being chased for Ex's debt

foxy999_2

My estranged wife, just as we separated, went on a shopping spree with her catalogue companies.

My ex then left the country and is living with relatives abroad in europe.

I have moved from the family home and very few people know my address. However, recently i have started receiving letters from debt collection agencies addressed to my soon-to-be-ex wife, but at MY address (where she has never lived).

I assume that she has given them my address details. The debts (of about £3,000) are all in her sole name.

do the debt collection agencies have any powers to chase me for the debts?

if i pass her foriegn address to the companies, can they chase her abroad? or will they turn on me? or will they just drop the issue?

How does all this affect my credit score, and is there anything i can do about that?

CFC

If she entered into the debts on her own they are hers and not yours. Pass on her address to them and they can do as they like, chase it or not.

You can check whether she is financially linked with you by getting your credit report from Equifax, Experian and CallCredit, and see your credit reference report for yourself. If her name is linked with yours and you have a 'financial association', there are procedures you can follow to get that 'unlinked'.

Credit scoring is not the same as a credit check, each company runs their own credit scoring system. For example, with some companies your creditworthiness in their eyes is improved by being married.

Please check out the main site http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/cgi-bin/viewnews.cgi?newsid1101485056,23650, for an explanation of credit rating

humanitas

Unless for essential household expenditure you are not responsible for debts incurred by your wife.

Return unopened all mail addressed to her (mark the envelope "Not known at this address" and follow CFC's advice about ensuring that there is no financial association at the credit agencies.

Advise the debt collectors in writing of the separation. They may well try to insist that you must pay them but you do not and if they persist in trying to pursue you then you should report them to your local Tradings Standards office who will take appropriate action.