Someone else's mess!

charlie792

When me and my partner we're looking for properties to rent we found a perfect one, lovely size and so cheap compared to everywhere else. I knew the property had been empty for a long time (12 months +) but didn't know why, I figured there must have been a catch.
I later found out the previous tenant had been evicted due to non payment of rent - not only this she left a huge trail of debt behind her, she owed on everything - I receive a least 10 letters a week addressed to her and I normally put them back in the box as 'not know at address return to sender', but I still receive these letters on a daily basis, sometimes they are addressed 'to the occupier' so I open them and they are debt agencies wanting me to give them all the details of the person at the property from X - X dates etc, I just refer them to my estate agents, but its really getting me down its beginning to feel like its my debt...Should I open these letters and maybe just contact the companies directly and tell them to stop sending letters to my address?

EDIT: I opened one of the letters I receive frequently and it says debt collectors will be coming to my property....should I be concerned?

DVardysShadow

Only get concerned if the letters indicate a court case, in which case, bailiffs may be appointed and then you may have to prove that you are not the debtor. If any of it gets taken to court, I am sure there is some better advice, but personally I would write to the court.

charlie792

DVardysShadow wrote: »

Only get concerned if the letters indicate a court case, in which case, bailiffs may be appointed and then you may have to prove that you are not the debtor. If any of it gets taken to court, I am sure there is some better advice, but personally I would write to the court.

Ive open a few of the others Ive been saving to put back in the box, another says that the account will be referred to the County Court for a claim to be issued at my address.... Is it worth contacting the debt agency saying she does not live here?

Watalie

In all honesty - I'd just ignore the correspondance - keep putting it back in the post box with "unknown at this address" on it. If the Bailiffs turn up, just show them your id and it should be enough to send them on their way.

It won't affect you personally as credit (good or bad) is attached to to an individual not a property or address.

If it were me, I don't think I'd let it stress me out but I can understand how frustrating it must be getting letters like that.

charlie792

Watalie wrote: »

In all honesty - I'd just ignore the correspondance - keep putting it back in the post box with "unknown at this address" on it. If the Bailiffs turn up, just show them your id and it should be enough to send them on their way.

It won't affect you personally as credit (good or bad) is attached to to an individual not a property or address.

If it were me, I don't think I'd let it stress me out but I can understand how frustrating it must be getting letters like that.

Hopefully. I remember I had to do that when I was in student accommodation because the previous students didn't pay their council tax, I remember having to show baliffs my driving licence.

Its a bit scarier this time round though because Ive got letters from about ten different agencies now claiming to be coming round....Just something I don't really want to be dealing with...Im more angry at the estate agents/landlord for not sorting it to be honest..

karom

When we bought our flat, we did have a letter from a debt agency regarding the previous previous owner on a court case for unpaid council tax, I called and provided my name + when we bought the property and never had any issues since. This was about 6 years ago

Ames

Does it say they'll be coming round, or that they'll be calling on x date? Because by calling they mean by phone, but it's worded to scare you into thinking they'll turn up in person.

charlie792

Ames wrote: »

Does it say they'll be coming round, or that they'll be calling on x date? Because by calling they mean by phone, but it's worded to scare you into thinking they'll turn up in person.

It says bailiffs will be coming to the property unless there is a response to the letter by X date. I ended up opening all the letters Id been saving to post back, I have emailed every single debt agency to stop sending letters to this address - Not recieved any responses yet. Sure enough another two letters landed on my doormat this morning..:mad: