not my debt

chnelomi

hope this is the right place. if not please move, thank you.

ok i moved house at the end of last year and as can happen got allot of mail for previous occupier. Then i had the pleasure of debt collectors trying to trick their way into the flat(only reason the first guy backed of was because he seen my dog) another time they were so rude a neighbor came to tell them they were out of order.(he wouldn't move his foot to let me shut the door to get paperwork to prove who i was).

Now i have two letters from the court and i am worried that they will be back again because obviously i got the letters and not the intended previous ocupier. is their somewhere i can send a letter or should i open one of these letters and send a note to the court saying no longer here. and what should i say to anyone at the door because politeness is just over looked in their determination to get payment.

any advice please

Thank you

GeorgeUK

Write on the envelope "No longer at this address" and send it back unopened.

If it is a dorrstep collector, they have no legal right to enter your property. They have the same powers as the paperboy - none. Only a court appointed bailiff has powers of entry and even then they are severley restricted in what they can do - they can't just push past you or break down the door.

If you have anything that proves that you own the property or when your tenancy started, you should have a copy of that close to hand near the door to show to anyone that comes knocking. If the doorstep collector gives you trouble, ask them to leave - if they don't then they are trespassing and you should call the police (take a note of their ID first if you can).

chnelomi

Thanks GeorgeUK will give it a go had returned a few when i first moved in their was a big pile but it seemed to increase the post after i done it,but i will try again. think i will make a copy of tenancy and keep it at the front door. hears hoping i don't get more visits after the court date.Their so arrogant it's unbelievable.they made me feel guilty even though it's not me their looking for!
Thanks again for the advice.

RobertoMoir

chnelomi wrote: »

hope this is the right place. if not please move, thank you.

ok i moved house at the end of last year and as can happen got allot of mail for previous occupier. Then i had the pleasure of debt collectors trying to trick their way into the flat(only reason the first guy backed of was because he seen my dog) another time they were so rude a neighbor came to tell them they were out of order.(he wouldn't move his foot to let me shut the door to get paperwork to prove who i was).

Now i have two letters from the court and i am worried that they will be back again because obviously i got the letters and not the intended previous ocupier. is their somewhere i can send a letter or should i open one of these letters and send a note to the court saying no longer here. and what should i say to anyone at the door because politeness is just over looked in their determination to get payment.

any advice please

Thank you

Debt collectors who don't leave when you tell them? Trespassing, threatening behaviour. Call the police.

Bailiffs who stick a foot in the door? Trespassing, call the police.

anyone who tries to push past you? Trespass and assault. Call the police.

Letters? Return unopened as "not known at this address", ignore further letters.

Simple.

GeorgeUK

Also check the electoral register to make sure that person is no longer on the roll at your address. Always worth checking this.

http://www.192.com/general/electoralroll.cfm

TotallyBroke

I had my council tax bill blutacked to the back of my front door when this happened to me.
It will die down eventually but unfortunately 2years on and I'm still getting the odd letter.

Stinkybell

We occationally still get letters for the people who lived in our flat before us (we've been here 2 years now!). Including McKenzie Hall and court papers for unpaid tube fines - we open everything sent and just ring them to explain from a withheld number. Noone's ever had a problem and most post has stopped apart for TfL who seemed to think that because he hadn't changed his driving license address that he sill lived here. Just stay strong - you haven't done anything wrong!

ladylumps45

at our old house a huge debt collector man from southern electric turned up for the person that lived there before us.
we said we werent him and he said it was in our best interest to let him in which we did.
we proved by our tenancy agreement that we werent the previous person.we said that we had returned alot of mail for the person and the debt collector said that we should open any mail that comes through the door,even if its not in our names as its our responsibilty.the reason he told us to open everything was because if its letters from debt collectors and they are not made aware that the person no longer lives there,ten baillfs can turn up with the police and break in.in cases where dogs are in the house,a police dog trainer is called.
so i guess it taught us that we should and now do open the mail from our old house and when we moved.

jayss

But you're really not meant to open other peoples mail and its not your responsibility.

MrsTinks

ladylumps45 wrote: »

at our old house a huge debt collector man from southern electric turned up for the person that lived there before us.
we said we werent him and he said it was in our best interest to let him in which we did.
we proved by our tenancy agreement that we werent the previous person.we said that we had returned alot of mail for the person and the debt collector said that we should open any mail that comes through the door,even if its not in our names as its our responsibilty.the reason he told us to open everything was because if its letters from debt collectors and they are not made aware that the person no longer lives there,ten baillfs can turn up with the police and break in.in cases where dogs are in the house,a police dog trainer is called.
so i guess it taught us that we should and now do open the mail from our old house and when we moved.

WRONG!

Firstly most debt collectors haven't the faintest idea of the law I'm afraid. If YOU open someone elses post YOU commit an offence - easy for him to state otherwise as he's not the one breaking the law.
Secondly the bailiffs can't turn up with the police and break in - it's A LOT more complex than that. In order for a bailiff to even get involved a debt must have gone to court, a CCJ been issued and not paid and then a walking possession order signed. They can't "just turn up". If they do it's breaking and entering - pure and simple. The police certainly would not assist them either.

Also - if anyone ever turns up again DO NOT let them in - even if it's your debt - and certainly not if it's not your debt! The onus is on the creditor to prove you owe them, or the person owing the money lives there - NOT on you to prove otherwise! Just about everything he told you is lies I'm afraid.

fermi

MrsTine wrote: »

Just about everything he told you is lies I'm afraid.

Seconded. That collector was talking utter nonsense.:rolleyes: