Threatening letters for old tenant

Chrismojam

I did a reply and bloody lost it! The post.........not my mind....though that is a close second:p

I did a check on https://www.192.com.........they have a thing to check the electoral roll.........previous owner appears to be down as living at my address (though his name never appears on the forms from the Council for the electoral roll....so will have to check this out...)

Under the Business Section there is a section for debtor tracing........so if they are using this site/service..its no wonder we still get mail for this prat!

As others have said.......I now have no qualms about opening mail addressed to this man......I've returned letters unopened 'not at this address'..........spoken to debt collection agencies.......written to them (recorded delivery).........sent complaints.....after all I've lived here for over 6 years now, so as far as I'm concerned...if it comes through my letter box, it gets opened....

catkins

Firstly, I do not have the same telephone number as the previous tenants. The only reason anyone looking for him has my number is because I have phoned them and having nothing to hide I did not withhold my number (wich I had though). Secondly as to the opening the post point. In the beginning I was giving the letters back to the postman unopened with "no longer at this address written on them". After several months of this and we are not talking 1 or 2 letters a week but often 3 or so a day I began throwing them away. Then I had the Bailiffs and the police at my door (not together, at different times about different matters). I have had the police at my door 3 times now looking for him (god knows what the neighbours think, they probably think they are after me or OH). I then decided it might be best to open the letters to see what they were, which is what I have been doing. If they threaten Court action or Bailiffs instructed it seemed sensible to me to contact the companies concerned to let them know that not only did the guy not live here any more but I did not particularly want the hassle.

The comment about the creditors being suspicious is not helpful and I find it insulting. I have been totally above board and honest with all the companies, the bailiffs and the police. In return I have been accused of being a liar, made to prove my identity, had the police come in to check that the guy was not here (okay I realise I could have refused them entry but as I had nothing to hide I didn't see the point), had phone calls late at night and early morning (I'm talking about 7am and 10pm!). The police were polite and in the end quite apologetic but the same cannot be said of the bailiffs who were rude and threatening. Hope they never have any reason to actual come after me or OH!

Of course I understand that they and some of the companies looking for him don't know that I am not lying in order to protect him but I have been totally honest with them, shown any that come to the door my id (and really I don't see why I should) and been extremely patient. Now after a year and don't forget that he left here in 2004 I am sick of it.

I am going to get onto CAB now (have been out all morning) and hope they can give me some answers. Will let you know the outcome

Chrismojam

My thoughts are with you Catkins....been there......for six years..........with any luck I've heard the last of it..........if I haven't god help those debt collection agencies............hell have no fury like ME!!!!!!!! seriously......the slightest thing will put me ove the edge at the mo.......lets hope they don't push it!!

seraphina

We had this when we moved in to our place - the previous tennant didn't pay their gas bill.

I think one of the debt collection letters was written to "The Occupier" which is why we opened it, and it was concerning a gas bill for before we moved in. I called up the number on the letter, explained what was going on and then rang up British Gas (the letter was sent on their behalf) to make sure they had us down as owing them no money. Things stopped after that.

With regards to them still being on the electoral roll, only people living at an address can add themselves to the roll at that address. So if you've been there more than a year, you will have been there for the annual update - you should have gotten a card to fill in stating who lives there. Definitely get onto the council to get the role amended if he's still on it!

Hope you get it sorted