UK Debt - CCJs and Defaults - Living Abroad - Future Mortgage

swilliams92

After posting on Reddit and receiving quite a lot of abuse, I won't go into full details here.

However, I have recently discovered a fair bit of debt CCJs and Defaults under my name when looking on ClearScore, Credit Karma and Experian Check.

In total, I have 3 CCJs, (2 for around 1000GBP and 1 is around 500GBP), which were issued in 2018 and 2019.

I also have 3 Credit Cards in default, (balance around 500GBP each), a current account in default (balance 2000GBP) and 2 telecoms accounts (Balance of one is 1400GB and one is 300GBP).

I wasn't aware of these debts, but for the sake of this post, I assume full responsibility for them.

I have been living abroad since 2017 and work as a teacher. I only have discovered this recently as I have been looking at starting to save over the next few years for a mortgage to buy a property when I return to the UK.

However, I know that this is going to significantly impact my future plans.

I never received the CCJ summons but have read that as I didn't inform them of a change in my address and the time, it will be hard/impossible to get these set aside.

From what I can see on ClearScore, the accounts were opened in 2014-2018, and a majority of them are now with Lowell.

What are my options for dealing with these issues? I want to do the best thing to clear my credit score and be able to get a mortgage in the future. I am not looking to move back to the UK for at least another 3 years.

I've done so much Googling but can't find any concrete answers. I'm wary of 'resetting the clock' on some of this debt by addressing it and feel a bit stuck.

Thank you in advance for your help!

sourcrates

Hi,

Defaults/CCJ`s stay on your credit file for 6 years, then drop off it forever regardless of whether they have been paid or not.

Lowell will have written to your last known address, probably on more than one occasion, its anyone's guess what they may do with regard to the debts not yet subject to legal action, you may end up with more judgements.

When you do return to the UK, the trail will have gone cold so to speak, and those debts not subject to legal action, will have gone statute barred. Once your credit files get updated with your new UK address, which they will if you get certain utilities in your name, or a new bank account for example, they may attempt to trace you, then again, they may not.

I get the impression these debts may have been the result of some kind of fraud or identity theft committed against you, hence the request for advice, you can challenge them on that basis, but, as you are abroad, you may as well use that to your advantage for now.

Also as you have lived outside the UK for more than 3 years, bankruptcy won`t be an option.
Best advice is to wait and do nothing until you come back again.