Keep getting debt collection letters for neighbour

jaydeeuk1

Over the last 12 months or so we've been getting letters addressed to our neigghbour with our address on. Despite writing that they live next door and to update their records and RTS, we still keep getting them.
One day, whilst annoyed i opened one up and found the lad next door had debt collection letter for £300. Again I wrote back to the company (bt I think) saying to update their records and he does not live here (don't think he lives next door now, just his parents).
The letters keep coming, demanding immediate payment or the debt collectors will come round. One from BT for £300, orange for £80 and natwest bank nearly £3000. I've since rang these places and told them to change their records and they have done now, but these are just the ones we know about.

first, I know hes using our address on purpose, 1 credit comp i could understand writing an incorrect address, but not 3 times at least (ours is 36, his or his parents is 38)

A) - how the hell did he manage to get credit at our address? Hes about 19/20 years old and we've lived here for over 5 years and have never accepted credit in his name, and only sent letters back to sender.

- I assume this doesn't affect our credit rating? How do we know he hasn't done some sort of joint application? How come credit agencies couldn't pick up the fact he doesn't live here?

I realise its probably not legal opening letters, but the last thing I want is debt collectors coming round whilst my wife is in by herself.

Shaking with rage!

LeeSouthEast

It'll have no effect on your credit rating. Stop worrying, just scribble "not known at this address" and put them back in the postbox.

jaydeeuk1

Fair enough, but that doesn't answer how they managed to get credit in the first place - one is a bank account, you'd think they'd require proof of address, and the other is for BT - presumable a phone line or broadband. Surely their computer systems are sophisticated enough to see what land line number corresponds with which address.

DarkConvict

The companies poor fraud checking is how they managed to get credit, it is upto the company to prove it is a legitimate account.

However debt collectors are known to write to neighbours on purpose to put stress on the debtor, something which is strictly against OFT guidelines.

Hardup_Hester

We have the daughter of the previous owner of our house running up debt at our address. It's tedious, but hasn't had any serious consequences so far.

Georges_Mum

We not only had those letters, but have the bailiffs coming round in 48 hours (that was Monday) for a parking fine. The only thing is the woman hasn't lived here for at least 4 years. Have told the council - where it originates from...and where we pay our council tax too, and also the debt collection company. Both by phone and in writing - going to be an interesting week, another one came today to say they have a warrant for her car....?
G.M.

jaydeeuk1

Bumping this old thread!
Still getting these damn letters, probably at least 1 a week since this thread was opened. I've written Not at this address and put back in post box, I've put neigjbours (the kids parents) address and put back in post box, I've written to the various debt agencies and rang them, and nothing has changed.

My wife is heavily pregnant and we've had hand delivered notices, and the thought of them eyeing mine and the wifes car up makes me want to go round to the neighbours house with a few mates. She doesn't want to be at home during the day now incase someone comes round - why should they believe us when we say he doesn't/has never lived here?

Its not a case of these putting the wrong address on - the kid has done it on purpose, bank accounts, car loans and phone bills with our address down.

Is there anything I can do legally? I'd love to sue the balls off these people (and the f*cker who should be dealing with this)

katsu

We had the previous occupants of our house continuing to run up debt and being chased for old debts.

I suggest that if you are continually getting letters from a particular company that you write then a complaint (stating that it is a complaint and you are willing to involve the Information Commissioner and OFT) saying you have been RTS and have told them the person is not at your address.

Your wife has nothing to worry about - the onus is on the debt collector/baliff to prove Mr X lives at your house, not on you to prove he doesn't. I did send the high court baliffs a copy of the paperwork from my solicitors when I bought the house to prove we weren't Mr and Mrs X, but mostly I went on my merry way, ignoring their correspondence.

I explained to one firm of debt collectors that I couldn't prove that Mr X didn't live in my house as you can't prove a negative. I suggested that they came and spent the week sitting at the garden gate to see if they could see him coming in the house - if they knew who he was.

It really seems quite impossible for them, to be honest. All they can do is take the person to court, in their absence, and perhaps get a CCJ against them, which the person will continue to not pay.

I doubt that the police can help you but perhaps if you have a neighbourhood policing team you could ask them for advice?

I have no idea if you can sue the person concerned.

It really will be OK.

All the best.

QueenB.

There has already been some great advice written on here and i can't really add to it, however i was wondering if you have spoken to the neighbours concerned? You said the son had moved out but couldn't the parents give him the bills personally?

Gordon_Hose

Could be someone typed the number in wrong on an application or on the file that got passed to the DCA's.

On my credit file there are 2 past addresses, 1 is 54 xxxxxx Drive, the other is 45 xxxxxx Drive. I've never lived at 45.

oldtractor

I used to get letters for someone else and debt collectors calling round. There is nothing to worry about. Just write "Not known at this address" on the envelope and put it vback in the post box. The debt collectors go away when you say MR X doesnt live here. You dont have to give them your name. The ones who came here were very polite. it stopped eventualy. Do please tell your wife what is happening OP it would surely be more of a shock if she didnt know and opened the door to a couple of burly men in suits.