previous tenant still using my address for credit

mstar

he ppl,

me and my wife purchased our new house in May 2008, and we have been stunned every month we keep getting letters from credit agencys who are after a tenant/friend/relative who used to live in the house. A couple of times i have read then and rang the credit company and told them she dnt live here we are new owners.

We had a private invester knock on our door and explain to us she is wanted for large debts and if she lives here. Apprently she is applying for credit still on a new home, me and my wife a soo worried the person will blacklist us for any credit at our new home. How can i stop this person applying for credit my wife has been so worried she according to our doctor getting mild depression, is there anything we can do? anyone?:embarasse :sad

jonesMUFCforever

If they are using your address for credit then cards, statements come to your address too?
It is against the law for you to open somebody else's mail and I would advise writing on the envelope 'no longer at this address' and put it back in post box.

To address your worry make sure to check that you are registered on electoral roll and get a copy of your credit files which will cost you £2 each.

mstar

jonesMUFCforever wrote: »

If they are using your address for credit then cards, statements come to your address too?
It is against the law for you to open somebody else's mail and I would advise writing on the envelope 'no longer at this address' and put it back in post box.

To address your worry make sure to check that you are registered on electoral roll and get a copy of your credit files which will cost you £2 each.

no i havn't opened any of the credit card etc my wife just gives them back to post office but the credit agencys have a big red warning letters on hence my suspicion as i know the main credit agency/baliffs firms which is what got my suspectious.

Me and my wife are registered on the electrol roll and when i rang the council its only me and my wife at this address. Will this person jeapordise our credit? i am clean otherwise but concerend my mortgage is expring next year and will need to re-apply.

am i ok? will i need to ring the credit reference agencys telling them this so my record is not tarnished? as they using my address?

Chutzpah

As far as I understand it, contrary to popular belief homes are not 'blacklisted' by credit agencies, only people.

Similar to the myth that constantly checking your credit report yourself can affect your credit score.

mstar

thats what me and my wife were thinking as people have tenants etc, and when u buy houses there is bound to be people still applying for credit on the premises u purchased, but i thought i ask u guys as we are worrying like hell :-(

geordie_joe

jonesMUFCforever wrote: »

It is against the law for you to open somebody else's mail

No it is NOT!

It is against the law to open someone else's mail WITH THE INTENTION OF GAINING AN ADVANTAGE.

If you open it for any other reason it is not against the law.

olly300

jonesMUFCforever wrote: »

If they are using your address for credit then cards, statements come to your address too?
It is against the law for you to open somebody else's mail and I would advise writing on the envelope 'no longer at this address' and put it back in post box.

No it's not.

I advise the OP to open up the letters, telephone the companies up and explain that you think fraud has occurred as the person they are sending the statements to moved out of your address years ago. If possible dig out the other person's solicitor's address and give them that.

In addition it's worth pointing out that credit scores are linked to the person not the property so as long as you check your credit records to confirm that you are not linked on them to the person who keeps using your address, then your credit is not affected.

Unfortunately you will still be harassed by debt collection agencies but if you continue to phone the credit card companies up they will eventually leave you alone. If you do nothing then things will continue.

mstar

thanks for the information

i am not sure how to check if they have linked me or not any ideas?

Also i am also registered at my parents address for the electrol roll, is that ok? does that hurt my credit ratings?

Fire_Fox

Do you know where this friend/ relative is living now? Why don't you pass on that information to all her creditors? If she has so little respect for you that she will allow you to be stressed by this situation, I would not think twice about affording her the same courtesy.

dallas123

Keep persisting in informing these credit agencies that the person is no longer at your address. They will go away eventually especially if you can provide a council tax bill showing you are the registered owner - baliffs and door step collectors usually accept this as proof of residency (or not as the case is of the person using your details!) Some of them will most probably be trying their luck in scaring you out of some money due to the pressures caused by the current economic climate but stand your ground. I wouldn't recommend opening the post though. It may have repercussions under the Data Ptotection Act. Just mark the envelopes 'no longer at this address' and return to the Post Office who will also amend their records and stop delivering the previous tenant's post to you. It will take a while but it will filter through to the creditors. And they cannot black list your address although it is widely known that certain types of credit agencies will sell details to each other. Keep an eye on your credit report - I check my Experian report once every couple of weeks at the moment. Then if any errors do occur you can get the creditor details and get it removed asap.

vikingaero

Definitely not an offence to open other peoples mail addressed to your address. Open the mail to check it's not bailiffs trying to hassle you.

Then reseal it and mark it Return to Sender - Fraudulent Credit Application Etc.

Maybe consider making a Protective Registration on CIFAS (Credit Industry Fraud Avoidance Scheme) http://www.cifas.org.uk/default.asp?edit_id=565-85