Can debt chase you across European countries?

June 26, 2015 9:33 AM

Don't get me wrong, I DO want to pay this debt, I just need to take care of some other things first. Say, if you have a smallish unpaid debt (2k euros back then, I don't want to think about how much it must be 9 years later) in Spain, and now you're starting new in Sweden, can this debt bite you in the ass before you've used your small savings to rent a house, buy groceries, etc. while you get a job that will help you pay said debt? Could your new Swedish bank account or other assets be frozen?

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posted by anonymous to Law & Government (2 answers total)

I would not sweat this. They would have to first know where you are (which takes them ages to work out, if they ever do) and then hire a local lawyer to take you to one of the 48 district courts. It's super unlikely to happen for a 2K debt, it isn't going to happen any time soon, and it's certainly not going to happen without a lot of legal shenanigans which will give you ample time to enter into a repayment plan.
posted by DarlingBri at 10:00 AM on June 26, 2015 [1 favorite]

It might be worth checking into whether the debt has expired. If you haven't done anything about this debt for 9 years, it is likely statute barred. From a quick Google search (I mean, very quick - don't take my word on this), it looks like debts in Spain have a limitation period of 5 years. If you have not made any payments or acknowledged the debt in that time, itis possible it could be wiped clean.
posted by cincinnatus c at 11:03 AM on June 26, 2015 [1 favorite]