What can I do about my decade-old credit card debt in Australia?
November 14, 2016 1:53 AM Subscribe
Almost ten years ago I moved from Australia to a European country. When I left Australia I had about $5k in credit card debt. What can I do about it now?
I fully intended to pay off this debt, but, to my great regret, never did. I'm not going to explain why I defaulted on this credit card; just know that I very much wanted to pay it off and feel terrible about it. I have no idea how much the debt is now and I don't know how to get information about who owns it and how much it is.
I looked briefly into getting a credit check but it seems tricky to do from overseas, and I no longer have any paperwork that shows any of my former Australian addresses.
I will soon be applying for (dual) citizenship in my new country and I'm concerned this debt might come up in the application process. I'm also worried about what will happen if I ever move back to Australia. And, of course, I just generally feel I need to pay it off.
Can you give me any advice? No need to berate me for my stupidity. I assure you I feel terrible already.
I fully intended to pay off this debt, but, to my great regret, never did. I'm not going to explain why I defaulted on this credit card; just know that I very much wanted to pay it off and feel terrible about it. I have no idea how much the debt is now and I don't know how to get information about who owns it and how much it is.
I looked briefly into getting a credit check but it seems tricky to do from overseas, and I no longer have any paperwork that shows any of my former Australian addresses.
I will soon be applying for (dual) citizenship in my new country and I'm concerned this debt might come up in the application process. I'm also worried about what will happen if I ever move back to Australia. And, of course, I just generally feel I need to pay it off.
Can you give me any advice? No need to berate me for my stupidity. I assure you I feel terrible already.
Well, this consumer legal service suggests you may be in the clear... depending on your personal situation. Read it and see how it suits you.
I admire your intention however $5k is feed even a mega-billion chicken$ would ignore. If I was you, I'd take the risk.
posted by Thella at 2:42 AM on November 14, 2016 [3 favorites]
I admire your intention however $5k is feed even a mega-billion chicken$ would ignore. If I was you, I'd take the risk.
posted by Thella at 2:42 AM on November 14, 2016 [3 favorites]
"Almost ten years ago I moved from Australia to a European country. When I left Australia I had about $5k in credit card debt."
Out of curiosity, do you remember the interest rate? this could be anything now from 10k to 40k.
"I will soon be applying for (dual) citizenship in my new country and I'm concerned this debt might come up in the application process. "
You don't disclose the EU country but this is extremely unlikely. Likely you will need an Aussie background check/certificate of conduct. As long as this is clear your debt should not matter.
posted by yoyo_nyc at 3:13 AM on November 14, 2016
Out of curiosity, do you remember the interest rate? this could be anything now from 10k to 40k.
"I will soon be applying for (dual) citizenship in my new country and I'm concerned this debt might come up in the application process. "
You don't disclose the EU country but this is extremely unlikely. Likely you will need an Aussie background check/certificate of conduct. As long as this is clear your debt should not matter.
posted by yoyo_nyc at 3:13 AM on November 14, 2016
Ten years ago? I would enjoy your written-off debt. The cost of pursuing that over a decade would have been greater than the return; I can't imagine it still exists in any meaningful form.
posted by kmennie at 4:08 PM on November 14, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by kmennie at 4:08 PM on November 14, 2016 [2 favorites]
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by quercus23 at 2:42 AM on November 14, 2016 [1 favorite]