Leaving Uk, Can they chase me up for debt owed?

Submitted by gj.venter on Sat, 08/02/2008 - 00:52
Forums

I have racked up about £1300 worth of debt at Littlewoods and V12 finance. I am leaving the UK to go to my home country very soon. Only my bank has my home country address details. I don't owe my bank any money. I will also close my bank account before I leave.

Can they chase me up in my home country for the debt owed?

Hi gj.venter
welcome to this forum. If you are leaving for your home country, then the creditors cannot follow you in that country to recover the dues. But you may have a judgment against you when you return back in the Country again. If you are leaving permanently, I think there is no problem.

Sat, 08/02/2008 - 05:21 Permalink

I would wonder if they could somehow get in touch with your bank and subsequently you. Do they use a social security number system like we do here in the US?

Sat, 08/02/2008 - 06:00 Permalink

Yes, Anthony is right. A debt in one country cannot chase you to another country even if your creditor has wide network in your home country. This is because British laws will not be valid in your home country, but you should not do the same mistake of building up huge debt in the home country again.

Sat, 08/02/2008 - 06:59 Permalink

I don't know how to say this tactfully, but I will try....are you running from your debt or are you leaving the country for something else? It just kind of bothered me that you are purposely running from your debt and not even making an attempt to pay. Sorry---it just kind of made me wonder. I'm the type of person who thinks that even though there seems to be no way to find you, someone might find you and make you pay anyway. Maybe my thinking isn't right---any comments forum?

Sat, 08/02/2008 - 08:00 Permalink
Anonymous (not verified)

I am leaving the country because my visa is expiring soon. We don't use social security or NI numbers in my country. We have only recently started using credit scoring. I made the debt, but was counting on visa extensions. That fell through. So now I must go back but I don't have enough cash to pay of my debt.

Sat, 08/02/2008 - 18:56 Permalink

Well, that is understandable. I guess this would serve as a lesson learned for you. huh? Good luck!

Sun, 08/03/2008 - 02:33 Permalink

I like it when the post replies get more in detailer..

Mon, 08/04/2008 - 02:05 Permalink

I do too. Maybe Guest you can call your creditors about paying from another country. I am sure any payment would make them happpy as long as the debt was being paid on.

Mon, 08/04/2008 - 02:27 Permalink

I would call them and explain the situation, I am sure that they will let you mail in your payment from another country, better that then having you not pay at all.

Mon, 08/04/2008 - 16:00 Permalink

I agree. Be honorable and avid any problems that may arise from the issue.

Tue, 08/05/2008 - 03:09 Permalink

That is what I was referring to above---being honorable and doing the right thing morally.

Tue, 08/05/2008 - 03:48 Permalink

I truly agree with you on this. I think a concious effort shuld be made to repay the debt. Problem is some people don't think along the same lines.

Wed, 08/06/2008 - 02:31 Permalink
lea (not verified)

Can you tell me how much debt one must owe before they will try to track you? £1300 is certainly not worth their time, but what about £13,000?

Mon, 08/11/2008 - 19:00 Permalink

I would say they would track you down for that amount or sell it to an aggressive collection agency and they would track you down.

Tue, 08/12/2008 - 03:39 Permalink

Hi Lea
As far as I know, the UK laws will not be applicable to you if you leave the Country permanently with debt and so the debt collector cannot chase you in other counties no matter how strong their network in other country is. I think if it is possible for you to pay off the debt, then pay it off and then leave the country because £13000 is a fairly large amount. Moreover, if your creditor somehow comes to know that you are leaving the country without paying the debt, you may be in trouble. You can ask your creditor for a repayment plan which you think will suit you and pay if off. However, if you are not at all able to pay off the debt, then you can try leaving the country without paying it off.

Tue, 08/12/2008 - 10:32 Permalink

I really agree with Justin on this one. If it is possible that is a lot of money so try to set something up.

Tue, 08/12/2008 - 16:47 Permalink

I would not feel comfortable leaving that amount in the wind like that, how much is that in american dollars?

Wed, 08/13/2008 - 02:27 Permalink

I am not sure about the translation with the money here. But I can just assume that this is a rather large amount.

Wed, 08/13/2008 - 03:10 Permalink

Erb and I was thinking on the same lines. I myself wondered how much that was. It truly does seem astronomical.

Wed, 08/13/2008 - 12:57 Permalink

I ain't no good at breakin' that there stuff down though.......................

Thu, 08/14/2008 - 03:36 Permalink

I also believe that you should come to an agreement with your creditors and fix a repayment plan to pay off your debt. This is because if you do not pay off the dues and leave the country, the creditor can get a judgment against you. This judgment may affect you if you need to return to the country again in future. I think that if you disclose your inability of repaying the full amount to the creditor, the creditor may also settle for less.

Thu, 08/14/2008 - 07:15 Permalink

Good advice as usual Anthony. The eprson may think they will never go back but with a lifetime a head who can be sure of that.

Thu, 08/14/2008 - 12:20 Permalink
Me (not verified)

Remember that they can only chase the debt for 6 years...........

Wed, 08/27/2008 - 13:16 Permalink

Even though the debt originated in the UK?

Wed, 08/27/2008 - 14:35 Permalink

Good question Lorri...sounds more expensive than it may be worth..unless the debt was say...massive.

Thu, 08/28/2008 - 12:32 Permalink

Maybe the SOLs in the United Kingdom are different.

Fri, 08/29/2008 - 01:01 Permalink

If only Her Majesty, the Queen would sign on we could ask her or Prince Charles or Prince William. HAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHAAAAAA---I am crackin' myself up tonight.

Sat, 08/30/2008 - 02:54 Permalink

Any legit debt must be paid.

Basically, if there is extradiction agreement between UK and your country you can be extradicted to UK to stand trial, but it is much more expensive than 1300 pounds.

Mon, 09/01/2008 - 21:10 Permalink

Lorri what are you on and can I have some too? Welcome lots of #'s. Look forward to posting with ya.

Tue, 09/02/2008 - 00:50 Permalink

Why are you leaving the UK, I hope it is not just to escape the debt? Trying to get back to the original post.

Tue, 09/02/2008 - 01:50 Permalink

Did this poster ever come back and even reply to any posts? I like you hope it isn't to avoid debt becasue any debt that is massive is probaly worth chasing down.

Tue, 09/02/2008 - 01:53 Permalink

I doubt they could even enforce something out of the country, but I would not put it past a collection agency to try.

Tue, 09/02/2008 - 02:37 Permalink

If it was large enough I am sure they would try but I am like you I don't know how much legal standing they would have. I wouldn't imagine alot or any at all.

Fri, 09/05/2008 - 00:41 Permalink

I don't even think the Op even came back. Think he took the money and ran?

Sat, 09/06/2008 - 02:52 Permalink

What am I ON?----This is my persona fireyone! Life of the party! Always leave 'em laughing...........

Sat, 09/06/2008 - 03:47 Permalink

Can you bottle that and send it to me???How about if I said PLEASE?

Sun, 09/21/2008 - 01:17 Permalink
pookie (not verified)

i owe a debt of quite a large amount and the debt collection company have tracked me to my new country and place of work but i have been told by a friend who is a debt collector here that they cannot do a thing about it!

Tue, 11/04/2008 - 17:16 Permalink

Usaully they can not do anything if you are out of the country. Any laws would not apply to you. You need to inform them of this. Let us have a little more information here. Did you leave the country to escape the debt? If you did and then return to the States chance are they then can sue you. In some States they can actually stay the SOL ...meaning stop the SOL if you leave the State let alone the counrty. So if the State you aquired the debt in has an SOL of 4 years and you leave before that it can stop the SOL. Isn't there a way you could try to pay some of this large debt back. I can not imagine a collector tracking someone across the globe unless it was quite a bit of cash.

Wed, 11/05/2008 - 00:08 Permalink

Hi Pookie
You need not worry about the debt collector if you are out of US because US laws would not apply to other countries and the collector cannot sue you in this new country to bring judgment against you. But if you return to US before the Statute of Limitation expired may may face judgment against you.

Wed, 11/05/2008 - 10:30 Permalink

If you had a BK, or something like that, I DO think THAT would 'follow' you. Usually if a debt is 'accumulated' in another country, the debt ( depending on what it is) doesn't have any 'grounds' in this country. Hope this makes sense.

Wed, 11/05/2008 - 12:08 Permalink
Pookie (not verified)

Thanks Mary, I have been really worried as it was a complete mishap on my behalf, i was going to pay it n full and get them off my back but have been told by my debt collector frient not to worry that they cannot do anything as they cannot come to my work looking for it and they dont have a home address. i am still worried.

Wed, 11/05/2008 - 14:15 Permalink

Where was this debt made at? In this country or another. If it was in the US you can feel free to give us the State and date of the LAST payment on this debt and we can look up the SOL for you. Most places only have a few years to be legally able to sue and get a judgemnet for repayment. It goes by State and the date of your last payment on this debt. You can let us know if you want and we would be more than happy to help. it never goes further than here so rest assued we are only trying to help you.

Wed, 11/05/2008 - 17:44 Permalink
Pookie (not verified)

it was made in Australia. do you know what the deal is there?

Wed, 11/05/2008 - 20:05 Permalink

No I am not a t all familiar with Australias debt collection laws. I don't know if maybe you can find some info on the net but really I don't even imagine you have to worry. They can not enforce their laws here in the United States so just stay out of the country and you should be safe. You could google Australia collection laws and see what comes up...just a suggestion.

Wed, 11/05/2008 - 21:39 Permalink

Hi Pookie
Australian and US laws are not the same. However, if you were in Canada, the debt collector could have reached you to collect the debt. But since you are in Australia, there is no chance to get chased by the creditor. The creditor may have his office at Australia, but it is for the debt which you will take in Australia and not in US. However, if you get back to US before the expiry of the Statute of Limitation period, the creditor can bring judgment against you to collect the entire debt along with the interest.

Thu, 11/06/2008 - 09:15 Permalink
shanker (not verified)

i took some money from my credit card then i started paying high interest rate 34% for years , then i had no choice , i kept transferring balance from credit card to anther , now i am on huge amount of debit and the sum is more than double , do not you think that it is not right when they offer you cheap interest at the beginning then when you cant pay back they will start arising the rate ? i think it deserve to escape paying ( if you can ).

Mon, 02/16/2009 - 02:09 Permalink

Yes, mostly the credit card companies raise the interest rates once you default on the payments. It is generally written on the fine prints on the form when you sign the credit card agreement. If you have good score, you can simply try and get a debt consolidation loan and pay off the credit card debt as soon as possible. If you want you can go through a credit counseling program.

Mon, 02/16/2009 - 08:30 Permalink
sarah jenkins (not verified)

I have moved to Australia from the UK and i cant afford to keep paying the agency the amount i agreed to pay for all my little debts. I have been told not to worry about it? but there is'nt much info on the net regarding this/the laws etc. however i do have a big loan that i shall pay direectly to the lender as i believe if the debt is big enough they can find you and will. but the small ones i am going to leave!! I have no choice!

Mon, 02/23/2009 - 05:05 Permalink