thanks much wtbhotia. it really is encouraging news.
i checked with one of the so called referral agency that "fatchai" referred (these agencies were suppose to refer me to a lawyer, who would give me free advise) and they scared the shit out of me. they were more interested in knowing details like which banks you owe money to, how much, e.t.c. they even said if I go there to see their recommended lawyer, I will have to fill in a form that is in Chinese and their staff will help me to fill it. God knows what would be in that form and who knows maybe debt collecting agents from the 2 banks I owe money to, will be waiting for my arrival so to send ship me to Africa in a box.
they said, it could be a lot worse, don't assume it will be just 40K, cos i told them that another friend who had this kind of debt problem saw his interest stop keep piling up on top of the principal after about 6 months. All the news I keep hearing pointed towards a situation where I might be owing close to 85-100K. they said it could be about 100K, since the banks would also have paid collection agencies. in short they scared me enough to just take my chances and conclude that "sorry, not gonna pay my debt. most welcome to put me in a box and ship me to Africa or Antarctica.
and they were so interested in knowing my personal details, like how much you owe, for how long, which banks, my age, what do i work as now, how much i make, and if I had continued, they would have kept asking more questions, so when the questioning started, ambulance lights and sounds went ON in my head and I had to shall I say bend the truth a little bit on every answer. really scary people who want to help you but could potentially be working for the banks guessing from how enthusiastic they are in scaring people into paying their debts, or perhaps not paying their debts, so people end up being on their welfare system?
no worries. I really like your suggestions. gonna be brave now and face the transunion music.
(by the way, your avatar is a dog or a hybrid donkey? )