Can credit card debt follow you abroad?

euphemia · 12 July 2008 at 11:14AM

A family member has been spending a lot on a lot of credit cards as well as loans from banks, catalogues, etc. over a period of about 3 years. She doesnt own her home and has a job paying about £10K pa. She owes about 20K.

I have tried to help with advice but her attitude is "what the hell who cares"
She has just told me that she is moving abroad and has no intention of paying of her debts which horrifies me.

Can and will these debts catch up with her or does it depend on where she goes.

Gambit · 12 July 2008 at 11:54AM

euphemia wrote: »

her attitude is "what the hell who cares"
She has just told me that she is moving abroad and has no intention of paying of her debts which horrifies me.

Wow... that is pretty selfish to say the least :mad:

Have a horrible feeling that they wont be able to chase her but hope she realises that this would probably kill her credit in this country so she had better be sure about what she is doing...

seasidepom · 12 July 2008 at 11:59AM

I think it depends where she is going. I have seen other people post on here that, for example, New Zealand do check up and take action but I also know of someone who came here from Australia leaving debt behind them there and it was never followed up.

Personally, I hope that anyone who does something like this is caught up with and made to pay. It is, after all, theft.

inmypocketnottheirs · 12 July 2008 at 12:00PM

seasidepom wrote: »

It is, after all, theft.

You may think it is, but actually it isn't.

talana · 12 July 2008 at 12:17PM

You may think it is, but actually it isn't.

Well if it isn't it damn well should be! :mad:

Whether the debt will catch up with her I don't know but I hope it does.
And she'd better not be planning on returning to this country any time soon as the debt won't disappear and her future credit will be shot to pieces as Gambit said.

talana · 12 July 2008 at 1:22PM

A family member has been spending a lot on a lot of credit cards as well as loans from banks, catalogues, etc. over a period of about 3 years. She doesnt own her home and has a job paying about £10K pa. She owes about 20K

Reading between the lines a wee bit here, but it seems that the family should be able to put financial pressure on her to do the right thing.

She earns £10K pa which is next to nothing (£833 per month gross).
She lives with family then I imagine, as the going rate for rent would eat up most of that anywhere in the country. Does she pay her way with rent, household bills etc or get an easy ride?
If the latter then the family needs to get tough. Tell her in future she's to pay £500 rent and then put that aside to pay off her debts. Will leave her with next to nothing but tough luck! Cruel to be kind :rolleyes:

Gambit · 12 July 2008 at 1:57PM

talana wrote: »

Well if it isn't it damn well should be! :mad:

So true! I cant believe people actually think like this... I mean it's not as if she got a mortgage and is in debt because she is working her way to owning her own home. Or because she has kids and is in debt by keeping them fed and in good health - that would be a completely different story. Instead it seems she's been on a spending spree buying things from shops and catalogues not thinking of the consquences.

There are so many people on this site in the Debt Free Wannabe boards who are in serious debt and dealing with it in a positive way and I admire them all!! :T I'm in debt too but am working hard over the next few years to pay it all off so I can get myself on the property ladder and be debt free - cant wait! :j

People like this girl should grow up and deal with the debt she has made. You cant run away from all your problems in life and she should learn that! Ok, rant over...

euphemia · 13 July 2008 at 10:46AM

Thanks for the replies.

This is exactly what we have said to her. She still lives at home and doesnt contribute to anything - her parents fault!!
She hasnt said where she is going but knowing her she will disappear and then phone us.

agsnu · 13 July 2008 at 11:07AM

Some countries apparently do credit checks in your home country before they allow you to immigrate. And she'll never be able to come back.

DestroyingAngel_2 · 13 July 2008 at 11:24AM

Oh, she can come back all right, but only to find that as soon as she puts her name down on any sort of credit application, the debt will catch up with her again. And she'll soon be inundated with debt collection agency letters etc.

sparrer · 13 July 2008 at 11:33AM

She has just told me that she is moving abroad and has no intention of paying of her debts which horrifies me. A friends daughter did the same thing a couple of years ago, owing several £k plus a car loan - she even drove the car to her new country of residence! (Greece)

Can and will these debts catch up with her or does it depend on where she goes I don't know where your family member is going but the Greek authorities have a reciprocal agreement with UK and the above person was caught up with, had to return to attend court, and relinquish the car.

Can credit card debt follow you abroad?

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