Solicitor threats for my address but not me.

Bazz669

Hello,
I recently received a bill from a solicitors, acting on behalf of Birmingham magistrates court. The bill is for my address but not my name, I have never heard of the woman who its for, nor to my knowledge has she ever lived here.
I contacted the solicitors to explain the situation and they told me a letter would be sent out, which it was. In this letter they "demanded" that I prove who I am and that I live there and send them the original documents by recorded delivery of my proof.
Now I dont mean to be difficult just for the sake of it, but I thought in this country one was innocent until proven guilty, therefore the enphasis isnt on me to prove she dosent live here, its on them to prove she does. Also this is going to cost me money and time that I dont really have and Im also not sure exactly how I can prove somebody dosent live with me. I did try to phone them again but last time I phoned, I was on hold for half an hour on an 0844 number, and it cost me a fortune.
I had another letter this morning that Im really worried about, saying it was a "pre removal notice" which if I understand correctly means bailiffs are going to come round and take my stuff. Can they actually do this?
I dont understand exactly where they got the info that this person lives at my address but they are taking it as gospel truth.
I really dont know what to do. I obviously dont want bailiffs coming round and taking my things because some woman Ive never heard of hasnt payed her TV license.
Anyone got any ideas on what to do?
Many thanks for reading.

McKneff

If the letters are not for you all you are bound to do legally is mark them
'not at this address' and send them back.

Bailiffs would not come round, they can only do this after a county court judgement.
Debt collectors can come to you r door but as long as you have proof of who you are then you have no need to worry.

I get the impression they are bully boys writing these letters and fairly sure what they are doing is illegal, so have a coffee, calm down. Common sense will tell yu that they cannot do this to you if its not your debt.
Others more knowledgeable will be along soon (but give them time to get in from work and have their tea) and will help.
It should not cost you anything.
Do not ring them,
If you ever have to ring anyone on an 0844/0870 number again have a look at the site saynoto0870 and you will get a generic number.

Stop worrrying................

adj_2

Yes completely agree with previous post. We had a similar situation a few years back. The letters we received however, were addressed to my husband (he has a very common name!). Like you, he was told he had to prove he wasn't the person they thought he was and like, you he refused to do so, demanding that they prove they had the right person. We ignored the letters and they just stopped eventually. (It is hard to ignore though, I know, when the letters can be quite scary).

Stick to your guns and stay calm!

Bazz669

Thanks for the replies folks. I probably am panicking a little too much, but you hear all these stories of !!!! ups that go on for years with people trying to get money back that was taken in error.
If a bailiff turns up though will he care anything about my case or is it merely his job to take things from said address to the amount of etc etc.

cabbage

Hi

This is just a fishing exercise and is not uncommon. They can threaten all sorts to make people pay but in reality can do very little. It shouldn't be up to you to prove you don't owe the debt.

Bailiffs can some times be merely debt collectors pretending to be bailiffs. Real bailiffs can only seize goods belonging to the person who owes the money. So if they managed to get in and you signed the walking possession AND they took goods away, you could get your goods back and compensation, in addition, they may lose their licence to be a bailiff.

Bailiffs are appointed by the court.

Bailiffs are not just allowed to break in, they have to gain peaceful entry which could include entering through an unlocked door or open window. Once they have gained peaceful entry then they can return and use force to break in.

I suggest that if bailiffs/debt collectors knock on the door, talk to them through the letterbox or upstairs window.

see https://www.adviceguide.org and tap in bailiffs into the search engine to get full details

If you really can't do nothing, there is a template letter on https://www.nationaldebtline.co.uk that you could send to the solicitors.

McKneff

Bazz669 wrote: »

Thanks for the replies folks. I probably am panicking a little too much, but you hear all these stories of !!!! ups that go on for years with people trying to get money back that was taken in error.
If a bailiff turns up though will he care anything about my case or is it merely his job to take things from said address to the amount of etc etc.

Nothing can be taken from an address without first a county court judgement, a walk in possession order (after the judgement) so dont worry. You are not liable for this debt. If you can, to get peace of mind,
if anyone does turn up,(It will not be a bailiff) just show them something that proves you are who you are. They will have to go away then. Dont let them in.
If anything does happen, dont just threaten to call the police, do it.
And please stop worrying. you will make yourself ill.

pinkshoes

All they're trying to do is get their money, and as they don't know where this person is, they're trying to bully you into paying.

DO NOT phone them on their expensive number. Just return all letters unopened stating "not known at this address" and ignore. Perhaps have some ID ready should a bailiff call round, but I doubt it'll get that far.

sp1987

We had post for someone who did not live at our address from Westcott. I duly sent back all mail ''not known at this address'' a couple of times. They kept sending them; final demands, 'an agent will call'. I even put some into a recorded delivery envelope when I sent them back ''not known at this address'' so I could be sure they reached Westcott. They did.

When they refused to stop posting drivel to someone I have never heard of I caved in and called them, I'd rather have a moan than report them to the appropriate authorities, it isn't my debt. I'm not known for my tact so dutifully informed the woman at the end of the phone that I (female voice) would in no way ''prove'' I was not Mr X (duhh?!?). I also told her that details and copies of her fishing exercise had been copied in addition to being returned to her company and I would be invoicing her for my time in sending back any more of their drivel at a rate of £50 an hour (my rate for having to read such innane crud meant for somebody else). I send similar invoices for other 'invitations' to pay other people's bills whom I don't even know. It keeps them from bothering vulnerable people and I like to use their freepost envelopes. What is more enjoyable is finding two pieces of junk mail and putting them in oneanother's envelopes at their expense. Voila, nothing since. Shame.

To be honest just tell them that their fishing attempts are against OFT guidelines if you have not got the time to idiot it about for a few minutes like I had. They cannot enter your property, you don't owe any money to them. Send letters recorded delivery stating who you are if you are so inclined. Don't include proof of who you are. As long as you are not her it is no business of theirs who you are.