Bad debt

[SB76]

I've moved every year since uni. recently i was contacted by a debt collection firm who wanted payment for an outstanding balance on a credit card i'd forgot all about. obviously with moving, the credit card firm was never abe to get in touch with me. what can i do to check i don't owe anyone else, and am i criminally liable for fraud?

[Oneeyedvic]

Contact Experian on 0870 241 6212 and Equifax on 0870 010 0583. These are two credit reference agancies - they will charge you �2.00 for your credit report. (plus 50p for card payment over the phone). They will ask for your last 6 years addresses. You are not CRIMINALLY liable. The card companies can and probably will take you to CIVIL court and register a CCJ against you. This can be done at your last known address. When you apply for credit they ask for your last 5 years addresses. This creates a link between your addresses. This means that as soon as you apply for credit again, the credit card company will (proably) be able to trace you. The CCJs they register will also be linked to your addresses. If you elect to give a false address as previous address, you may then be commiting fraud and will proabably go onto a CIFAS database. You are pretty certain to then never get credit by ANY reputable company (and even bad credit companies)

[Hgrove]

I am sure you are not criminally liable for fraud because they would have to show that you *intended* to not pay the balance for that. If you now pay up, or negotiate a plan to repay in instalments, it's the best way to show that you lacked intention.

[johnjbloomfi]

If you continued to use the card after you moved their could be a fraud claim ie. obtaining credit on a false address if you keep your self on the voters role when you move your credit score is improved and these people find you before it gets out of hand