Got outstanding depts in the UK, but now want to return home for good.

[WanttoGoHome]

Hi All.

 

This is my first post, and I not proud to be making this at all, but ten years ago I came to live with my Canadian girlfriend in Canada.

 

I cleared all of my UK credit cards apart from two that were online payment only cards (Egg and an IF card) there was about 1500 pounds on each of then, so a total of 3000.

 

I had a Lloyds bank current account that use to direct debit my payments to both those cards each month, and left 750 to cover that when I left the country, and it was my intention to keep topping up my Lloyds account as soon as I got into the Canadian workforce.

 

Then it went all wrong, as I did not find any work for almost a year, and when I did it was a real struggle to survive on low earnings so I never got round to putting any cash back into the Lloyds account

so my overdraught started paying the cards each month, and when we moved to another address, I never told them that I had moved, and now about 8 years on, I'm scared to death that this 3000 that I originally owed has escalated out of all proportion.

And I need to return to the UK for good in a few weeks time, and am wondering what's going to be the outcome as I will need to open a bank account there and all manner of other things like renting a place and such?.

 

Thanks in Advance,

Edited August 29, 2013 by WanttoGoHome

[citizenB]

If you have made no payments towards or acknowledged any liability then these debts will be statute barred. Stop worrying and move on with your life !

[WanttoGoHome]

Thanks for that, citizen.

 

To be honest, I have no idea what happened, or if any action was taken against me, Lloyds used to send bank statements to my first address in Canada, but when we moved I never told them my new address and as far as I can see they have never come looking for me or tried to make contact.

I was told that Bank depts. never go away and that they will be able to trace me as soon as I re-enter the County? (that came from citizens advice in the UK) they also said I should contact the bank and arrange to clear the dept. before I leave Canada?

[citizenB]

Unless they obtained a Judgment by default in your absence and you have made no payment and acknowledgement for 6 years, then I am afraid the advice you received from CAB is wrong.

 

Once you return to the UK and start getting yourself sorted out with a property to live in either rent/mortgage - put your name on the electoral roll, sign up for untilities then yes this information will go into the Credit Reference Agencies. It is almost certain that these accounts are no longer on your credit files - I am not sure if you would be able to check this whilst you are in Canada, but I guess you could try.

 

The 3 main Agencies are..

 

Equifax

Experian

Call Credit.

 

Noddle is free but is not always up to date.

 

To see if there are any Judgments in your name, you would need to check trustonline I imagine, if there are any, they would have been issued to your last known UK address.

 

http://www.trustonline.org.uk/search-yourself

 

I think it costs you £4.00 to search yourself.

[WanttoGoHome]

Would they be able to do a CCJ on me by default even if they had knew my address was in Canada? which Lloyds and Intelligent finance did?

Edited August 29, 2013 by WanttoGoHome

[renegadeimp]

They could try but if they knew you were abroad, it would be easy to get it set aside.

 

Stop worrying about it, and do a couple of checks as already advised. As CB said, your debts are most likely Statute Barred so theres nothing they could do.

[WanttoGoHome]

Hi again all,

 

I just wanted to say thanks for the very helpful advice you all gave in the posts above.

 

I have done the trustonline check and it came back as "NOTHING REGISTERED" against me at my last UK address.

I'm wondering if it will be possible for me to open a bank account, of building society account as soon as I get back?. not really sure as I have been out of the country for just over ten years, I'm guessing that Lloyds TSB is going to be a bank that I avoid any contact with, until I have got myself established a little?

Also if my dept. was set aside, what exactly does that mean?

 

[renegadeimp]

All your debts are gone. buried, finished with. Time to move on and stop worrying.

 

Dont worry about a set aside. It only applies to CCJ's and you dont have any.

 

Regarding your bank account, go with a very basic account to get you back on your feet, then after a year or so, when you can show your credit is in good standing, you may be able to ask the bank to upgrade the account.

[citizenB]

Just to let you know that Lloyds TSB is reverting back to being 2 separate banks - Lloyds and TSB. Something to do with a European Order !!

 

It might be wise to steer clear of the Lloyds Group, yes