Posted on February 23, 2010 at 9:48 am Here's my situation:(a) Currently have about $40,000 in CC debt. All being paid on time. (b) I lost my job and have to leave the US within 4 weeks (permanently) (c) I do not have enough savings to pay off my CC debt. (d) I do not own a home but I have a car that I have already listed for sale. (e) I am currently in the process of selling off all of my other assets (f) I have no family in the USSome additional notes:Had I not lost my job, I would have been able to pay off my CC debt within the next few years. Although I know that CC companies cannot recover my debts back in my home country, I do not want to leave in a dishonest way. So I was thinking about calling the CC companies to negotiate a settlement to the tune of about 50%Questions:(1) From reading the forum posts, I see that CC companies do not negotiate with folks who are current on their payments? Would this be true even in cases like mine? i.e. when they might not see any money at all if they wait?(2) If by some chance I manage to settle, can they still harass me (emails/phone calls/etc to friends, room-mates, ex-employer) for the remaining balance?(3) Given my situation, whats my best choice? Hire a credit settlement company, approach a non profit counseling agency, call the CC companies myself - or just ditch all payments and just leave (walk-away)?(4) In case where I decide to just walk-away (my last option), how does the statute of limitations work? Say I travel back to the US for a holiday before the SOL expires, will I have any immigration related problems? I know that there are no debtor prisons - but is there some way in which I can be arrested for non-payment?

Posted on February 23, 2010 at 11:52 pm I think that you should call your creditor and ask these questions. I don't thinkthere's a standard answer for this - and I think that your main thing is to do whatis right (pay at least 50%). Try and pitch it to them and don't think about failing just yet.

Posted on February 23, 2010 at 11:57 pm I agree with that Good To Me, I read a quotation once that says something like ---let's admit to ourselves that when we start something we want it to work. Somethingslike marriage, friendship, career ..etc. We start something not to see it fail..but to see it work.-- But havingsaid that, if it so happens that your creditor refused to settle, you can just let youraccount charge off. If by then you're out of the country - you may contact a settlement companyto negotiate for you. Your chances of settlement is much better then.

Posted on February 24, 2010 at 12:01 am Not unless the creditor sues for judgment before it charge off and before he/she leaves.Would the hold departure order be possible? And his/her question about SoL --will he/she have immigration related problems?

Posted on February 24, 2010 at 3:08 am Hold departure order? Oh no. Actually - if he is not coming back for good - the creditorswon't be able to touch him. In terms of credit ... he won't need it would he?

Posted on February 24, 2010 at 4:09 am Here's a link of SoL per state - find out about yours - & don't visit until it's up?Although the SoL expiring on your debt still means that you owe that debt -they can still sue you - although if you're not in the country - they can't - http://www.fair-debt-collection.com/SOL-by-State.html