More problems, wife owes UK Department of Social Services money, we live in US. Help!

[beeboah]

So my wife incurred debt in the UK (Scotland) while she resided there. She was on means tested benefits and owes the Department of Social Services 600 pounds sterling.

My wife was born in the UK (Scotland). She now resides with me in the US (State of Virginia) as a permanent resident. I am a "natural" US Citizen.

My wife isn't working at this time, but I am.

Considering some of the UK stuff that I have seen on this forum, we would like to know what they can or would realistically do to her about this debt?

1) Could they extradite her?

2) Could they pull a foreign judgment?

3) Where would a hearing take place?

4) Any additional advice?

Thanks

[jasen]

Extradition is reserved for suspect or convicted criminals, and even then it must be a serious crime. Unless being a debtor is a ciminal offense in the UK, I don't think the UK government would petition the US for her extradition. And even in that case, owing unpaid debt is not a crime in this country, so I don't think an extradtion request would be honored. (the offense must be a crime in both countries)

If there's a court hearing, it would definitely be in the country of origin. And if she doesn't show, and loses the court case, I really don't see how any judgement could possibly be enforcable. We don't honor foreign laws or judgements in this country.

Unless there's some little known process I've never heard of for foreign debts, but I don't think so.

[Relocated]

I seem to recall looking at this a few years ago.

Within Europe there is a reiprocal agreement allowing you to be chased for debt across the continent. Don't think the USA partakes though.

One thing I did hear about was multinational card issuers getting smart and appplying your debt in another country to your new account.

That's worth watching out for....

[LNY]

They don't extradite people for owing 600 pounds, don't worry. She'd have to blow something up. And even then, it's rare.

When I left there in 1992, I spent 6 mos. faithfully paying all my UK bills from here. Then a drastic change in my personal situation necessitated the end of that. And after initially panicking, I realized they were not going to send MI5 over here to get me for it, but just write it off. Nothing ever happened.

Her only possible problem might arise if she returns there. There could be a note in her file (since it's the gov't she owes money to, not a bank) and she could be detained at the airport.

[beeboah]

Extradition is reserved for suspect or convicted criminals, and even then it must be a serious crime. Unless being a debtor is a ciminal offense in the UK, I don't think the UK government would petition the US for her extradition. And even in that case, owing unpaid debt is not a crime in this country, so I don't think an extradtion request would be honored. (the offense must be a crime in both countries)

If there's a court hearing, it would definitely be in the country of origin. And if she doesn't show, and loses the court case, I really don't see how any judgement could possibly be enforcable. We don't honor foreign laws or judgements in this country.

Unless there's some little known process I've never heard of for foreign debts, but I don't think so.

Thanks for that info, but isn't that still considered a "foreign judgment"?

I mean a "foreign judgment" isn't a term used only with respect to the States is it?

Just learning, thanks!

[beeboah]

They don't extradite people for owing 600 pounds, don't worry. She'd have to blow something up. And even then, it's rare.

When I left there in 1992, I spent 6 mos. faithfully paying all my UK bills from here. Then a drastic change in my personal situation necessitated the end of that. And after initially panicking, I realized they were not going to send MI5 over here to get me for it, but just write it off. Nothing ever happened.

Her only possible problem might arise if she returns there. There could be a note in her file (since it's the gov't she owes money to, not a bank) and she could be detained at the airport.

LNY, there is probably going to be a lot more coming (3k pounds in rent arrears) from hard times when she needed to keep off the street.

:(

Are you sure that monetary amounts are nothing to worry about?

My wife is so worried she is trying to take 2 minimum wage jobs and work them back to back!!

The note in her file kind of concerns me, because we do have family there.

Do they not still have a "debtors prison" back there?

Thanks

[beeboah]

I seem to recall looking at this a few years ago.

Within Europe there is a reiprocal agreement allowing you to be chased for debt across the continent. Don't think the USA partakes though.

One thing I did hear about was multinational card issuers getting smart and appplying your debt in another country to your new account.

That's worth watching out for....

Good information, e.g. www.captialone.co.uk etc...

Are you sure the US doesn't partake in that? The "close bi-lateral ties" scare me.

[beeboah]

Also concerned about the fact that she is not a US Citizen just a permanent resident....

Thanks

Sorry for the multiple posts within this thread, you know me when I want to get it just right .... plus really concerned!

[jasen]

I mean a "foreign judgment" isn't a term used only with respect to the States is it?

Foreign in the sense you hear talked about on this board simply means foreign court district, still within the US.

[Relocated]

No - they did away with the debtor's prisons.

I'll see what I can find to post on the details. It's a while since I looked at this.

Also see PM.

[beeboah]

Foreign in the sense you hear talked about on this board simply means foreign court district, still within the US.

Cool...beeboah is piping down now...now for the wife

[LNY]

I owed 2k to British Telecom, plus money to Barclays, NatWest, Marks & Spencer etc., not to mention a mortgage with Abbey National. And I even opened a bank account with NatWest over here before I crapped out on everyone, so it's not like they didn't know where I was!

Abbey National just foreclosed and resold the place. The rest of them I never heard from after a few stern-sounding letters.

There are differences, of course. I'm an American citizen, and back then there was no internet and easy electronic communication and information exchange. (Even getting your own credit report was a big deal... and when you did, and called them and said something was wrong, they said "really?" and removed it.)

[beeboah]

I owed 2k to British Telecom, plus money to Barclays, NatWest, Marks & Spencer etc., not to mention a mortgage with Abbey National. And I even opened a bank account with NatWest over here before I crapped out on everyone, so it's not like they didn't know where I was!

Abbey National just foreclosed and resold the place. The rest of them I never heard from after a few stern-sounding letters.

There are differences, of course. I'm an American citizen, and back then there was no internet and easy electronic communication and information exchange. (Even getting your own credit report was a big deal... and when you did, and called them and said something was wrong, they said "really?" and removed it.)

LNY thanks for that! So we aren't the only ones!

[LNY]

LNY thanks for that! So we aren't the only ones!

Not at all. Stuff happens. And when your life falls apart through no fault of your own, your main concern isn't always to continue paying bills in another country... especially when at the time the average interest rate was 25-30%. I paid back what I actually used many times over. The rest was usury. So no, I don't feel too guilty about it. As it is, I paid 50% of my income in taxes and National Insurance for 8 years... all of that money a gift to Her Majesty and her subjects. Unlike others, I'll never get it back in my old age. So they can't complain too much.