Leaving country. Leaving my phone bill

Arrakizz

Hi everyone,

I was trying really hard to get the right answer but most of the discussion you people got here is related to credit card or bank loans/debts.

I got phone contract still for another 18 months, I am going back to Sweden for good. Not sure if I am planning to come back. Questions is, can UK phone providers or creditors chase me down to Sweden to get that unpaid, most likely big, phone bill ?

Thank you in advance, :j

sourcrates

Arrakizz wrote: »

Hi everyone,

I was trying really hard to get the right answer but most of the discussion you people got here is related to credit card or bank loans/debts.

I got phone contract still for another 18 months, I am going back to Sweden for good. Not sure if I am planning to come back. Questions is, can UK phone providers or creditors chase me down to Sweden to get that unpaid, most likely big, phone bill ?

Thank you in advance, :j

Short answer is yes !!!

National_Debtline

Hi Arrakizz,


Sourcrates is right, yes - debts can be chased internationally. I have included a bit more information below about your options to try and help you.


There are a few ways that you may be able to resolve this, firstly, if you can pay the full contract in a lump sum before you leave then the account would be settled and you wouldn't have to worry. If that is too big an outlay to do in one go (especially with moving) then you could just maintain the monthly payments to prevent defaulting - I appreciate you may not be able to use all of the services but because the provider is still able to provide them, the contract is still valid.


Or finally, if you cannot afford the monthly payments any longer then you would need to stay in touch with the provider and negotiate what you can afford to pay. There are risks with this option because the contract will default. So, the creditor may seek a CCJ against you, and if they were to do this (and were aware that they couldn't use effective UK enforcement) then they may transfer to the Swedish courts for enforcement, but you would need local advice about the implications of this, if this happens. Good luck,


Laura
@natdebtline

[Deleted User]

If they don't know your new address in sweden, then the chances of them chasing you are slim to none. It's hardly going to be a matter for Interpol on a defaulted mobile phone bill.

sourcrates

Deleted User wrote: »

If they don't know your new address in sweden, then the chances of them chasing you are slim to none. It's hardly going to be a matter for Interpol on a defaulted mobile phone bill.

:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

chesky

Was that approval or sarcasm?

sourcrates

chesky wrote: »

Was that approval or sarcasm?

its actually fairly accurate to be fair !!

poppasmurf_bewdley

If you leave the country owing several thousand pounds, then I would expect them to trace you abroad.

If it's a couple of hundred, I would think that once the DCA has realised you are no longer in the country, it will be filed in that short round filing cabinet under the desk. But it will remain on file for six years, just in case you do happen to come back into this country.

But just to encourage you, back in my youth when I didn't pay by bills, I was traced from Chicago to Manchester over a $60 account I didn't pay to my doctor. But it still remains unpaid to this day (sorry Dr Fisher).

stuart30

Ive had bills/debt letters come to my house for a lodger...went back to asia,once the company chasing debt knew they had left the country debt wasnt ever chased or certainly not via my address any more.