Overseas debt problem...
I moved to the US about a year ago (yes legally :) ) I had been paying off a personal loan which I had in another country. Because it's taken a year now waiting for immigration to let me work I can no longer keep paying the loan back. It seems my bank has now passed on the loan to a debt collection agency here in the US. Because I have no job, no ssn# no assets, credit or phone in my name here what are their chances of finding me and can they take me to court for a debt written in another country?
I really intened to keep paying, I didn't know it was going to take so long to be able to start working.
Stressed! :(
I'd be grateful for any help at this point, thank you in advance!
extra info
The debt is also in my maiden name, I only use my married name now. On one income we can't pay it back at the moment, with the mortgage & bills etc. I intend to when I can work but don't want to be harassed day & night in the meantime.
If they dont have a ss# or correct name for you, it is not likel
If they dont have a ss# or correct name for you, it is not likely they will find you.
how do you know it has been passed on to a collection company?
how do you know it has been passed on to a collection company? Have you gotten mail from somewhere? Phone calls?
congrats on your marriage and your residency becoming permanent, my husband is foreign and it is sure an expensive, time consuming process, isn't it? Welcome to the US!
Hey smo65d11, thanks, and yes my previous bank did have my addre
Hey smo65d11, thanks, and yes my previous bank did have my address but if you looked up on public records who owns the home it's only under my husbands name.
As horrible as it sounds would it be an option to just return and letters they may send & say wrong address?
I feel really bad about it, I'm just stuck between a rock and a hard place like a lot of people right now.
if it was me, I would just stick them in a drawer or throw them
if it was me, I would just stick them in a drawer or throw them away and deal with it later on when I could. Your financial position might improve sooner than you think!
I don't like the idea of lying, yes you could do that but if it is truly, genuinely your debt, I would say it is better to ignore them rather than fib and return them. They might give up and it might go away, or they may start digging and find out who you and/or your husband really is, etc. But that's just my opinion.
They may find you if you ignore them too, it's just hard to know.
I know a LOT of people WOULD just use a Sharpie and write "RTS, unknown" in big black letters.
Thanks for the advice, I think I'll just hold on to any letters
Thanks for the advice, I think I'll just hold on to any letters if they start showing up and see how it all plays out! :)
First, I think the chances of them finding you are pretty slim a
First, I think the chances of them finding you are pretty slim at least until you start applying for things like bank accounts. Second, I am not an expert in contracts but I could see problems arising for a foreign company if they tried to enforce a foreign contract in U.S. courts. I think what it would come down to if it made it that far is if it is more economical to settle or to pay a lawyer to defend you. I would think a decent lawyer could get a foreign contract tossed out pretty quick though.