debt collector letter for previous owners

leni

We bought our house 3 and half years ago, I've just come to find a letter for them, being nosey I've opened it and it's a formal demand for payment from a debt collector agency. - Robinson, Way & Company Ltd - the amount £424.57

The letter is a formal notice of intended court action if they do not pay them in 10 days .

What should I do?

I know they've moved house again and it's not really my place to locate them

oops_a_daisy

I get these all the time for the previous person that lived in my house. It used to be a rented house before I bought it and the last person to live here basically didnt pay any bills and ran up loads of debts on this address. I still get letters now and have given up returning them to sender. I am now getting worried that this person is still using this address because it has now been 5 years since I moved in so I thought that it should have stopped by now. I have even had bailiffs turning up on the doorstep because of him not paying council tax and getting a CCJ. When I go for credit they always do full checks on me because of it - I have never been declined but they still check into me in more debth because of the person that used to live here. He went by 2 different names and even called himself a Doctor too - complete liar, I found an old wage slip of his in the loft - he worked in a bar part time!.
Sorry I cant give any advice but will be watching this thread with interest to see if there is anything that can be done about it.

Emmzi

First thing, it's an offence to open a letter that isn't addressed in your name.

Just reseal it, write 'return to sender' on it. You might add 'try..' and their solicitors details if you know them.

davesgirl_2

we get loads for previos tenants (we live in rented house) i just bin them

oops_a_daisy

it is also an offence to give an incorrect address or to still use an address to run up debts on - I can understand Leni what you are going through

leni

I know it's an offence and normally they just go in the bin, but this one looked more official! and obviously I'd like to be aware if debt collectors are gonna turn up at our door or the house gets black listed!

Emmzi

they may turn up - just have proof of who you are handy eg passport and rent book/mortgage agreement.

Houses no longer get blacklisted - credit searches go by name.

oops_a_daisy

if there is a CCJ listed against you address it DOES cause problems getting finance and you should not have to prove who you are in your home just because some scumbag has left you with their problems.

Dan29

oops_a_daisy wrote:

if there is a CCJ listed against you address it DOES cause problems getting finance

I don't think this is true; I think Emmzi is correct that the credit search is based on the name, not the address. Can you provide evidence that what you say is correct?

oops_a_daisy

yes why dont you come with me next time I want to get a mobile phone and wait all day till they run further checks into me because there is a CCJ registered against my address.

C_Ronaldo

i agree with daisy, its your home why should you have to prove who you are, the scum who do this should be locked up,

everyone says its an offence to use give an incorrect address or to still use an address to run up debts on but has anyone been arrested for it