Any experience on here of debts abroad?

Muttipops

Hi,
I have 120k debts abroad in EU country, none here in UK, mainly due to house repossession and negative equity.
The UK debt charities here will not help me as my debt is abroad, i assume because you can't expect them to have detailed knowledge of debt abroad and law.
So, I am on my own as regards going bankrupt in the Uk and I may need to do so in about 2 months time and I worry that i will make a total mess of things without good advice.
Apart from on here, does anybody have any recommendations as to where I can turn to?

silvercar

Why would you go bankrupt in the UK if all your debts are abroad?

Muttipops

It is far too complicated to try and become bankrupt in a country I nolonger live in or have any assets and ties with/to.
EU law enables all my debts to be dealt with here, so why spend money on flights, hotels etc, money which I could be paying off debts with, when EU law exists for me to be able to declare bankruptcy here.?

National_Debtline

Hi Muttipops,


This is a very complicated question but here are a few key things that may help. If someone has lived in a European Union (EU) member state (European countries except Denmark), they can only usually make themselves bankrupt in the country where they have their ‘centre of main interest’. There are only very limited exceptions to this rule.


There is no precise definition of centre of main interest and the court will usually decide that the country where the individual mainly lives or earns their living is their centre of main interest. If you declare bankruptcy in the UK then this should include the debts from abroad because the countries involved should recognise each other's court processes (within the EU). This means that you some of the advice you need is about the UK bankruptcy process. What we cannot advise on is the enforcement process and consequences of non payment of debts that were taken out abroad (in the relevant country).


Debts abroad can be a very complicated topic and you will likely need some specialist legal advice at some point as well. I hope that helps,


Laura
@natdebtline