Debt/mental health/Ive fled the country.HELP!

emweaver

Tixy wrote: »

If you were going to carry on trying to pay your debts then rearding your illness - the best course of action would be to write to them by post to explain about your MH issues and to refer them to the OFT debt collection guidelines in respect of mental health issues.
There are also template letters that you can require them to stop contacing you by phone - providing they have an address they can contact you at.

With regards to your proposed action - regarding returning the car, how would you intend to return the vehicle - would you bring it back to the UK yourself?

For the natwest debts, they will chase you at your father's address. They may decide to issue court proccedings which would result in CCJs. And then when those are not paid then Dad could find bailiffs at his house. That said providing he can demonstrate it is his house and state to them that you don't live there and have moved abroad then there will be little they can do.
Does Dad know about your debts and does he know of your intention to stop paying/contacting your creditors? He needs to be aware of the impact it could have on him in terms of getting hassle.

If they don't go for CCJs then eventually they will sell the debts on to debt collectors who will write/phone/ possibly visit Dads house. Again he'd need to be aware so he can deal with them.

If you get CCJs and if you return to the UK to live within 6years of those CCJ then you could find bailiffs chasing you, or if you started earning in the UK then you could have an attachement of earnings from your salary.

Its possible (but unlikely) that one of your creditors could petition to have you made bankrupt in the UK.

Its possible that if they tracked you aboard you might receive letters asking you to repay the debts - but they wouldn't be able to do more than ask.

In truth aside from the issue of the car and some hassle for Dad its unlikely that a lot will happen to you that will effect you whilst abroad.
The issues will come if you do return to the UK to live.

Another potential option might be to write to your creditors, explain that you are living abroad and to offer them a reduced full & final settlement for your debts. Obviously that depends on your financial position now as to whether you could do that, but it would mean Dad was spared the hassle and if you did need to return to the UK you wouldn't then be chased for these debts.

Where can I find out the OFT debt collection guidelines in respect of mental health issues, please?

Tixy

emweaver wrote: »

Where can I find out the OFT debt collection guidelines in respect of mental health issues, please?

This thread contains the main guidelines. UPDATED OFT Guidance on Debt Collection - READ IF YOU ARE BEING HASSLED UNFAIRLY

Dealing with customer with mental health issues is covered through that document but prinicpally in the green boxes in post #4 and #8 and also under the OFT1293 heading in post #16