previous tenant/debt problems

deniseandsean

Hope this is the appropriate section to post in.

Since buying/moving into our home two years ago we've been inundated with correspondence addressed to the previous tenant/owner relating to a number of bad debts. We've also had bailiff visits from two separate companies, again in connection with the previous tenant.

Most of these I've managed to sort. However, the guy's bank are STILL writing to him at this address (latest letter this morning is a formal demand for a large sum) despite the fact I have telephoned and written to them literally countless times to say he no longer lives here and that we do not have a forwarding address. Each time they assure me they have now removed our address from their records.

He's still using this address to open new accounts - one with a loan company, the other with a mobile phone network - as we receive his bills, etc, here. One of these he's already defaulted on, giving us further problems

I was advised to report the matter to the police, which I did months ago, as I'm told it is fraudulent for him to use an address which is no longer his own. The police took details but can do nothing further.

I've even resorted to ringing him on his mobile (bearing in mind we now have his number because his bills are sent here) to ask him to sort it... no luck there

Apart from the hassle, I'm wondering if all this could affect our own credit worthiness?

Can anyone please advise what steps we might be able to now take in an effort to get this sorted once and for all?

Many thanks.

Lokolo

Just write on the letters "No longer lives here, return" and post back in the post box.

deniseandsean

Did that for the first 9 months after moving in - it didn't make any difference, the correspondence keeps coming, along with the baliff visits and new accounts being opened more recently.

rsykes2000

It will definitely not affect your credit status as the debts are linked to the person, not the address.
However I do sympathise as I had the same situation in an old house - you really don't need to deal with bailiffs coming round for someone else.

deniseandsean

That's great, thanks for that piece of info Shall just bin any future correspondence then.

Yes, not nice getting the beady eye from the bailiffs on the doorstep, both of whom seemed convinced I was lying! Mind, they've not been back so...

Thanks again for that.

unholyangel

deniseandsean wrote: »

That's great, thanks for that piece of info Shall just bin any future correspondence then.

Yes, not nice getting the beady eye from the bailiffs on the doorstep, both of whom seemed convinced I was lying! Mind, they've not been back so...

Thanks again for that.

Have you tried telling them not to contact you in person/by letter and asking they contacthim by telephone (and give them the debtors phone number you have for him?).

Also, you could try calling the phone company he has the phone with and tell them he has used a false address when taking out the phone? Surely they would suspend it for a fraud investigation and the police would have to take more notice (especially since the network will have his new address.......every time you make a call a network cell logs info....including where the call was made from - supposedly accurate to 3m squared).

Of course his network would probably rather write off his account as apparently it can cost them hundreds to obtain this info from the network cells. But you never know, always worth a try.

PZH

deniseandsean wrote: »

.....Shall just bin any future correspondence then.

I would still be tempted to write "Not at this address" and put it back in the post. That way, not only are you informing the people who are being scammed by the previous occupant, you are also clearing your own involvement.

Still - very annoying to keep receiving the letters. ( I get the occasional odd letter - but most have stopped now after a year !! )

julielb71

Found this thread when looking for similar advice. We've been in our house for over two years and recently had a lot of post for the previous owners. Wrote 'not at this address' and re-posted. Last week a card was pushed through the door from Black Horse saying they had called round to discuss the arrears on car payments. I immediately called the agent and left a message on their voice mail explaining the situation and telling them where this person had moved to. Thank goodness for google maps as this helped me find their address! This obviously made me suspicious and wonder what the sudden increase in post for them had been about so when a letter came for them this morning with no return address on the back I opened it. Sure enough it was a demand for rent on their business premises. I emailed the solicitor that sent the letter and explained. I have since seen a forum which advises you not to open post (legally you shouldn't as its not addressed etc) but on moneysavingexpert site under the section about buying a reposessed home it advises to open post so that you can advise senders of the situation. My biggest worry is that bailiffs will turn up whilst I'm out and my teenagers are home alone. What are rules surrounding bailiffs gaining entry?

bella*donna

We had this situation also. Bailiffs were quite helpful (they came looking for a BMW the previous owner had defaulted on) They asked for the name of the letting agent and dealt with them. Had a few more dribs and drabs of post for the old tennant, but OH rings up and gives the company our letting agent details to whoever is chasing and they stop bothering us.

DCFC79

In reposnse to the OP do you have anything eg anything from the phone co with the offenders number on it as id give the bailiffs that

Googlewhacker

julielb71 wrote: »

I have since seen a forum which advises you not to open post (legally you shouldn't as its not addressed etc) but on moneysavingexpert site under the section about buying a reposessed home it advises to open post so that you can advise senders of the situation.

It is not illegal to open post as long as it addressed to your address and that if it is someone elses name on the envelope that you are not using the mail to the detriment of that person