Leaving UK debt - Emigration

emma8370

I have emigrated to australia and have been unable to find a job. My boyfriend has been supporting me. Does anyone know can UK companies chase me for my debts in australia - I only have a PO box here? The debts are £4k, £3k, £1K and £250? to various companies.

I have no intention of returning to the UK.

I feel I have no way out of this, as I do not now have an income.

Thanks

Emma

questionabout

I'm 99% sure they CAN'T chase you for debts outside the UK.

They may still send you letters etc on to your PO BOX address but you should send them back saying you have emigrated to Aus and are not returning. I also think after so many years (8 maybe) they are no longer acknowledgeable. There was a TV programme last week about a family living in Dubai, the breadwinner lost his job and in Dubai you can go to prison for oweing money so the whole family jumped on a plane back to the UK. You are doing the opposite and even so, the same rules don't apply here.

You also may wanna be careful though of setting up a new account in your new country. Check that your new bank is not financially linked to the UK bank (for example HSBC is a global bank and so could try to transfer money from your account). Apart from this you'll be fine.

GeorgeUK

Edit: THIS IS INCORRECT. PLEASE SEE FERMI'S POST BELOW.

At worst, they can make you banrupt in the UK - this will not affect your credit rating in Australia.

UK has reciprocal agreements with Canada and Germany.
There has also been an Act passed to make it easier to pursue debts between EU countries.

For Australia, they cannot do much other than write you letters.

dantheman2010

Can I come?

fermi

GeorgeUK wrote: »

For Australia, they cannot do much other than write you letters.

It appears they can.....

Enforcing foreign judgments in Australia

GeorgeUK

Thanks for that Fermi - didn't even cross my mind to see if Australia had their own legislation for this. I thought it would all be covered by the reciprocal agreements!!

kiwikaz

Would that also be the same for New Zealand ?

koloko

deleted as work colleagues found username and forwaded on all posts to laugh at