Can Debt Collectors Find My New Address in the UK?
For free & impartial money advice you can visit MoneyHelper. We work with The Debt Advice Service who provide information about your options. This isn’t a full fact-find, some debt solutions may not be suitable in all circumstances, ongoing fees might apply & your credit rating may be affected.
For free & impartial money advice you can visit MoneyHelper. We work with The Debt Advice Service who provide information about your options. This isn’t a full fact-find, some debt solutions may not be suitable in all circumstances, ongoing fees might apply & your credit rating may be affected.
Table of Contents
- Is moving house a debt solution? Jump
- Will debt collectors find your new address? Jump
- How do debt collectors find you? Jump
- What happens if a debt is statute-barred? Jump
- Should you change your name? Jump
- Could enforcement officers visit your new address? Jump
- Can creditors find me if I move abroad? Jump
- What’s the solution to your debts? Jump
- Should you contact a debt adviser? Jump
- How should you respond to creditors and debt collectors? Jump
You may be in debt and asking, ‘can debt collectors find my new address in the UK or not? Leaving the country or moving house could seem like an appealing way to get out of debt. But is it?
Check out my post to find out how to cope with debt to ensure a better outcome when you’re being chased by debt collectors!
Do you have to pay debt collectors?
You might not have to pay debt collectors.
If you genuinely can’t afford your debt repayments then looking into whether you could have your written off might be just what you need.
If you want to find out whether you qualify for having debt written off or payments lowered then fill out the short form below.
Is moving house a debt solution?
You’re not the only person to wonder if a moving house could solve a debt problem. In truth, the debt remains even when you change addresses. It doesn’t simply vanish because you’re not at the same address anymore!
It might work for a short time when new tenants or owners start getting debt letters which are not in their name!
You could live off-grid and keep a low credit profile. In short, any debts you have are linked to your credit file. You couldn’t receive any benefits or apply for any credit if you do.
You could find it harder to find another job or rent a house.
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!
Can you lower your repayments?
If you’re struggling to pay back your debt, then you might qualify for a debt solution.
Some solutions lower your monthly payments while others write off a portion of your debt.
To find out whether they could work in your situation, hit the button below.
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
What happens if a debt is statute-barred?
Debts which are at least six years old are statute barred. It means courts won’t hear cases that involve older debts. It means the debt can no longer be legally enforced by creditors or debt collectors.
However, there are specific debts that never expire because the Limitations Act doesn’t cover them!
Also, you mustn’t have had contact with your creditor or paid anything toward the debt in the last six years. You shouldn’t have admitted owing the money during that period of time too!
But, if there’s a CCJ registered against you over a debt, it’s not statute-barred.
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.
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!
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.
What’s the solution to your debts?
You should seek advice from one of the debt charities if you’re struggling with debt and don’t know which way to turn. More often than not, it’s wiser to confront a debt issue rather than run away from it.
For instance, debt charities provide free impartial advice to people who experience financial hardship. Plus, over recent years more people are turning to them for help because of the hardships they face!
Don’t try to cope on your own. Contact a debt charity or debt adviser and seek their help. It could be a lifesaver when you need it most.
I’ve listed some of the major debt charities here:
| Stepchange debt charity | https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1980/58 |
| National debt line charity | https://www.nationaldebtline.org/ |
| Citizens Advice debt help | https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/debt-and-money/ |
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.
“It will only get worse” 😩
It’s cliché to say, but with debt it’s true; the longer you leave it, the worse the problem gets.
There are straightforward and effective ways to deal with debt, but you have to know your options.
Fill out the short form to find out about the debt solutions that could reduce your monthly payments or even write off some of your debt.
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’.
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