Leaving the country Q

waveydave

Just a thought thats going trough my mind, an irresponsible one i know lol but nevertheless i thought id get peoples opinons on it.

Overall my partner and I are in less than 8k debt - three bigguns and several sub £500 ones - All (except one) are being paid something a month and they are going down slowly.

In a years time we hope to be emigrating and visa apps have gone in etc.

So - in a years time when we leave these shores what should we do with any outstanding debt ?

Obviously it woould be nice to pay everything off and start with a completely clean slate but what would teh effects of just stopping paying them and then upping sticks to Australia ? Would they chase us over there for the dosh ( largest mount owed is £2400), wou;ld it get written off, would we get arrested the moment we stepped back in UK to visit lol

Anybody know ?

immoral_angeluk

BAD idea. If you were ever to return to the UK having left any debt behind you'd be in a massive mess compared to when you left. It's much better to get it all paid off or at least work out a repayment plan for after you move.

waveydave

immoral_angeluk wrote: »

BAD idea. If you were ever to return to the UK having left any debt behind you'd be in a massive mess compared to when you left. It's much better to get it all paid off or at least work out a repayment plan for after you move.

You say i would be in a massive mess if i returned - but what would happen if i returned after 6 years - would it be statute barred - no contact etc ?

I will add btw that i am doing my best to get rid of everything before we leave and im not planning on doing a runner

Optimist

I believe that there is a reciprocal agreement with Australia whereas the debt can be sold on for collection over there. I would suggest you check on that

waveydave

Optimist wrote: »

I believe that there is a reciprocal agreement with Australia whereas the debt can be sold on for collection over there. I would suggest you check on that

Shall have a look into that - Ta

immoral_angeluk

waveydave wrote: »

You say i would be in a massive mess if i returned - but what would happen if i returned after 6 years - would it be statute barred - no contact etc ?

I will add btw that i am doing my best to get rid of everything before we leave and im not planning on doing a runner

Well if the debts are over £750 you may come back to find that they've made you bankrupt while you were away and you weren't able to contest it!

fistfullofdollars

Sorry to sound harsh but it does sound like you are considering running away from your debt.

I did this for 3 years. Not good. It will play on your mind and slowly do your head in. Plus, god forbid you have to come back for any reason like IA said you'll be in more of a mess.

waveydave

Just done some googling and found this thread on an ex pat forum

It would appear from teh little i have read so far that although they may attempt to chase you abroad it is ussually to much hassle / red tape to get it from you

http://www.expatfocus.com/index.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=9936

xgingerx

Hi Wavey, I left the country in 1996 and didnt return until 2003 and I left behind a shed load of debt, when I got back and put back on the elctoral role within about a year I was contacted by several debt collection agencies.

I did have money when I returned so I made full and final settlements for a fraction of what I left, however the issue in the eyes of the law probably would not apply to the 6 year statue barred as you are actaully running away from the debt and deliberatly avoiding the creditor which is a lot different to them not been able to contact you, ie u not left a forwarding address

I am only telling u what happened to me, but if I have my time again I would have contacted cccs arranged a payment plan and then just arrange for money to be collected from a basic bank account each month and if you do ever return you wont get any nasty shocks, today there are much more sophistacted methods of chasing people and finding out where you are.

My opinion and my opinion only, i dont think its worth it running away from this and I would aim to clear it if possible. You wouldnt got to prison for unsecured debts, only refusal point blank to pay council tax or Child Support.

ps: dont know if this is legal or not (someone will know) but my sisiter in law had a ccj which she didnt pay and it was due to come off last october and they issued notification that they were going to re apply for a CCJ as she had still not paid so in effect another 6 years CCJ - she came to an offer and cleared it, but I do think that now DCA do chase much harder and as long as they can to claim back money owed.

waveydave

fistfullofdollars wrote: »

Sorry to sound harsh but it does sound like you are considering running away from your debt.

I did this for 3 years. Not good. It will play on your mind and slowly do your head in. Plus, god forbid you have to come back for any reason like IA said you'll be in more of a mess.

nah not really - the vast majority will be paid off by the end of the year leaving 3 debts - one - £2400 of which is owed to first credit who are being !!!!!! - this i could quite happily walk away from as ive spent the last year trying to offer something to wards the debt and start paying it off., and 2 for around the £1400 mark which in a years time should be down to around £500 so ill pay those off before departing.

Im more interested in "learning" more - the more i know about the "whole Debt malarkey" the more i feel in controll So to speak.

xgingerx

Hi Wavey, just read that ex pat thing, sounds like unless you owe mega bucks then its unlikely you will be chased.

Your uk file will be trashed for the next six years if you do leave it, but by the time you ever come back (if you ever do) it will be totally clean as info is only kept for years.

lol

ps Good luck whatever you decide, remember no one is here to judge you !!