I am a Northern Irish GB citizen and was living in the UK, Surrey, for three years and the company I worked for went into administration owing me thousands. I took them to court but it didnt matter because they closed up shop. My bank kept offering me loans & then because I couldnt pay them back, bank charges built up to over £30k+ with various different creditors giving me pay day loans at high interest etc and I couldnt pay any of it back. It was all unsecured debt. I was renting and had no assets at all. I looked at going bankrupt but couldnt afford the £500 to do it. I was offered a job so I moved abroad two years ago because I couldnt handle it anymore and was very very depressed. I ran away but I didnt see anyway out and there is a history of depression and suicide in my family. I am now working in a bar in Portugal and I am happy again. I still dont have any assets and am trying to get myself back on my feet and support my son which I am doing. I had a call from an international debt recovery company yesterday, ( i checked the number online) so I guess after 2 years they have discovered where I am and got my mobile. I still cant pay any of it off and wont be able to earning €600 per month with €400 outgoings. The debt could be 40 or 50k+ now for all I know. I want to know can I still file for bankruptcy in the UK because there is no way I can pay any of it back? Can this company come after me in Portugal and what can they do? What should I do? I have one bank account here which I have €300 in which I pay my sons maintenence and rent out of and still no assets. I am never ever moving back to the UK again anyway as I love it here and want to live here for the rest of my life. My health is good now which is a lot to do with the sunsine and these people calling is freaking me out again. I would go back to the UK and do the bankruptycy thing now if I can.
As you are now resident in another EU country and because you work there it is classed as your "Centre of Main Interest", you are not able to petition for Br here in England or Wales.
Therefore you would abide by the appropriate insolvency rules in Portugal. The law in each EU country is different.
To apply for Br in the UK you need to have moved here and be able to demonstrate that this is your new centre of main interest and be here for the majority of the last 6 months.
I am a Northern Irish GB citizen
Posted - 03 February 2010 : 19:38:27
