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What could happen if I moved to another country and did not pay off my credit card bills?*

Call me irresponsible, we've all got our reasons. Just wondering what the worst case scenario would be. Could I somehow be forced to pay them back even if I live overseas? I don't have any assets that could be seized, and not being able to come back to America doesn't bother me.

Answers:

1) Then 'they' come and MESS YOU UP

2) Unless you move to a country that does not have computers I believe that your credit rating will go into the toilet. The new country will check your rating on the internet which has no borders.

3) your creditors in your present country would sue in court and get a default judgment since you'd not show up. then it depends on the laws of the two countries and whatever treaties are in place between them. maybe a local judge in your new country would issue an order seizing your assets and/or income, maybe not. probably, after some time, the original country would refuse to renew your passport -- leaving you stranded in the 2nd country and however their laws want to handle you. yes, your then awful credit record can follow you. unpaid judgments. big warning to every lender to stay away without collateral.

4) It is very difficult to collect money owed you across national boundaries. (Assuming your'e not talking about moving from one EU country to another - the EU has transnational rules for various things that may include credit.) When I was in the Caribbean most U.S. distributors wouldn't extend credit to the company I managed even though it was part of a multinational corporation simply because they had no way of forcing me to pay them later. On the flip side most countries limit credit to their own citizens. I had a US credit card even though I lived in the Caribbean but I found US banks wouldn't issue Credit Cards even to Brittish citizens livng there even if I was willing to cosign on the application.

5) see if you qualify for bk and just file bk before moving out of the country. that way, you'd have a clear conscience and you'll be able to return to the U.S. if you ever decided to come back or visit.

6) YES you will have to pay it back. First most credit cards are accepted all over the world. Second even if you change your name they can still catch up with you and the longer it is the more interest , Also if it goes to cought to be passed to a debit collector it could end up a big bill. You could also be charged for leaving the country with debts with out arrangement. So if i was you i would arrange payment even $10 a week. I just had a big debit catch up with me after 4 years its not worth it trust me i had to go to cought and all

7) If you have so much debt that you are considering fleeing the country, why not just file for bankruptcy? It is perfectly legal, you won't have to pay all your bills, and eventually your credit rating will be restored. (They say 7 years, but really it starts improving a lot sooner than that.)

8) It all depends on how long you will be gone. I'll spare you the morality discussion, but basically - nothing will happen to you. Consider that if you stay here and do not pay your debts, they will go into collection, and will be on your credit for 7 years from the date of the bad debt (usually the write off date). So worse case scenario, you return 8 years later and your credit is fine - well maybe not "fine" but at least the bad debts will be off it. Also - You will need a way to earn money. If you are not a citizen of the country, then you will not be working - at least not legally and those wages would be poor anyway. PS - I'm not a lawyer, so take these statements as such.

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