Can debt be collected abroad?

[Funyuns]

I moved to the UK a few years ago and stopped paying a tuition debt a year ago. I keep the agency up to date with my addresses.

Is there anything they can do if I continue to not pay? I have no intention of returning to the US and have citizenship in an EU country so can stay in the UK as long as I want. I owe about $15,000.

Can they do anything to affect UK credit rating or go after me for this money? I would think not, but Im not sure.

[JRScott]

If you can afford to pay it you should regardless of being in the EU.

There is not extradition for debt though if that's what you are worried about.

[Funyuns]

Thanks. I wasn't thinking extradition, but can it be passed to UK debt collectors? Or would it show up on UK credit reports? More this sort of thing. I know it's not a criminal matter.

[JRScott]

I don't know I don't think at this time the systems are interlinked but no telling what the future holds.

[HHM]

It's "possible"

Doing simple web searches has shown me numerous UK collection agencies and I see no legal reason why the debt could not be referred to a UK based collection agency.

One question...what do you mean exactly by unpaid tuition debt? Was it a student loan?

[Funyuns]

It's a student loan, yeah. I don't see how US debts could be collected outside of the US. I mean, US courts surely don't have any jurisdiction in the UK. But I don't know. Just wondering what can happen. I'm thinking nothing much. Other than, yeah, perhaps in the future the systems can link and it can affect credit history.

[HHM]

There is a difference between whether the debt can be submitted to collection and whether they can sue you.

The company creditor could certainly refer the debt to a UK Collection agency. But whether they can sue you in the UK is another question. They probably cannot sue you directly, but I believe the treaties are such that you can get a US judgment recognized in the UK. However, would a creditor go to that length, probably not.