family’s) testimony. But let’s get real, what D.A. is going to prosecute a 5 year old that isn’t Chucky or Damien?

EgaNoGenki, you story has so many holes in it, are you going to title it Swiss Cheese?

I do appreciate your desire for technical correctness, but isn’t the story more important than the details?

Best of luck to you.