Can Debt Collectors Find My New Address in the UK?

Are you dealing with debt collectors and have recently moved house? You might be worried about them finding your new address. You’re not alone in this. Every month, over 12,000 people come here to seek advice on such debt matters.

In this article, we’ll discuss:

• If you must pay debt collectors.
• Moving house as a way to deal with debt.
• If debt collectors can find your new address.
• How to lower your repayments.
• What happens if your debt is very old.

We know how hard it can be to owe money as our team has dealt with similar issues before, so we understand your worries. We’re here to help you and provide clear guidance. We’ll go through everything you need to know about debt collectors and moving house in the UK. Let’s get started.

Will debt collectors find your new address?

The world is a lot smaller with the advent of the internet and so is the country. Digital footprints are easier to follow which debt collectors can use to find your new address.

You could move several times over a period of time, but you’ll likely leave a digital trail with each move!

It might be more challenging for creditors and debt collectors to find your new address. But in reality, you could just be delaying things. Moreover, as soon as creditors have the information, you’ll start receiving a ton of mail. All demanding payment!

You may find the original debt is a lot more thanks to interest and other fees being added to the amount!

How do debt collectors find you?

Debt collectors have several tools at their disposal when it comes to finding debtors. This includes:

• Contacting the DVLA if you’ve taken out a car loan
• Accessing your details from a mobile phone contract
• Finding out if you’re receiving benefits which provide information about your new address

However, if you don’t update your details with the DVLA, a debt collector can’t get hold of your new address through this channel. But you could get a DVLA fine!

Check out what happened to one person below:

Source: Moneysavingexpert

Could enforcement officers visit your new address?

Yes. If there’s a court order for enforcement officers to visit your new address, they can come to your home. They can seize your possessions. Or an attachment could be placed on your earnings!

If you don’t have any possessions or earnings, a court could make you insolvent!

» TAKE ACTION NOW: Fill out the short debt form

Can creditors find me if I move abroad?

Creditors and debt collectors find it more challenging if you move abroad when you owe money. It makes it harder for them to trace you because countries don’t often share credit and debt information.

In short, new credit files taken out abroad may not be linked to your credit history in the UK.

But, and there’s always a “but”. If you owe a ton of money to a creditor, there are ‘tracing’ specialists who could track you down even if you move abroad.

Take the first step towards tackling your debt

Every day, our partner, The Debt Advice Service, helps people understand their options for dealing with debt. Their debt advice is free, with no obligation to proceed.

Thrifty Family introduces you to The Debt Advice Service. We do not provide debt advice or recommend debt solutions.

Natasha

Very helpful and informative thank you

Get started

Thrifty Family does not provide debt advice or recommend debt solutions. We can introduce you to The Debt Advice Service, a trading style of Pacific Financial Solutions Limited. Their debt advice is free, and there is no obligation to proceed.

If you request an introduction, we’ll share your details with The Debt Advice Service so they can contact you.

Some debt solutions have fees and may negatively affect your credit rating. Thrifty Family is a commercial introducer and may receive a fee if you go ahead with a debt solution through The Debt Advice Service.

For free, impartial money guidance and help finding free debt advice, visit MoneyHelper.

Should you change your name?

You may think you could get out of paying your debts by changing your name. But if you do it officially, there’ll be a record of the change.

Plus, it’s not that simple and involves lots of official documents!

Plus, the debts remain even when you change your name and databases still exist that could link an old name to a new name.

Should you contact a debt adviser?

You could contact a debt adviser when you’re struggling financially and need advice. But you’d be charged a fee for the advice a debt adviser provides.

So, if you’re already struggling, it may not be the best solution to solving a debt problem.

How should you respond to creditors and debt collectors?

You should stay in touch with your creditors or a debt collection agency instead of running away. Moving home could be a short-term solution, but the debt doesn’t go away!

Plus, contacting a creditor or debt collector could mean:

• Having some of the debt wiped off
• Being offered an affordable payment schedule, or debt settlement offer

Not responding to a debt collector or creditor could also mean you miss out on discovering the debt isn’t yours. Or that it’s statute barred and there’s no CCJ against you.

Thanks for reading my post. I hope the information provided about moving when you have debts helps answer the question, ‘can debt collectors find my new address in the UK’.