Returning to England after 11 years.. with debt

[Kostandino]

Good evening to all..

I was a student in a England University, where I graduated in 6/2003.

 

After graduation, went to my home country in E.U. and never returned to UK..

 

While in England, I had some credit card outstanding balances (approx. 1,000 each, if I remember)

and the 'student bank account overdraft', (about 1,500) -prices in GBP..

 

At that time I was broke, really..

My uni mates told me, that since those where small amounts, there was no need to worry..

 

But, what if the c/c and the bank, have pursued the cases, and have gone as far as to a civil court?

 

If there was a hearing, and with my absence a outcome produced,

wouldnt there be a 'arrest warrant' for non-paying the debt, or not showing up in the court?

 

Those are assumptions, but I want to make sure of what might happen.

 

I want to travel to London next week, for visiting friends..

 

Is there the risk, of being arrested in the London airport,

under a 'arrest warrant' for debts and non-showing up to the court? I dont know if there was action against me from the bank or the c/c issuers,

 

but I presume there might have been something

 

.. I have a new passport now -the old one has expired long time ago-

 

but I dont know, do they use the d.o.b. and names in the airport check-in,

 

to identify possible persons with debts? It is 11 years since I have left England,

 

I like the country very much, but I am concerned now to visit again..

 

Any help greatly appreciated..

[caro]

Debt is a civil matter not criminal so there wouldn't be an arrest. There is no requirement to attend court either. If you haven't acknowledged any of the debts in the last 6 years they will be statute barred so you wouldn't have to pay them.

[Kostandino]

thank you caro ..!!

 

I am not even sure if the has been a court case against me, because since I left UK,

never had any letters to my adress in Greece (the bank had my address, as the University).

 

. I presume, they took some legal action, a court has been carried out (maybe 2 or 3 for the different c/c and overdraft balance)

 

, but again, I have no info or data about that

 

.. I know that the debt is stature barred after 6 years,

 

but what about the COURT charges for non-showing up in the court?

 

Wont they issue an 'arrest warrant' for the person who didnt show up to the court hearing?

 

(actually, I am not aware of any court, but just in case they had sent letter to my UK address, asking me to show up in the court

 

.. which I didnt, because I am in Greece, and not informed about anything about it..)

 

I appreciate if you could inform me..

[unclebulgaria67]

You don't have much to worry about really. Claimant creditors don't often make an application to request a court to order a debtor to attend a court for questioning. Where it does happen, generally the creditor is aware of where the debtor is living. It might also be the case, that these debts were never looked at by a court. The banks you had these debts with would have sold them on to debt collectors many years ago and they have probably been passed around many different debt collection firms. Eventually if they don't think they will ever obtain payment, they do get written off.

 

If you have any UK student tuition fees owing or any UK government debts they will be chased, but again no arrests for this. Just a letter if you register at a UK address.

[dx100uk]

forget them.

 

you'll have no issues after all this time

 

ok you 'might' have a CCJ

 

but it'll soon become apparent when you register on voters

 

as some fleecing DCA will send you a few letters

 

pers i'd be ignoring the lot of 'em IF you ever get any thing

 

dx

[Kostandino]

I dont have any debt towards Inland Revenue, University tuitios fees, local taxes and soever..

My debts are solely on c/c and overdraft bills, not exceeeding 3,000 - 3,500 in total..

I am not even sure, if I havent paid the c/c.. maybe paid them, but examine the scenario of court action..

What scares me, if the court, could have issued an arrest warrant, in the case I hadnt shown up in a hypothetical hearing, and then have a warrant waiting for me at the airport..

[dx100uk]

you cannot get an arrest warrant for a civil debt

 

forget about them

 

dx

[Kostandino]

Thank you..

Now I feel less stressed..

Because, I am not a bulgar or ignorant.. but couldnt affort to pay off the credit card bills, plus had borrowed money to other students, which I never got them back...

And, I was left without any money at that time..

Back in Greece, it was hard as nightmare to keep on.. and only now, I have manged to save some money...

So, as you suggest, since there is no 'arrest warrant' against me, for no-showing up to the {possible} court for the debt, I am a bit relaxed now..