Leaving country - can I leave my debt?

culater

I have an opportunity to work in USA but I need to know what happens with my debt if I go there to work.

I have £15,000 debt, and all is with collectors, who in turn are paid by CCCS. If I leave the country, I have no intention on paying this while I am away as I will need every penny I get abroad. Can you pleae advise what would happen while I am away. My credit rating is shot and everything is as ruined as it can be in that department, so it can't really get any worse, is it easy to just leave the debt behind, would they persue me even in the US?

rdchick

Depends on what the debt is for I believe, if it's anything to do with HMRC or similarI think they can stop you going or something but if it's something like a credit card I don't think they can do anything and in 6 years it will become barred... if they don't take out a CCJ against you.

I myself am leaving the country for South Africa next year, however I do plan to take my debt with me... I have absolutely no idea how it's gonna be paid or anything as I don't know how it works!! Good luck in the USA too!! xxx

Tixy

It is likely that your creditors (or some of them) will take you to court and obtain CCJs against you. This will mean that you could still be chased for the debt if/when you return to the UK, as it prevents a debt from becoming statute barred.
Its also possible (although not that likely) that a creditor could petition for your bankruptcy. Any creditor who you owe more then £750 to could do this, although they are more likely to do this if they think you have assets in the UK, less likely if you do not.
You might well find that a debt collector would try to contact you in the US and chase for these debts (although I believe this canot be enforced in the US or actually take you to court in the US).

You might want to look to see if unpaid debts will affect your US visa application.

Phelpsie001

I have heard anecdotally that if you leave the country, your debts get forgiven after a period of time? 6 years maybe?

But I don't have any experience of this sorry!! But that's what I have heard

little_miss_muppet_face

I dont see why you cant continue to pay your debts while away.. even though you need every penny while you are away you got the debts so rightly so you should pay them.. to even suggest you have no intention to pay them is wrong .. Surely you would rather attempt to pay them than have people chasing you as i presume you will return to the UK at some point..

Tixy

Phelpsie001 wrote: »

I have heard anecdotally that if you leave the country, your debts get forgiven after a period of time? 6 years maybe?

But I don't have any experience of this sorry!! But that's what I have heard

If there is a period of 6years where you don't pay towards the debt and if the creditor doesn't get a CCJ then they would become statute barred. That doesn't mean the debts no longer exist, just that you could not be taken to court after that period.

But because of this creditors would usually take you to court before the 6year period is up and then the debt never becomes statute barred.

This is nothing specific to do with not being in the country though, its the same law if a person lives in England and doesn't pay for 6years.

rdchick

little_miss_muppet_face wrote: »

I dont see why you cant continue to pay your debts while away.. even though you need every penny while you are away you got the debts so rightly so you should pay them.. to even suggest you have no intention to pay them is wrong .. Surely you would rather attempt to pay them than have people chasing you as i presume you will return to the UK at some point..

This is exactly my feeling, I have a bit of debt and will probably only have my £3K loan left to pay when I leave. The loan is with my bank and I wonder how you are meant to pay it. Obviously I will have a wage when I leave but it will be in a new bank with a foreign currency, do I just transfer it each month? Just about to find out if I can transfer my phone contract too it's all confusing but I do not want bailiffs looking for me and coming to my parents house :eek:

snugglepet20

I read somewhere that the UK has agreements with some countries that they can chase you for debt after you have left the country, no idea of the USA is one of them. Some people have run away from debt and got away with it, others have been hunted down I guess it depends on luck.

If you are leaving it might be better to declare yourself bankrupt first so at least it is off your mind.

I don't know the circumstances of your debt but have you considered the morality of what you are proposing, it is basically stealing, you spent the money so you should make every effort to pay it back.

Tixy

rdchick wrote: »

This is exactly my feeling, I have a bit of debt and will probably only have my £3K loan left to pay when I leave. The loan is with my bank and I wonder how you are meant to pay it. Obviously I will have a wage when I leave but it will be in a new bank with a foreign currency, do I just transfer it each month? Just about to find out if I can transfer my phone contract too it's all confusing but I do not want bailiffs looking for me and coming to my parents house :eek:

rdc - I think what people often do is open a new UK bank account before they leave (with online banking), then transfer the money from foreign account to UK account each month, then pay creditor from UK account.
The fees for the transfers can add up depending on where you will be living. There are a number of posters paying debts from abroad so I'm sure when the time comes someone will be able to help suggest the cheapest way of doing the transfer from whereever you will be.

NAP6W

I am pretty sure that the Visa application will credit check you. My friend just got engaged and is marrying a US Citizen and going over there to live. He was searched in every manner imaginable and they take things like potential fraud (which is what you are suggesting) very seriously.

lazer

someone lent you money in goodfaith, why do you feel the need to cheat thes person or company?

You have a moral responsibility to pay your debts!