Former tenant ruining my life!!!!

widgery

Okay. I wanted to find a board where I could seek help on this. But I couldn't find one that I thought was appropriate. So I've decided to vent a little.

I've recently moved into a flat with my family. It's nice, near town, good transport links, near to where I work and, oh yeah, the landlord conveniently forgot to mention that a former tenant ran up a lot of debt while living here and the property is blacklisted! A pretty big detail to 'forget'.

Which means I'm hounded by bailiff..... Sorry I mean 'debt collection'..... agencies all the time. I tell them that the person in question moved away over two years ago. They go back to the various companies that are owed money and tell them that this woman no longer lives here and what do they do? Send more bailiffs!!!! The problem is you try to talk to these meat heads that they send around and explain that they are two years too late and they don't understand.

'What do you mean I'm two years too late? This is her last known address.' one particular muscle bound freak told me.

'Yes. Her LAST KNOWN address. She lived her over two years ago, well before I moved in.' I explain, dying a little on the inside.

"What do you mean two years ago?' The conversations go in circles.

I mean really. Is it really that hard to understand that this woman doesn't live in my flat anymore?

I received a court order from the local council the other day. Apparently she owes them money too. I called them and told them the situation. They apologized and said those immortal words 'But this is her last known address.' I asked the nice lady to check the council tax records for this property, after being put on hold she confirmed that I've been paying the council tax recently and that this other person stopped paying council tax over two years ago. She said I won't be bothered by the council again.

Two things spring to mind. The first is why didn't they check the council tax records in the first place. The second was why am I having to tell the council how to investigate this matter? It boggles the mind. It truly does.

Thanks for listening. Well... reading.

mcroodi

Sorry to hear you're having trouble.

Maybe try posting this in the "Debt Free Wannabe" section:- http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/forumdisplay.html?f=76 as there will be people there who could possibly give you advice on handling the bailiffs who keep calling - or try the House Buying Renting and Selling section maybe?

If your post is in the wrong place then I'm sure someone will kindly come along and let you know where it should be posted.

I wish you the best in sorting this out.

RobertoMoir

I realise that sticking to the facts gets in the way of a stress relieving rant, and I can understand why you need to rant and get it out of your system, but are they bailiffs (you mention council tax) or are they debt collectors?

If they're bailiffs collecting for council tax, contact the council and complain to them. The bailiffs only go where they are sent, and they're being given this address by the council holding the debt.

If they're debt collectors collecting god knows what, keep them on the doorstep and tell them to get off your property because they're trespassing, and then ignore them. Report them to the police if they refuse to leave and become disruptive. It isn't like they have the power to do anything anyway. Return any correspondence addressed to the debtor as "not known at this address" and if you must deal with them at all other than that, do so via post only.

As for "blacklisted", if you mean in regards to credit ratings and stuff, this is tied to the individual rather than an address. Anything she's done absolutely should not affect your financial affairs in any way.

CRANKY40

I had this problem many years ago when I bought a flat from somebody that owed a lot of people. I used to go down to the front door and show the bailiff/whoever my mortgage agreement, and the transfer of property document.

Do you have a tenancy agreement that you could show these people maybe?

RobertoMoir

That's another effective approach, Cranky, but the poor OP shouldn't have to deal with them even that much, if the OP doesn't want to. I can see that getting real old real quick if there are scores of people turning up.

markelock

also, in the two years you've been there, have they not sent you a form to complete to confirm who is on the electoral role?

they will give up, it will get through to them eventually.

CRANKY40

RobertoMoir wrote: »

That's another effective approach, Cranky, but the poor OP shouldn't have to deal with them even that much, if the OP doesn't want to. I can see that getting real old real quick if there are scores of people turning up.

yes it was a drag, but it was the quickest and most effective way of getting rid of them. The letters dried up pretty quickly too.

Anthillmob

we have had similar problems with bailiff letters being sent. ive faxed them a copy of my council tax bill as proof that i now live here.

epz_2

that makes another one for this thread

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=1369193

basically its about the government deciding its ok for bailiffs to force entry and beat people up in new legislation, might want to write to your mp.

RobertoMoir

epz wrote: »

that makes another one for this thread

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=1369193

basically its about the government deciding its ok for bailiffs to force entry and beat people up in new legislation, might want to write to your mp.

"beat people up" indeed.
What was actually proposed is horrible enough as it is, you don't need to make up crap too. I agree with writing to your MP to protest the idea, but I can't help that sticking to the facts might actually get them to take more notice of our protests.

giggles_alot

Hi Widgery. I seem to be having a very very similar problem to you.
It only started just before christmas but has been going on for years without me realising.
My parents divorced and my Dad moved out nearly 5 years ago. My Mum bought him out so he no longer has any financial connection with the house. But it would seem he continued to use our address as his own and just paid Royal Mail to redirect his post (and on several occasions they very kindly sent him mine too - but thats another subject to rant about) It now seems he is no longer paying Royal Mail and the first i got to know about it was a postcard from a debt collection company, he post has continued as have the notices and other documents.
I have no forwarding address and no contact with him now and after seeking all sorts of advice it seems that there is nothing i can do to stop him using this address as his own.
I wrote and return all the letters to sender with a covering letter explaining all this (its costing me a small fortune in stamps) but yet the keep arriving.
It getting to the point where we are scared to answer the door incase its some kind of baliff and we have done nothing to be in this position - its not our debt.
Sorry folks rant over, if anyone can suggest anything it would be gratefully recieved,