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New Home - Bailiffs
Zoom7000
Posts: 113 Forumite
I have recently moved in to a new flat and I'm receiving loads of letters in previous tennants names. Recently, I have noticed that many of these letters are from Bailiffs and debt collection agencies. I have been returning these letters without opening them simply marking them as "Return to Sender - Person does not live at this address"
Am I doing the wrong thing? Should I be opening any future letters and calling the compaines up telling them that I do not know who these people are and that they do not live here.
What do I do if bailiffs turn up at my door? Can I simply show them my ID and tenancy agreement and say that there is no one of those names living here?
Am I doing the wrong thing? Should I be opening any future letters and calling the compaines up telling them that I do not know who these people are and that they do not live here.
What do I do if bailiffs turn up at my door? Can I simply show them my ID and tenancy agreement and say that there is no one of those names living here?
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What do I do if bailiffs turn up at my door? Can I simply show them my ID and tenancy agreement and say that there is no one of those names living here?
That's what I did, eventually they stop coming. Once the baliffs realise you are not the people they are searching, they leave politely.I'm a Forum Ambassador on the housing, mortgages & student money saving boards. I volunteer to help get your forum questions answered and keep the forum running smoothly. Forum Ambassadors are not moderators and don't read every post. If you spot an illegal or inappropriate post then please report it to forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com (it's not part of my role to deal with this). Any views are mine and not the official line of MoneySavingExpert.com.0 -
Dont open the letters, just return them as you are doing.Tallyhoh! Stopped Smoking October 2000. Saved £29382.50 so far!0
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We had stacks of letters for a previous tennant, and eventually collectors started arriving.
ALWAYS open them. Call the companies and tell them the person no-longer lives there. Although you may feel it's a liitle rude to open mail thats not addressed to you, it's better than having people come to your door.0 -
Unless it has changed recently don't open other peoples mail. It is a criminal offence to tamper with the mail.
I would send them back as you are doing, even if it is a pain. Eventually they will get the message.
However I would also check that no new credit has been applied for at your address, by checking your experien credit file.
chevI want a job that is less than an hour driving away from my house! Are you listening universe?
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Unless it has changed recently don't open other peoples mail. It is a criminal offence to tamper with the mail.
I would send them back as you are doing, even if it is a pain. Eventually they will get the message.
However I would also check that no new credit has been applied for at your address, by checking your experien credit file.
chev
IIRC it's not an offence to open the mail if it's
Addressed to your house (not just incorrectly delivered)
Has no return address on the outside.
The law is mainly to protect the mail in transit, not once it's reached it's addressed destination.
However I would agree it's probably best to throw them back in the post with "not known at this address" if the letters have a return address on the back.0 -
I spoke to a friend in Royal Mail who told me the "Return to Sender" system was flawed and doesn't really work. Essentially it stems from people "taking the mick" and sending legitimate replies using RTS. So, the letters end up as "dead letters" in a post office sorting centre corner somewhere.
I actually got a letter from DVLA today which said, "If undelivered, please do not return to sender" yes you have read correctly, do not, and in bold too. I opened it and it was a letter thanking the addressee for informing the DVLA he was no longer in possesion of his car. Funny he didn't tell them that he'd moved house! Muppet!
They told me to return the letter with a cover letter stating I no longer live there anymore. Unfortunately I can't get my landlord to budge on the matter, he just said keep RTS-ing and if I get any unwanted guests, to call him.
Thing is, it's all good that bailiffs can't force entry and such, but I dunno what debts these fools had. It states on the Directgov website that if the debt is owed to HMRC they can break in...Directgov wrote:If County Court bailiffs come to your home, you don't have to let them in.
They can't force their way in on their first visit, but they can enter through an open window, or an unlocked door. Forced entry includes pushing past you once you have opened the door to them or leaving their foot in the door to prevent you closing it. Such action would make the whole process illegal.
Bailiffs trying to recover money you owe to HMRC are allowed to break into your home, providing they have a magistrates' warrant.
Bailiffs recovering unpaid magistrates' court fines, however, do have the power to force entry.
Source - http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/MoneyTaxAndBen...ars/DG_100342890 -
Got another Debt Collection letter today. I opened it up, final request for an £814 bill to T-Mobile before starting court proceedings. How do you rack up £814 on T-Mobile without getting cut off?
Anyway, a quick call telling them I have no idea who the addressed person is and that I have no forwarding contact or any other info, and I got a "Thank you and we will ensure you don't get any more letters."
He did say they will try to find him elsewhere. Either way, that should be one problem sorted. I'm opening them all from now on, seems to work better than "Return to Sender"0 -
If you're opening them, staple a piece of paper to each one and write the action you took, who you spoke too on each one so you have accurate information should they start turning up at the door.
DON'T LET EM IN!
...Linda xxIt's easy to give in to that negative voice that chants "cant do it" BUT we lift each other up.
We dont count all the runners ahead of us & feel intimidated.
Instead we look back proudly at our journey, our personal struggle & determination & remember that there are those that never even attempt to reach the starting line.0
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