DCA letter sent to unknown person at my address

morepunk

UK Default Recovery have sent a letter to my address that I've inhabited for just 6 months. The person it is addressed to is not myself, nor anyone I've ever heard of.

I live in a privately rented flat, and so in theory there could have been several different people residing here within the last few years.

Regardless of this, my girlfriend opened the letter out of interest (she has a habit of opening any letter that comes through the door regardless of who the addressee is!) and was faced with the bold statement "DO NOT IGNORE THIS LETTER" followed by 'Shopacheck -v- Mr Bloggs' (name changed!) with a case number and debt amount.

Now, we don't know what to do from here, and so I would like to ask for your advice.

I'm hesitant to 'return to sender' with an explanation of the situation, as I've heard of the ruthlessness of Debt Collection Agencies. I assume another letter would come back to me informing me NOT TO IGNORE THIS LETTER, completely disregarding what I had to say. Other than this though, I don't know how to proceed. I certainly won't be contacting them by telephone or email.

The debt in question is definitely not mine. The few debts I have are merely credit cards and overdrafts, each of which are being closely minded and carefully paid back. I have never taken out a loan (other than Student Finance which is being paid back through my salary) and so have no doubt that I am not the intended recipient.

Any ideas what I should do?

Thanks!

LilacPixie

I would bin it and ignore. If youreceiveany further letters return to sender unopened

learning_to_drive

Why don't you contact them? I've contacted debt agencies who are chasing someone who used to live at our address. They are pleased to know that she doesnt live here anymore so they can chase her through other avenues.

fatbelly

LilacPixie wrote: »

I would bin it and ignore. If youreceiveany further letters return to sender unopened

...and marked 'not known at this address'

If you were to phone them, it would mean that you had opened the letter and this would make the average dca suspicious that you might be the debtor in question.

It's probably a very ancient debt that they have bought for 2p in the pound.

leftfoot

As per previous answers:
Bin this opened one and then return any others that arrive, marking them "not known at this adddress". But personally I wouldn't even bother doing that too often - if they don't take the hint after a couple of returns then just bin any others as they turn up. DCAs often send letters to addresses they know full well are out of date for the addressee they're chasing. They're a nuisance.
This is really nothing at all for you to be stressing about. Don't knock yourself out attempting to help these agencies hound their prey more effectively - and don't be fooled if they pretend you have a duty to do so; you don't!

stapeley

learning_to_drive wrote: »

Why don't you contact them? I've contacted debt agencies who are chasing someone who used to live at our address. They are pleased to know that she doesnt live here anymore so they can chase her through other avenues.

Nice of you to help these parasites , maybe you do could do some further research for them and give them a forwarding address too. Lets hope they do believe you ,and now armed with a contact number , and don,t constantly ring you at all hours ! Did you ring them on their premium rate phone number ?

morepunk

Thanks for all of your advice! I'll just leave it for now and see what happens. If they send more then we'll send back unopened!