how do they trace you

[TIGGERLIT]

plz dont all jump at me but i wanted to know, that if you owed money to some companies and then you moved because you lost your home, and didnt tell anyone and didnt change the address on some bills etc how would they trace you??
thanks

[CheekyChops]

Via the electoral register maybe.

I don't know how they do it but I know they do, Barclaycard found me after 4 years and 2 house moves.

[TIGGERLIT]

so if you dont go on the elect role they possiblie wont find you

[jno]

well, anywhere you leave a trail... phone bills? Car? Credit card? Landlord? Bank account? NI number? It's very hard to just vanish from society, especially the very nosy society we live in. Even the canoeist in Panama didn't get away forever.

I find myself secretly wishing you luck, however.

[Ice.Maiden]

No - but should you apply for credit at some future date, such as mail order goods, your personal details'd be checked. Unless you altered your date of birth and other things, they could trace you that way. Also, you have to be living at whatever address you apply from for 3 years, and if it's less than that, you have to provide a previous address. The Powers That Be have all your personal info on record, & your credit worthiness'd be checked out - as well as the details you'd provided. I'd say it's not worth it, because you might get away with it for a while, but they'd find you eventually. Having said that, I know someone whose house was repossessed through non-payment of mortgage. She owed thousands, and hid behind new addresses and names. She then married, had a legitimate new identity, and after 8 years seems to've got away with it.

[TIGGERLIT]

thanks for your answers. the reason why im asking is because we are in so much debt. we are losing our home and when the mortgage company have sold it theres still going to be about �30,000 outstanding, with all the other debts it comes close to �100,000. i just want a breathing space before they all start comming after us. we are black listed so cant get credit cant even get a debit card. we are going to get our post redirected so we dont have to change some of the bills. we are moving in to familys home so wont have bills to pay just going to pay some rent each week. we are just waiting for the knock at the door to say get out.

[pink-kittens]

Have you spoken to any debt counsellors about this yet?

My sister did this just yesterday and they have been advised to go for bankruptcy as they have nothing left at the end of the month. They owe less than you do. They have also been told that in 95% of cases of bankruptcy, you don't lose your house.

Maybe someone can adivse you about that on here? I have no idea about it at all

Best of luck
Been there and done it - came out the otherside a few years back

[dzug]

Well if you get your post directed there's a trail there - the Royal Mail will have a record of your new address and may well give it out to those with a valid reason for having it.

[bednobs]

i lived in a variety of grotty flats in my youth. in one of them remember a debt collection agency sending a letter asking us for a physical description of our neighbours!

[cazzz1975]

electoral roll, and they check your credit record to get a clue by finding any recent credit applications, after 7 years they cannot persue I think? (as long as you deny the debt)

[ceedee1951]

The 'horror of all horrors' is that besides the methods others have mentioned about how 'they' trace you, you can and probably will be traced by a private investigator (usually for amounts over �1000). 'P. I's' have different 'underhand' methods of tracking you down. The have 'contacts' in the HMRC/DWP and with the use of your N/I numbers and Tax numbers trace you that way. 'P.I's' are hired by debt companies and debt collection solicitors. I found this out from experience and confirmation by my own solicitors!! With all the'Big Brother' stuff going on in this country, the way forward for you would be bankruptcy or leave the country for about 3 years and start afesh abroad!!

[alankeith27]

They use all methods of underhand dirty tactics mate. They will trace you somehow.

IVA's and bankruptcy sound like the only answer for you.

This is not as scary as it sounds. You are still allowed to have money to buy all your essentials and live a normal life.

Generally you will have all assets removed that are not essential for living. (usually the car, house, plasma, dvd player but not the fridge, cooker, clothes etc)

You wont be allowed credit or debit cards and you will be forced to open up a cashcard type account rather than a curent account (which has an overdraft).

This I think is for either three years or five years. Then your debts should be gone and you dont have to worry any more.

It'll still be diffcult to get credit etc, but the worry will be gone.

[belfastlass]

They use a source called auto trace through Experian all they do is enter your name and dob and hey presto they trace you