Debt Fugitives, the international community of people on the run from the long arm of the debt recovery agencies.
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Two new Fugitives:
Hey there,
skipped the UK last year, 50k on 6 different cards. not saying where i am – too scared. it ain’t sunny but love the squatting life in this funkee town. brilliant website. keep up the good work
Mr —sound of train rumbling past – – –
(Via email)
That’s the spirit – Max Out, Bail Out, Chill Out
Greetings from Asia, I have a story to join your club.
I came to England to study business and make money for my family. I worked many years and was very successful. After nearly ten years it was time to return home. Before I left I had two credit cards with crazy spending limits I knew I could spend them and they would never find me. The last two months I took all my friends and colleagues on expensive meals in first class places. They didn’t know what I was doing but they will all remember the top man.
(Name withheld)
Welcome to the club. I wonder how many others in your position realised they could do this? What I’d really like to know is whether you made a couple of big cash withdrawals at the airport?
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Our first Debt Fugitive Writes:
Awesome site! Been over in Brazil for 5 years since leaving Aus and over $50k of bills. Now married to a local girl. Everything’s sweet as. Never, ever going back.
Azza (not my real name) (Via email).
Thanks, you’re our first debt fugitive. I don’t care what your real name is – you think I’m really called Anthony Norman Other?
I Went Bankrupt 
29 comments
Comments feed for this article
May 6, 2011 at 12:58 am
J Ferell
I’m looking for an answer to a similar question, & while this answer is close, it’s not exactly what I’m asking ,which is this.
I have a close, childhood friend who happens to be a dual citizen of the U.S. & a nation within the Euro zone, through no fault of his own & through a series of unfortunate events (surgeries, a corrupt lawsuit in which he lost, & forced “short sell”, which ruined his stellar credit & turned his “secured” Home Equity Loan into “unsecured” debt), my friend now owes over $52K in “unsecured” (credit cards, loans, etc) debt to various lenders, banks, etc.
He’s educated, always pays his bills, has a very good job, etc, but now his interest alone is over $1,200/month & although he has minimized everything as much as he can, & is putting his entire pay check towards this debt, he’s barely keeping above water & is putting off major expenses (dental, car maintenance, etc) which we both know will end up costing even more the longer he puts it off. But if anything out of the ordinary comes up it throws him back again & short of winning the lottery, he sees no way out of this scenario for years to come.
He doesn’t want to live in the US any more, has family in his birth nation, could easily find a job, etc.
I posed the question to him that since it is so unfair what happened to him, & he makes too much $ (they only count how much you make, not your debt) to be eligible for ANY help, so I half jokingly suggested since he doesn’t want to live in the US any more anyhow, just move back to your birth country & start over, he’d be in a better financial shape than if he stayed in the US.
But now we are both contemplating this “joke” & wondering its ramifications?
What would they be?
Could/would the US gov’t follow a citizen of another country & extradite him?
Do US banks have any leverage in foreign countries against that country’s citizen?
What about racking up his credit card bills & transferring the $ to his European bank? Or instead buying things & sending them there that he could sell later? His credit is screwed anyway he looks at it.
Many more questions, but I’m wondering if any of you have any opinion, or experience as to this?
May 20, 2011 at 5:50 pm
Fred
Wealthy people tend to not pay debts, or pay them very slowly. Inter company bills are often held up and renegotiated in order to get any kind of payment. Politicians, business leaders routinely rip off the public. Banks have ripped the taxpayer off and through unfair bank charges are continuing to rip taxpayers, with the conivance of the politicians. Why on earth, if you get the chance legally, would you even think twice about moving on and not paying your debts. If they cant find you, forget them, if they do, and they cant legally collect, forget them.
June 11, 2011 at 1:15 pm
ex-pat
I am a dual citizen (Australian / USA) I have lived in the USA for over 20 years, and like everyone else, suffering form this economic crisis that seems to be getting worse every day, so we are now thinking in terms of absolute financial survival.
I refinanced my house in 2007 seeing the trouble coming, could not sell it at that time.
It was almost paid for, I refinanced and took 150k.
Transferred to Aust. built a house with it on some land I had, I own that house out right with no mortgage.
I am planning a strategic default and renting the house out in Florida.
I have another house I can live in for approx. the next three years for free.
Would stop mortgage, insurance and property tax payments.
I am being advised in FL. it could be three years before it would finally be foreclosed on.
This would be a total savings of approx. 90k over two and half years, this money being wired to my Aust. account.
The final act would be to take a cash advance and all expenses to move, from credit cards approx. 20k.
I have good credit at the moment and the only debt is my current mortgage in the USA.
Putting aside the ethical and moral implications.
The house like everywhere else now is worthless and it does not concern me to loose it.
I will retire to the Australian house with enough money to get stated again.
What would be the legal ramification with regard to the USA.
I would close all accounts here and declare my business bankrupt and leave
I have paid into social security for over twenty years, would they garnish that?
If I returned would I be arrested at the airport?
July 20, 2011 at 3:26 am
Debs
I was wondering does anybody know I have about 70k of business debts and I’m looking to move to Cyprus if I just take off can they come after me in Cyprus
For the money
October 10, 2011 at 4:16 pm
Violator
Debs – I think this would be a good strategy and I know that it works. One tip: if any of your friends or relatives in the UK get calls from debt collectors, tell them to say you’ve moved to Germany or something (obviously anywhere but Cyprus).
October 7, 2011 at 4:13 am
VF
Left Dubai hurriedly… approx 400k AED debt across 3 cards and two loans. Bilkish seems to be the collector of choice. One is already threatening Interpol notice for approx 70k of the total (car loan balance). There is the security check issue (bounced now) which is a criminal offense in Dubai, but obviously not in the US.
I will attempt to settle as far along in the process as possible, with a last resort plan of chapter 7 upon collection agencies here locally begin their ridiculous antics.
My concern is of course, garnishment at my new employer and Interpol notice. Thoughts anyone? Experiences similar to this?
December 5, 2016 at 2:19 pm
Lou Sainus
I also left Dubai hurriedly. I had no choice, my business failed so my choice was to either default on my credit cards and go to jail, or repatriate back to the UK. I did the latter and have been getting similar threats (Interpol, and contacting my employer, as well as all manner of phone calls – friendly, rude, etc). Now (almost 3 years since leaving the UAE) I have received a letter through the door from a UK debt collection firm. Can they really chase me for debt in the UAE here in the UK?
It’s annoying as I offered a monthly payment plan but it was laughed at (£40 a month was all I could afford).
The total amount I left behind was AED 40,500 but with the interest and fees they have added the balance I am being chased for is over AED 180,000.
Any experience or advice anyone has on this matter would be gratefully appreciated.
October 8, 2011 at 11:40 pm
p
I am considering the same as has been mentioned. Currently in the UK and having suffered the effects of the global recession as well as being well and truly pissed off with the way the country is going, myself and my spouse are considering getting a sponsored visa to Australia. We will go with around £30,000 / $47,000 cash and enough salary to make a new start with success – at least thats the plan. Has anyone on here done the UK to US thing before and left debts behind? I am under the impression that it can be done and almost without consequence if you don’t intend to return to the UK. Any advice would be much appreciated.
October 10, 2011 at 4:05 pm
Violator
Hey P, a few of my friends have emigrated to Australia and left debts behind in the UK. None of them have had any problems and they’ve been gone for several years now.
From what my friends have told me I would definitely recommend this as a debt escape strategy. You can even return to the UK after 6 years and apply for the debts to be ‘statute barred’ if they have remained unacknowledged for 6 years.
January 24, 2012 at 2:03 pm
Life lost because of debt
How easy was it for your friends to open a bank account in their new country, and how would you access money you want to bring over from the UK?
October 18, 2011 at 9:15 pm
susan
i have a bank loan for 25k but the franchise i was going to buy with it wasnt the one that was originally discussed therefore i paid off my credit card debts. we re emigrating to australia in january do i need to write to the bnk or do i just not pay anything. im really nervous as i know that this is an opportunity to make a new start, we wont want to come back to uk so please let me know from experience
thnks
January 11, 2012 at 3:41 pm
Debt ain't real
My best mate left all her credit card debt in the UK and went to live in Australia. I think you’ll be surprised when you get there just how many ex-pats leave their debts behind in the UK.
January 24, 2012 at 2:00 pm
Life lost because of debt
Hi, just interested in knowing what your friend uses to spend her money in said Country as I’m thinking of leaving the UK for Aus to escape the £15k debt my ex ran up in my name! I’m looking forward to living the backpacker lifestyle again, but my only concern is what type of ATM card to use (obviously don’t want to be walking around with a heap of cash in my bag!) I was thinking a travel pre – paid MasterCard… But it would be UK based and I’m worried my loan creditors would dip their hand in and wipe me out!
Any help would be a massive, MASSIVE boost
November 21, 2011 at 11:52 am
debt.is.killing.me
I’m in South Africa, I’ve landed a sponsored job in Australia on a 457 visa. However, I will never be able to pay all my debt back in time before we leave. There’s old credit card debt, my house is worth much less than I owe, so even if I sell it, I will be in a lot of debt.
My only option is to skip….but I am worried about the repercussions
January 11, 2012 at 3:39 pm
Debt ain't real
I’d definitely skip. Small fry debtors don’t get pursued over borders and creditors don’t have any jurisdiction anyway. Get yourself a new life in a new country and don’t worry about it, life’s too short.
January 24, 2012 at 4:21 pm
Decadent Action 2012
Unless it is your UK bank that you owe money to then none of your creditors can debit your account unless you’ve got direct debits/standing orders, in which case I’d cancel them and just use your UK bank account. I suppose if your creditors were to try and have you declared bankrupt in your absence then your concerns could be justified, however, they rarely do this due to the expense involved (particularly for such a small amount) and are far more likely to sell on the debt to a collection agency.
The idea of dumping loads of cash on pre-paid cards is a good one, as is using a Post Office card where you can take your sterling into a PO and get yourself a cashpoint card with Aussie dollars on it to take away with you. I’d definitely clear all my UK accounts and leave nothing behind just in case. Also I doubt that creditors would be able to trace a prepaid card back to you? If you want to be uber-careful then give your parents address or something when registering it.
BTW – I love the fact that you are clearing off and are heading into the sun to enjoy your life again. Best of luck.
January 20, 2012 at 1:32 am
Ken
Hi guys
In 2005 I left UK leaving behind a debt of around 8K from credit cards and a student loan.I was never bothered about it on the country I live now, but now I am thinking to go back to UK.
Does anyone knows how to check If I have any CCJs, and if they are still valid or not, from overseas? Do you think if I ‘d have any problem entering the country again?
Thanks in advance
January 20, 2012 at 10:53 am
Rinky Dinky
Hey fellow fugitives, check out this link which relates to the experiences of UK debtors in Australia – seems there’s no way UK debt can be legally chased in Aus:
http://www.consumeractiongroup.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?304615-It-is-now-apparent-that-it-will-be-practically-impossible-to-enforce-a-UK-debt-in-Oz
April 30, 2012 at 10:38 am
iwentbankrupt
Hi everyone, I’ve now moved over to a new website at http://www.iwentbankrupt.com
All of the pages and comments have been migrated over.
Also, check out this post on Household Deleveraging: Why Consumers need to dump their debt for private and public good.
http://www.iwentbankrupt.com/household-deleveraging-why-debtors-need-to-get-with-the-program-and-dump-their-debt-for-both-private-and-public-good/
June 28, 2013 at 5:17 pm
Drowning in Debt
I’m so glad I stumbled upon this site! We are considering this but were too worried about getting caught. Have ~20k debt in the UK but visa renewal has been refused and have to leave anyway. partner is a Brit though but we’re looking to move back to Asia for a fresh start. Considering my bank has branches where we’re going will it make it easier for them to catch us?
We are selling our home first. How though do we get all that money out? Will it raise suspicion if we transferred it all to a relative’s account in destination country?
July 2, 2013 at 11:17 am
Grant
its a year and a half later and we couldnt be happier, if you’ve gotten yourself in a bind and have an opportunity to start over, do it!
September 1, 2013 at 8:13 pm
jack
Hi ken, I know your comment is almost 2 years old but just wondering how you got on at the end
September 1, 2013 at 8:53 pm
Marc
Hi, I am originally from the UK but have lived in the Netherlands for a number of years now.
I earn good money here, but have high debts of about 40,000 EUR (unsecured).
I’m likely going to emigrate due to work to another country within the next 12 months and am wondering if anyone can let me know whether my debts here can follow me to any of the following countries;
– Back to the UK
– Dubai
– Hong Kong
– Australia
Also, my debts are mainly with my bank, therefore would they come after me through my employer if I stayed with the same company, as they’ve been paying wages into the account, and therefore I’m traceable?
i.e. would it be better to switch employers?
Thanks in advance for any advice people!
March 14, 2014 at 12:12 pm
hjk_1969@yahoo.com
Hi… I am desperate for some information. I have a total debt of about gbp 25k in UK, which was reduced to Gbp 11k via IVA last year. I am losing my job next month and am planning to move to India or UAE. Can anyone advise me what to do? Will the debt follow me in India or UAE?
June 11, 2014 at 5:07 am
godemichet
Je peux vous dire que c’est véritablement une joie de visiter ce site internet
December 16, 2015 at 3:09 am
Sallie Mae
as a student loan bandit in the US, i chose to become a fugitive rather than being stuck w/a death loan. in the US, Student Loans do not qualify for any relief or bankruptcy. we are stuck w/this loan until we either pay it off or die. Not to mention the insane interest rate. GTFO. screw the gov’t. they’re a bunch of crooks who squeeze the population.
March 20, 2016 at 10:53 pm
jasong83
Hi,
This is an incredible website and has motivated me in taking actions to go overseas to lead a happier life. Keep up the good work and get the stories flowing. I do however intend to go bankrupt while overseas if I can.
September 6, 2016 at 10:49 am
Billy
I worked with a nurse from India and she worked and sent money home to buy land and property while in the uk she also purchased a house mortgaged of course but then she said she was going abroad at first she was telling us Australia we later found out that she took out credit cards and loans and filled her bank she then transferred the money to her bank in India and then to cap it all we found out she also sold her mortgaged property privately and took that money too then left for India .
October 22, 2016 at 8:26 am
Arjun
Hi
I live in UK right now but moving back to India for ever, I got debts for nearly £50,000 (some on credit cards and some on personal loan). My main question is, will I get in any trouble in India? Or if bank declare myself bankrupt then will I get in any trouble? If I by any house on my name in India will that be a problem? What options I got and what UK bank can do?
Thanks