Dealing with debt before moving abroad

sallybunny

Hello all,

I need a little bit of help and advice on dealing with debt before I move to Australia. Please don't anyone say skip out of the coutry and leave it - I'm trying to be sensible here and I'll want to come back into the country one day! Most of the forum threads I've read in other places have been arguments about how to get away with it, but I don't want it hanging over me.

My debts at the moment are an overdraft of £1000, Credit cards of £6000 and a loan of £3000. And writing that's just made me feel a bit sick. I need to deal with these anyway so maybe I need to just sort this out first, but there are personal reasons for wanting to go too and money shouldn't rule absolutely everything. I can make the payments every month but it doesn't leave a lot to live on (I've stopped spending on my cards and the overdraft is going down) or to save. Basically it's a case of trying to sort them out so that a) I can afford to go and b) the debts won't cripple me when I get there.

So, the questions are:
*What should I do with my debt? How do people suggest I deal with it?
*How do companies deal with debtors when they move abroad?
*If I go with the option of contacting my creditors and making arrangements with them, would this affect how I'm viewed in my application?
* How will Australian immigration view my debts? Will it affect my entry? Does anyone have any experience of this?

The money is the only thing stopping me - I have the right number of points, a good profession to help me move and more than enough reasons to go.

Help please!

bandraoi

When you move to Australia, you're essentially going to have to cash in your life in the UK to bring with you. How much can you get?

Have you a car to sell?
Have you any other possessions you'll can sell - stereo, excercise equipment, tv etc.?
Have you a rental deposit you'll get back?
If you're paid monthly, will you have a final pay check as you leave?
Is there tax you can claim back?

thefoolonthehill

Hi Sally.

I live in Perth, WA and have been here for 18 months. I am currently in a DMP with CCCS who pay my creditors on my behalf. I transfer my payment from my OZ bank acc to my uk every month and they take care of the rest. So on the point of what to do with your debt - call CCCS.

Before I left i was undecided about declaring myself bankrupt in case it jeopordised my chances of getting a visa, I therefore took the DMP route and had no dramas with my Visa.

My advise would be to apply and get you visa. take out a DMP with CCCS. Once you move advise CCCS of your address in OZ. Alternatively you could right to them advising that you are emigrating and will pay them x amount per month ntil the debt is cleared.

There is not too much the creditors can do when you move here, so if you decide not to pay them then as long as you never plan on living in the UK again there is absolutely nothing they can do.

Have you decided where in Oz you would move to? It the best decision I ever made.