Debt in the UK when you move to the USA?

[uklover 1]

Hey all,

Just wanted to see if there were any of you who had debt in the uk that you werent able to pay off before you moved to the usa? If so, how did you handle that? Did you pay the debt from the USA?

Please advise!

[Fandango 1,440]

I would just say from a moral standpoint, it's probably best that you set up a payment arrangement.

[David And Katie 5]

I paid off my CC before I left.

I also have my cell phone contract to buy myself out of (only 4 months left).

[little_g 35]

If you don't pay it and don't plan on moving back to the UK they cant chase you down in the US and after 6 years it goes away. If you're a few hundred quid in debt they will spend more trying to chase you. There was a thread about this I found in search (i'll try to find it again). Now if we are talking a mobile phone contract or BT then I say do what you feel comfortable with but I wouldn't lose sleep over it. If we are talking council tax or something like that thennnnnn you might want to pay up. That's just my opinion. BT wants an ridiculous amount of money from Jock to buy out his 1 year contract and he has tried to argue with them that he is moving to an area where BT cannot provide him service so the contract should void due to that (It does over here for ATT). They say no so we are giving them the two fingers. There's bad blood there anyway, they have been terrible service providers from the start

[David And Katie 5]

I thought about sticking two fingers up to O2 (my cell provider) but I am not in the position of leaving a house that I occupy on my own. My parents still live here and they still use O2 for broadband internet.

So .. I think morally (!) and legally I ought to buy myself out of the contract, even though I'd rather not. I will try and use the "O2 don't provide a service in the US..." angle though.

[little_g 35]

It might work with O2, worth a shot. For the record I dont condone leaving masses of debt behind, we did pay off other things. Just BT can kiss our lily white *beeps*

Btw I see you are leaving on the 29th, so is Jock you going Manchester or Heathrow?

[* Kristin * 49]

I could have bought a return plane ticket for what it cost me to buy out my Vodafone contract (still bitter).

I thought about sticking two fingers up to O2 (my cell provider) but I am not in the position of leaving a house that I occupy on my own. My parents still live here and they still use O2 for broadband internet.

So .. I think morally (!) and legally I ought to buy myself out of the contract, even though I'd rather not. I will try and use the "O2 don't provide a service in the US..." angle though.

[uklover 1]

Yes my fiance has to buy himself out of a phone contract too...and he is gonna, but the credit card debt is different. We are still researching options.

Yes David and Katie - have fun coming over to the US on the 29th!!! Welcome to the insane hot heat of Indiana!

[Boiler 46,012]

Just wanted to see if there were any of you who had debt in the uk that you werent able to pay off before you moved to the usa? If so, how did you handle that? Did you pay the debt from the USA?

I kept my UK Banking Account and pay all my bills on line.

[Susan&Daniel 0]

What it boils down to for me - I want to honour the agreement, but I can't afford to after this move. They'll just have to be patient if they want any ££ from me.

Edited July 20, 2011 by Susan&Daniel

[Fandango 1,440]

There's nothing wrong with setting up a payment schedule, Susan&Daniel...and you can negotiate a payment plan over time with the bank. I applaud you for wanting to stand by your debt.

___

Generally speaking w/credit card debt...you (general you here) racked up the charges, you should honor the payment. You may not legally have to...but people not paying their bills is kinda why we're all in this financial mess that we're in today (housing mkt anyone?). I say 'you incurred the debt, you pay it'

Edited July 20, 2011 by Anita Cocktail

[uklover 1]

Yes he is going to talk to the bank and see what payment options are available etc. Sheesh.

[ECWilloughbys 7]

I remember someone asking this last year: http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/279136-will-debt-or-bad-credit-prevent-a-fiance-visa/

[David And Katie 5]

I'm flying with AA out of Manchester...

Luckily Mrs David helped me out with the CC bill (it was the flight that racked the bill up) and I just managed to get it paid off this month.

I can reduce the phone bill down to £15 a month for four months, but that's still money I'd rather not have to pay.

[little_g 35]

I'm flying with AA out of Manchester...

Usually Jock flies out of Manchester but he connects in Heathrow anyway so he is just going to go out of Heathrow. Last time he did a connecting flight from Manchester they lost his luggage Fortunately, eventually AA granted us money to buy him some clothes and the bag did eventually surface. But that turned him a little bit sour on the whole connecting flights thing