Bad debt of previous home owner

lauracaton

Hi everyone,

Just wondering if there is a way I can disassoicate myself with the previous owners bad debt or stop any mail continuing to be delivered? I bought the house as a repossession and since then we are recieving mail from creditors etc for him. We have been writing on the envelope 'no living at this address' and sending it back however the letters continue to come.
Can the address affect my credit rating?

Thanks

Thrugelmir

Carry on with what you are doing. In time the issue will cease.

No it won't affect your credit rating.

BitterAndTwisted

Most organisations, including banks, do not appear to take note of mail which is sent back to them marked "no longer at this address".

To prevent the likelihood of debt-collectors or bailiffs showing up at your door I recommend you open the mail and telephone each organisation either giving them a correct, new address for the previous owners or admitting you bought the property as a repo and you don't have one. Putting this information in writing would be much more effective but I acknowledge that this might be more trouble than it's worth to you but I would most definitely do this in your position.

If you rely on sending the mail back you will almost certainly have bailiffs at your door eventually so be prepared by never leaving any windows open while you're out and having proof of your identity and ownership of the property to hand. They will show up, I guarantee it.

lvader

BitterAndTwisted wrote: »

To prevent the likelihood of debt-collectors or bailiffs showing up at your door I recommend you open the mail and telephone each organisation either giving them a correct .

It's technically illegal to open someone elses mail.

DVardysShadow

lvader wrote: »

It's technically illegal to open someone elses mail.

Been dealt with many times before. There is no problem with opening mail which has come through your letterbox, provided you do not intend to act to the detriment of the person named as the addressee. The chapter and verse of the law often quoted relates to mail in transmission, which it is no longer if it has come through your door.

hethmar

Have you registered on the electoral roll? Thats the first thing you should do - for council tax etc. Because they will be looking on the roll and still seeing the old owners name - so why should they believe you when you just write, not at this address.

lvader

DVardysShadow wrote: »

Been dealt with many times before. There is no problem with opening mail which has come through your letterbox, provided you do not intend to act to the detriment of the person named as the addressee. The chapter and verse of the law often quoted relates to mail in transmission, which it is no longer if it has come through your door.

The only way it wouldn't be illegal is if you do it by mistake.

theGrinch

lvader wrote: »

It's technically illegal to open someone elses mail.

"technically"...maybe you can expand on this

as an owner then it is not illegal to open mail if you have reasonable ground to do so. for example, if you suspect someone is using your address to committ an offence or you are receiving alot of threatening or debt related mail. Often you need to open to get a telephone number. Just returning does not always help anyone.

once it lands on your doorstep and provided you are not stealing and you have that suspicion then yes you can open. if you interfere with mail in transit then so it is an offence.

Optimisticpair

What can be done if the previous occupant was a tenant and I don't have an address for her or if someone has used the address and a false name?

G_M

Optimisticpair wrote: »

What can be done if the previous occupant was a tenant and I don't have an address for her or if someone has used the address and a false name?

See the advice above already proferred by bitterandtwisted!

picklepick

Having lived in rented houses for quite a long time, this has happened to us loads of times.
All i do is open the letters, call the number, explain that said person no longer lives there, tell them the date we moved in and thats the end of that! Often the companies are very grateful that I've let them know. Then no more mail through the door. Simple.

I also keep a copy of our rental agreement and a copy of my passport pinned to the noticeboard which is next to the front door, should Mr Baliff ever turn up. So far none ever has!