Debt collectors pestering an unknown person at my address

sueturnersmith

For several months I have been receiving post at my house addressed to a person unknown to me. I have returned them 'not known', but now the post is rapidly escalating, and I am also getting daily telephone calls pestering me about this person.

I have lived in this house for twelve years, and this person has definitely not lived here throughout this time!

One company, a debt collection agency, told me that Experian said the person lives here, so I contacted Experian explaining the situation, and was told that they have a financial record of this person at my address! Goodness knows where they got this information from! Experian suggested I return mail 'not known', but I have done this, and now with the phone calls as well, I'm getting rather upset by the whole situation, especially as I also am disabled and very ill with severe heart failure.

What can I do to stop all this harassment?

squeaky

Hi

From the MSE Finances article... Your Financial Rights: Complain, get help & compensation

Debt Collection
Since Apr 2007 the Ombudsman has been able to look at complaints about debt collection companies, for example if you feel they are harrassing you or not treating you according to the OFT's Debt collection guidance. The Ombudsman will need to see you have tried to come to an arrangement about any debts but will investigate if you think you've been treated unfairly. Also see the Debt Problems guide for info on how to sort out debts.

PZH

The debt is down to a person and not the address.

Keep writing "Not known at this address" and pop the letters back in to the post box.

As for the phone calls - can you not screen them with Caller Display? Otherwise just politely tell them that the person they are after does not live at your address and that you will report them to the relevant authorities if they persist to call you and then politely put the phone down.

Not ideal, but really not worth getting yourself worked up over it.

It used to happen to me when I first moved into my house - so I do understand how distressing it can be.

cajef

If they phone again tell them what you have stated here, 'You have lived at this address for 12 years, you have never heard of this person and if they keep ringing you are going to report them for harassment'.

shortchanged_2

Debt collection companies have no legal authority whatsoever. Do not worry as they cannot enter your property, claim goods off you or anything like that.

The fact that the debt is not yours means you have nothing to worry about. As a previous poster stated the debt is against the person only NOT the address.

Do as others have stated, contact them and tell them that the person they are attempting to contact does not live there and hasn't as far as you know. There is the possibility that someone has fraudulently used your address to possibly purchase something.

If after contacting them and telling them that they are barking up the wrong tree they continue to harass you, you could then in fact contact the police, as it is harassment.

bitemebankers

Out of interest, how did they get your phone number?

sueturnersmith

bitemebankers wrote: »

Out of interest, how did they get your phone number?

I would dearly love to know that!