if you have a debt in the uk and you are a permenant resident of australia with no intention of returning to uk and with no other equity in uk, what are the consequences of non-payment of the debt ? It is for 15000 pounds to direct line. This is a theoretical question and I ask as I have seperated whilst here in Aus and I am somewhat strapped for cash!

For a "theoretical" problem you do seem quite persistent in posting this question in various places!

Most people take a dim view of those who run away from their obligations, however they were taken and regardless of difficulties.

Quite apart from that, things do have a habit of coming back to haunt you in later years and Oz is only a nanosecond further away in cyberspace than East Sheen is! By which I mean that it's as easy to get the lowdown on an individual from Sydney as from anywhere else.

Rog Williams

I agree with that....theres a big diff between running out on a couple of months rent or an unpaid gas bill but 15000 !!!

Thats not an unpaid debt its fraud...and should you return to the UK I would hazzard a guess that you would soon be bought to account the momment you were on the council tax register

If someone defaults on a loan it is not only the bank they are diddling but all other borrowers - the bank will not simply absorb bad debts, it will increase its fees to other customers to ensure its bottom line remains in the black, just like retail outlets do not absorb the costs of shoplifters. If you have ANY sense of responsibility you will not renege on any agreement be it formal or personal without a very good reason.

The banks make enough profit (which goes to share holders and not to customer services, rates are only reduced as the market dictates and have nothing to do with people being responsible), keep there money if you can get away with it.

Ahhh such a moral topic...

Is it so outragous that Mr working class stuffed by Aprs of 29% decideds to leave his credit card balance behind him..or indeed thinks stuff it I wont pay my last months rent knowing the landlord will prob try and keep 99% of his deposit anyway..

Not that I am condoning it but its a little different than not paying that loan back to your mate or defaulting on child maintainance....

In the big wide world the multi conglomorates take risks when they give you credit and charge interest rates and impose charges to compensate for the risk...Billy bloggs doing a runner on his card wont make one iota difference to the rates of interest the others pay...

I was left with a mobile phone bill from my ex that was in my name -- and I thought Id cleared it...little did I know that she was still making calls like no tommorow....

When I returned from Aus the debt had been passed to a credit agency who imposed punative charges...Would it be that wrong (after paying a considerable sum off already) if I thought sod it they can swing for whats left?

At the end of the day its a moral issue that only the individual can make a decision on

what drama !

i am fairly sure for that amount they will try and track you down, with assocaited costs it could become a real nightmare.

As I said..im not condoning what the originator of this post thinks...but there are very few in this world that can cloak themselves in pure white...He wouldnt be the first person in this world to emigrate and leave a few bills behind unpaid...And afterall there are many self employed in this country that have declared bankruptsy after accruing credit card debts rather than pay it all off..leaving creditors unpaid

Whichever way you try and justify it, someone at the end of the day will pay for your debt and it wont be big business but those that can least afford it like those that cant escape. Dont leave it for everyone else. My only wish is you get screwed like you're willing to do.

Jerry

I'm glad I'm not the only one who thinks like that! maybe we are in the minority though!

I don't think you ARE in the minority!

People who are willing to take on debts and then walk away from them will do the same thing when they move to Oz. And sooner or later their deeds will catch up with them.

"The banks make all this money for their shareholders..." Just who do these people think the shareholders ARE?

How about millions of ordinary folk who are sensible enough to pay into pension funds? (You know, those things that Gordon is doing his best to destroy?)

I am being devils advocate only here but...

It doesent make you sensible to say you have paid into a pension fund..It only means you probably workred for an employer that operated a pension fund that you were also able to afford to make extra contributions to..

There are many many people in the UK working for employers that do not offer a pension scheme and do not even offer a decent sick pay scheme either...They are also paid the minimum wage and with the costs of living as they are need every penny they earn NOW to survive ...

I am quite sure that if these people HAD the money to contribute to a pension scheme they would.

And its a very sad generalisation to assume that someone who leaves behind a debt in the UK will be the same in Australia...How can you assume that....

One can only hope that you are always in a position where money is never an issue...Before you make such generalisations I would suggest you think back and remember that it was maggie that gave us the highest interest rates for 40 years - It was the torys that brought in student grants and it was the tories that scrapped almost every right of the working man to negotiate and battle for a decent standard of living...And If it wasnt for labour there wouldnt even be a minimum wage ( even if it is too low )

I tend to agree with Rog. It goes to the character of the individual. If that person is prepared to try and wriggle out of due debts, then I wouldn't trust them as far as I could throw them. Your character and values (or lask of them) don't change just because you live in a different country.

People who try and justify avoidance of debt (petec) because they categorise themselves as 'hard done by battlers' are no better than a common criminal and should be treated as such.

I wondered when you would show your face again fish...quite frankly i dont care what you think ok...you would argue the two sides of a cherry ripe...

and for your info fish ..I was playing devils advocate ok....dont u understand the term ,,,and dont insinuate im some crim...you dont even know me...and from what i have read of your diatribe believe me are unlikly to do so

It appears,petec, that your ancestors somehow managed to avoid being transported to the convict settlement of Botany Bay 200 years ago. I see that you are following in their footsteps and making that same trip two centuries later. Their way of doing 'business' has rubbed off on you remarkably well.

I could rise to your bait but I wont...Its enough to say that those who make such accusations are usually those that are themselves the worst offenders.

I dont know really why you are on these forums. All you seem to try to do is antagonise people.

You go on about how skilled you are about bridge building etc zzzzz and to be honest you are so into yourself fish that I doubt it bothers you when you go into a bar and it clears ...Mind you one of the nice things about fishing is solitude....Something I am sure you enjoy plenty of..

You're one to talk P-boy, cutting down Rog like that. I think its you who should watch your mouth sunny boy, and maybe you should go and join the 'bleeding hearts' club while you're at it.

I think you will find that if your grasp of English is good enough you will find that I wasnt cutting down Rog...I was making my own valid points...Which I have every right to do so.

You do not seem to know the difference between a personal attack and a debate, A look at all your posts shows the venom and aggresive tone you use. You have been offensive and patronising to anyone who doesent share your opinion.

A number of people have emailed me about you and all of them wonder why the heck you are on this forum anyway..its a forum for Brits emigrating...Your anti brit stance at times is offensive to the aussies who have a liberal welcoming attitude towards migrants.

Anyway you neither intimidate me or worry me and as for watching my mouth..its easy to be the big tough man on a message board...but if it gives you an outlet for the chips you carry on your shoulders then Im glad to help you with your therapy

Knowing that you lack even the most rudimentary skills needed to understand any of the issues being discussed at all is therarpy enough for me.

Although I do worry about the type of person the immigration office is letting in, based on your most recent comments.