Legal Question in Credit and Debt Law in Pennsylvania

Can US companies collect from overseas?

I have sizeable outstanding US credit card debt with my last US address being Pennsylvania. I am now living overseas and my overseas salary is not enough to cover my US debts. Because I am no longer a US resident I am not eligible to file for bankruptcy. I have no intentions of ever going back to the US and have citizenship in New Zealand where I am currently living. I have been advised by friends to simply stop paying my US credit card debt. If I do, what are the consequences and what actions can they take against me as I am now living overseas? I have not renounced my US citizenship as of yet.


Asked on 10/23/04, 7:49 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Richard Teitell Richard K. Teitell, Esquire, P.C.

Re: Can US companies collect from overseas?

Your U.S citizenship is irrelevant. The issue is whether or not New Zealand will honor a judgment entered against you in the U.S. I do not know the answer, but my best guess is that there is treaty under which that would happen. So, if the credit card company obtained a judgment against you in the U.S., & the amount was large enough to pursue you in New Zealand, it is possible they could come after you. You may want to contact the credit card company- it may be motivated to take a large discount on the debt due to its collection problems, & provide you with time to pay. Good luck!

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Answered on 10/23/04, 10:07 pm


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