O/T Mam needs help

Toon

My mam used to live in a council house. She moved out and I lived there with my girlfriend for a further 6 months or so. I moved out and another woman moved in who coincedentally had the same name as my mam. This was over 4 years ago since I lived there and for the last 6 months or so my mam has been receiving letters and phone calls from solicitors and credit companies asking for money for phone bills etc. The money is not owed by my mam but by this other woman with the same name.

The credit companies will not leave my mam alone and keep asking her for money. My dad has spoken (and shouted) at the people on the phone but they insist on asking for money. He also went to see a solicitor the other day but was quoted £100 up front plus £80 per hour just to write these credit agencies a letter. Obviously that's not going to happen.

What can they do about it?

iwanttosave_2

you need to provide dates that she moved out and the other person moved in, your best bet is to put this in debtfree wannabe board you will get a better responce there. also contact your local CAB for advice

tigermatt

iwanttosave wrote:

your best bet is to put this in debtfree wannabe board

PM one of the Board Guides on the Arms and ask them to more this over. That is the best way instead of having two threads.

Board Guides for the MoneySavers Arms:
Glad PM: http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/private.html?do=newpm&u=8117
arkonite_babe PM: http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/private.html?do=newpm&u=26545

tigermatt

iwanttosave_2

sorry also just giving these companies simple facts like your mums DOB should help because the two people wont have the same DOB and provide proff of this

Bendybops19

As want2 said, she just needs to show some documents to prove she had moved out. The council should also be able to provide them with the correct details to show that someone else is living there with her name now. How have they got your mums address/phone details?? They should have all the other ladies details!

tigermatt

All you will need are some documents showing that she moved out, or you might be able to use a document saying she lives at a different address. (For example, a utility bill maybe???)

Bendybops19 wrote:

How have they got your mums address/phone details?? They should have all the other ladies details!

I would be interested to find out how they got this information.

tigermatt

Bossyboots

Bendybops19 wrote:

As want2 said, she just needs to show some documents to prove she had moved out. The council should also be able to provide them with the correct details to show that someone else is living there with her name now. How have they got your mums address/phone details?? They should have all the other ladies details!

You cannot just pass on council tenancies in this way so I have to question whether the council are actually aware of the situation at all.

In our area, when the Mam moved out the house would have gone to a brand new tenant. You cannot just move into a council house and take on a tenancy just because the tenant chooses to move out. There is only one succession tenancy allowed as well so even if the OP had moved in with their consent, the new person should not then have been able to just move in.

Xbigman

If showing she moved out does not clear this up then ask all creditors to provide proof of the debt. They will need to send a credit agreement which will have a signature on that will not match. Between the proof of non residence and non matching signatures you will clear it all up. I have to say the word 'eventually' because this will probably take some time.
Regards



X

jonesMUFCforever

Toon wrote:

My mam used to live in a council house. She moved out and I lived there with my girlfriend for a further 6 months or so. I moved out and another woman moved in who coincedentally had the same name as my mam. This was over 4 years ago since I lived there and for the last 6 months or so my mam has been receiving letters and phone calls from solicitors and credit companies asking for money for phone bills etc. The money is not owed by my mam but by this other woman with the same name.

The credit companies will not leave my mam alone and keep asking her for money. My dad has spoken (and shouted) at the people on the phone but they insist on asking for money. He also went to see a solicitor the other day but was quoted £100 up front plus £80 per hour just to write these credit agencies a letter. Obviously that's not going to happen.

What can they do about it?

How come you mam has received telephone calls and letters if she and you no longer live at the address?
Are the letters concerning a BT landline?When she left did she or you tell BT that you were leaving or could it be that they are thinking that she is still living at the property. As others have already told you if the council do not know what is going on with the tenancy she indeed might be held responsible for any debts arising from there as legally she is still the legal tenant.

Toon

The tanancy was transferred over to my name legally. I then made all of the necassary arrangements with the council, BT, Elec etc when I moved out. I'm not sure how they traced my mam. I don't know what credit agencies can get hold of but obviously she would have changed her address with her bank, catalogues etc so maybe they just checked this info or checked her DOB on some sort of register. That's not really the concern - the concern is that the phone calls keep on happening (and yes, the new tennent definately has the same name because they saw the next door neighbour and she has confirmed the name is the same.

jonesMUFCforever

Could it be that this new tenant is just using your mother's name to fraudently obtain goods? It's one hell of a coincidence for this to happen don't you think?