Other People's Debts?

Lawbag_2

I get a lot of mail from debt companies chasing previous tenants or owners for large sums of money.

I have contact each one in the past and told them they have gone away (for GAIN purposes), only to receive an letter from a different debt company chasing the same debt - i.e. they have sold the debt to a new company.

Now we all know how nasty these companies can be, we have all fallen foul of their schemes, so I have decided to play them along. I want them to waste as much of their time and effort chasing a debt that doesn't exist, then, when things start heating up, sue them for harassment.

Now here is the weird thing. We have lived in our current house for 3 years, and this debt agency has been chasing for £1,800 for this length of time. I have seen so many final demands, I wish these people were chasing my debts as they seem incapable of collecting even the smallest amount!

One debt that has been going for some time (previous tenant) is for £ 5,500, and according to their paperwork there is an open arrangement to pay £5.00 per month! Assuming the woman is 20, she will be 111 before this is paid off!

southernscouser

I understand how these people are probably peeing you off but I'm not sure I would want to have the hassle of potentially having debt collectors knocking on my door, my debt or not!

If I was you I would just return all letters to sender with a not know at this address on them. Also get a copy of your credit report to make sure this is nothing that shouldn't be on there!

Lawbag_2

My credit report is clean, and I wont allow these to affect my rating. But in the end it is costing me money and time to sort these letters out, but all they do is sell the debt on to the next debt company and start again.

Maybe this is a form of my revenge.

But what shocks me most is the lax method they employ to collect these debts.

I mean 3 years to chase a £5.5k debt?

black-saturn

If a letter arrives not addressed to your just write 'no longer at this address' on it and pop it back in the post box. By opening the letter and getting the address and phone number of the company you are making it look suspicious.

calleyw

black-saturn wrote:

If a letter arrives not addressed to your just write 'no longer at this address' on it and pop it back in the post box. By opening the letter and getting the address and phone number of the company you are making it look suspicious.

But what do you do if there is no return address on the letter.

As I am dealing with this sort of problem since moving in 8 months ago. I had a feeling there was a debt problem. Anyway we keep getting the same few companies chasing. Checked the return details and low and behold a debt collection company.

I am getting sick to the back teeth of keep putting on them return to sender. And this one company just keeps sending them out in pairs. Even though I keep putting return to sender on no longer owns the property. But they must be a bit thick as they just will not stop.

Yours

Calley

black-saturn

There will be an address inside. If need be the post office will open the letter and send it back to the sender.

calleyw

black-saturn wrote:

There will be an address inside. If need be the post office will open the letter and send it back to the sender.

Yes, I know there is an address inside. But then last time I tried it with one it was returned me the very next day.

That is why I questioned what to do. I was rightly or wrongly under the impression that there was a dead letter office and they would open it.

Guess I just have to try again then.

Yours

Calley

black-saturn

If it gets returned again just throw it out. Dont whatever you do phone the debt company to tell them they no longer live there. It looks like your trying to cover something up or pull a fast one.

inmypocketnottheirs

I remember reading somewhere that the Royal Mail no longer return mail to sender where there is no return address on the outside. Personally I would photocopy a standard letter informing that the person they are chasing no longer lives at the address and inform them that any further correspondence will be shredded then staple their correspondence to it, put it in an unstamped envelope and return it. Being a debt collecting agency, they will more than likely pay the post office to have the unstamped letter delivered, on the basis it may be a cheque or an offer to pay.

HTH

calleyw

black-saturn wrote:

If it gets returned again just throw it out. Dont whatever you do phone the debt company to tell them they no longer live there. It looks like your trying to cover something up or pull a fast one.

No I will not. But did get a letter address to Mr A N Other or current occupier (sp?) and opened the letter and told them I had idea where he was and gave him the address of the two solictors in the local town as he used one of them when he sold the house.

Ball is in their court now.

But I will not open the mail that is addressed to him.

Yours

Calley

Lawbag_2

if they get no success (the debt company) they will just seel it on - which was my point above.

havent these companies heard of the GAIN (Gone Away Network)?