MOVING ABROAD - what to do with debt

CAR76

I'm moving to Turkey in September indefinitely and will be on a much lower wage. I am already struggling to pay the tax man and owe roughly 3k to HMRC. I also have credit card bills of approx 7k and am not able to settle these before I go. What's the best thing for me to do? Go bankrupt and leave or try to arrange a debt management plan? Any advice would be appreciated

Tixy

Hi

Have you had any advice from one of the debt advice charities? If you are considering bankrupty then you really need some professional advice about your situation. IMPORTANT - Where to seek professional impartial advice about your debts.

DarnIt_3

Whatever you do DO NOT leave the debt for the HMRC! Keep paying it off, these are the sort of people who have the power of imprisonment, even if your are paying £10 a month continue to do so, keep going.
Sod you CC's if you do not plan on coming back and getting credit for 6 years. BUT, you never know what is going to happen, so it might be worth offering token payments of just a few pound a month.

CAR76

Thanks! Will defo take this advice and try and pay off HMRC. Gonna call CCCS ??? today and ask for their help.

CAR76

I was told by CCCS that being on a debt management plan may affect my chances of getting work in Turkey and being able to rent a flat. I feel so scared now

Sparklyfairy

Really? Hmmm I'd question that as I highly doubt the UK & Turkey are in debt agreements (i.e. I believe the UK is in agreements with Canada & Germany, and possibly a few more but they AREN'T with the USA so Turkey is? Questionable advice given there...) Just remember, most debt charities, although can be helpful, they ARE funded by the banks at the end of the day!

gabriella90

Hi i currently live abroad - As i had around 3 months notice before i left and was also going to be on a reduced income i informed all my creditors of the situation spoke to CCCs and then arranged a DMP. I have an english account left open which my CCCs payment comes from everymonth. you can use a company like moneybookers to move money around and it is cheaper than the banks.

As said before make HMRC top of the list to pay - CCCS will be able advise good luck

FireWyrm

If you leave the country without paying HMRC, dont ever come back. They have the power to pretty much do anything they like to you including having Customs detain you at the gate until they can clap you in irons (or modern equivalent). HMRC stands for Her Majesties Revenue and Customs....yup, those same people who stand at arrivals and look severly at you are the same people who are responsible for income tax. My advice is the same as DarnIt...pay HMRC before you leave and sod the rest if you are not planning on comming back again. I doubt that there is really an agreement with Turkey, but I'd get a second opinion on that as Cypres (next to Turkey and partly controlled by it) are technically part of the EU and you're technically an EU citizen NOT a UK citizen. Turkey is also a potential candidate for acceptance which means that this might be relevant here : http://www.wired-gov.net/wg/wg-news-1.nsf/0/E9ADCE6A43123D55802578D90032CB72?OpenDocument