Getting UK Credit Card while not living in UK

chattychappy

grumbler wrote: »

I don't think that we have any "registration" system here in UK that is compulsory for everyone. Electoral roll is voluntary, and have unregistered if you used to be on it?

Well, it's kinda compulsory. If the Officer asks you to register (eg by sending you a form) you must register. Potentially there is an £80 civil penalty if you don't. This changed with individual voter registration (previously it was the householder's responsibility and I believe there were no civil penalties available, only prosecution). I think the "real" reason for this is that government agencies find it handy to know where people are.

OP: You made a fraudulent misrpresentation to enter into a credit agreement. Leaving aside whether anyone would be bothered to prosecute, the CC is entitled to rescind (ie cancel) the agreement and have their money NOW. This is because the agreement should never have been in place and wouldn't have been but for your misrepresentation. They have little choice except to demand the money forthwith - to do otherwise is tacit acceptance of the situation. Any continued credit you take from them cannot be with their consent.

msallen

cougar_dr wrote: »

.. They also only accept payments from a UK bank (which I dont have)

So how were you intending to make payments to it if they hadn't discovered your fraud?

cougar_dr

I was intending to visit the UK and open a bank account to begin payments. Having lost the card that will not be happening.

I understand that they have given me credit and that I should pay it back. What I'm not understanding is why they have given somebody who is not a UK resident and hasn't been for over four years a CC (and recently contacted about getting a loan) without doing any check what so ever on the person. I do not see how applying for something online is "breaking a law" as it is up to the lender to do their research beforehand, no?

jonesMUFCforever

cougar_dr wrote: »

I was intending to visit the UK and open a bank account to begin payments. Having lost the card that will not be happening.

I understand that they have given me credit and that I should pay it back. What I'm not understanding is why they have given somebody who is not a UK resident and hasn't been for over four years a CC (and recently contacted about getting a loan) without doing any check what so ever on the person. I do not see how applying for something online is "breaking a law" as it is up to the lender to do their research beforehand, no?

Had you been honest and told them that you were not a UK resident then this would not have happened because you would not have had the card.
Does not matter how or where or anything else you now have a bill to pay - deal with it.

Thrugelmir

cougar_dr wrote: »

I understand that they have given me credit and that I should pay it back. What I'm not understanding is why they have given somebody who is not a UK resident and hasn't been for over four years a CC (and recently contacted about getting a loan) without doing any check what so ever on the person. I do not see how applying for something online is "breaking a law" as it is up to the lender to do their research beforehand, no?

Does it matter? You've committed fraud.

the person living there now forwarded the card to me (as I happen to know the person who lives there)

Are they a related party to you. Seems as if they were an accessory.

cougar_dr

Not related, I just know them.

Would it not be more suitable then for me to just return to the UK and claim bankruptcy as I cannot afford to pay the amount they want and I am not interested in my credit record in UK.

TheGardener

cougar_dr wrote: »

Not related, I just know them.

Would it not be more suitable then for me to just return to the UK and claim bankruptcy as I cannot afford to pay the amount they want and I am not interested in my credit record in UK.

Bankruptcy may not be an option for you - unless there are other more significant UK debts? It costs £705 to petition for bankruptcy - a cost you have to pay to the court on the day. Given that your actions may be considered fraudulent and that most banks have a global reach, a CIFAS marker againt your name (Credit Industry Fraud Avoidance System) may reach further than the UK so "not being interested in your UK credit record" is a bit naïve! You clearly don't understand the consequences of defrauding banks!!

Also you might consider that Bankruptcy at UK taxpayers expense is not available to 'tourists'

If you live in any otherpart of the world you can present a bankruptcy petition in England and Wales only if:-
(a) you are personally present in England andWales on the day you present your petition for bankruptcy to the court,or
(b) if you have lived or carried on business in England and Wales at any time in the three years before the day you present your petition.

As others have said - if you can't pay it all then ask the bank to accept a reasonable payment plan. Then don't get credit you can't afford to pay back (or had no intention of paying?) - simples...

chattychappy

cougar_dr wrote: »

What I'm not understanding is why they have given somebody who is not a UK resident and hasn't been for over four years a CC (and recently contacted about getting a loan) without doing any check what so ever on the person. I do not see how applying for something online is "breaking a law" as it is up to the lender to do their research beforehand, no?

No.

We don't know what checks they did. Systems are not perfect.

1) Commercial sense requires them to carry out checks.
2) Regulation requires them to carry out checks.
3) The law (via the Fraud Act) makes it a criminal offence for you to say things that aren't true (whether directly, or by implication) in order to obtain credit.

Even if they fail on (1) and (2), you are not off the hook in respect of (3).

If I leave my front door unlocked and get burgled, can the burglar say I should have locked my door?

grumbler

TheGardener wrote: »

...CIFAS marker againt your name (Credit Industry Fraud Avoidance System) may reach further than the UK so "not being interested in your UK credit record" is a bit naïve! You clearly don't understand the consequences of defrauding banks!!
...

I think you overestimate the consequences on both counts.

TheGardener

grumbler wrote: »

I think you overestimate the consequences on both counts.

Really? Well ok, I stand corrected and leave the OP to find out for themselves ...:)