UK Credit Card - Living Overseas

paulalou2008

Hi, This may be a strange one for many of you, but here goes. I am a UK Citizen and live overseas, I have been out of the UK for the past 5 years and have no intention on going back.
I do however have a RBS Credit Card with a debt of 9400 which I would like to clear. I have no job right now, and nor does my husband, what money we do earn just pays for the bills.

My sister told me that I could just inform the Credit Card Co and then with the help of this site be able to 'write off' my debt.
Can anyone help with regrds to this and how I am affected living overseas??

Thanks

missile

Your sister seems to have all the answers? Unfortunately if you are successful it is other credit card customers (like me) who end up paying for your default.

battyboimatt

Why do people who move away think thats the end, these days if companies can trace you aborad then they can still recover the debt.

bank_insider

i'm sorry but if rack up over 9k on a card, you should pay it back. You are an adult and should take the responsibility.

CannyJock

paulalou2008 wrote: »

My sister told me that I could just inform the Credit Card Co and then with the help of this site be able to 'write off' my debt.

The only way that a credit card company will "write off" debt is if the original agreement isn't legal - there are companies who advertise they're able to do this but it all sounds dodgy to me - I reckon you're more likely to pay out more money and be left with the debt anway.

If there are "illegal" or unfair charges on your card then you'll get some support here for pursuing those, but not come across any threads or articles that talk about writing off your debt.

When was the last time that you made a payment on the card? There's articles on debt being statute barred that I've come across, is that what you're referring to?

NickX

battyboimatt wrote: »

Why do people who move away think thats the end, these days if companies can trace you aborad then they can still recover the debt.

They may be able to track you down abroad, but whether they can enforce the debt is a different matter.

Generally when collecting Bad Debts, UK law is applied. This is not enforceable abroad, and the company would have to apply to the Court local to where the OP is residing.

I doubt they would do this, although they may attempt to prove that the individual has behaved fraudulently in which case they could apply to the UK Criminal court for the individual to be extradited back to the UK, but this would involve executing an arrest warrant and be dependant upon whether the country involved had an extradition treaty with the UK.

All in all it is going to be a lot of hassle for the Credit Card company and it is debateable whether it is worth their while.

For the record I think the OP is behaving in a dishonourable fashion, but others have got away with this.

scoot65

Says a lot for your character. You've enjoyed spending the money, now pay it back.

Martinslovechild

Frankly, this thread is unbelieveable.

The audacity of the original poster is both shocking and extremely naive.

It's a good job that we don't all behave with this same mentality. I suggest that you ask your sister to pay back the £9400 and you then pay her back in monthly installments once you've both found new jobs.