Letters sent to home address with unknown names

unholyangel

Write back to the company recorded delivery (keep a copy of the letter for your own records) stating that the person does not live at the address, you have no knowledge of this person and they have never lived at your address.

Also add that you are informing them that their data is incorrect and that you understand under the data protection act they have a duty to ensure their records are accurate and by ignoring your request, they are in breach of the DPA.

Here is what ICO's website has to say:
Q: An organisation has inaccurate information about me. What can I do?

You should write to the organisation explaining what the problem is and where appropriate provide them with any evidence to show what the information should say. Keep copies of this correspondence. If, after a reasonable amount of time (we would recommend 28 days) the information has not been corrected, you can make a complaint under the Data Protection Act. Please ensure that you supply copies of your correspondence, evidence and, if applicable, any response you receive.

MamaMoo_2

I'd recommend sending all letters back, unopened, with a big notice on saying "Never known at this address"

arcon5

We received about 5 letters from debt collectors, solicitors ect every week for the previous tenants, ranging from bank loans to mobile contracts -- just throw them in the bin or put them back in the post box stating return to sender.

There's no point wasting your time & efforts, their unlikely to stop sending you letters, irrespective of what you tell them. But it won't affect you in anyway and it won't be on your credit file.

Techhead_2

MamaMoo wrote: »

I'd recommend sending all letters back, unopened, with a big notice on saying "Never known at this address"

This is the best thing to do.


If you do decide tocontact these debt collectors then check they are a genuine company first of all.

Unfortunately, some of these letters are a fishing exercise by fraudsters. For example, if you write/call back they will know your name, how long you have been there and probably your phone number.

JanetAS

I've noted everybody's comments and I'm going to photocopy the letter at home then return it to them in its original envelope marked as 'Return to Sender, Not known at this address' so they can pay for any postage!

They do have a website (which I checked on receiving the first letter) but also just googling this name brings up many, many complaints about the company! They are apparently ruthless in their approach and manner to anyone who mistakenly telephones them to speak about the letter. I'm not going to waste my time or money calling an 0845 number.

I might also type a response on the reverse of their letter all that unholyangel advises, asking them what proof they have that the named person lives at my address and warning them that I won't tolerate any more correspondence from the. But I'm not paying out for recorded delivery.

Thanks for all your replies.

RobertoMoir

JanetAS wrote: »

I might also type a response on the reverse of their letter all that unholyangel advises, asking them what proof they have that the named person lives at my address and warning them that I won't tolerate any more correspondence from the.

That's a bad idea. Don't enter into correspondence about the debt or otherwise get involved. Nothing good will happen to you because of it. Don't do anything that might give a) a scammer information about you or b) a debt collector the impression that someone there actually cares about this debt.

Put 'em back in the envelope, write "Return to sender, not known at this address" or suchlike on it, and put it in the postbox. Failing that, just put them in a bin and forget about them. Not your problem.

Dave101t

its perfectly legal to open any post delivered with your address on, regardless of named contact.
I had a few for an old debt from a previous occupant, letters were sent back 'not at this address'
but after months I simply wrote 'not at this address, you have been told, all future letters will be binned'.
no more letters since, and no knocks on the door.

JanetAS

Yes, OK, RobertoMoir, I think that makes good sense. Thanks for the warning.
Going back into the envelope now.
Thanks.

JanetAS

But before I do that, I've just been to the Town Hall and looked at the electoral register. As at 1.12.10, the person they are chasing lived/lives at the 'service address' on the heading. My guess is they have tried there and she's either moved on or is claiming to live elsewhere, i.e. with me! There were two other names with hers on the register.

I know I said I wasn't going to but I've written that information on the front of the letter telling them to direct their enquiries/correspondence to the previous address. And I've kept a copy.

So, in the post it goes and we shall wait and see...