Someone using our address for credit

drewT65

Hi all

New to site.
This may be in the wrong section but there doesn't seem to be a certain one to put this in so its a guess, please move if you feel the need.

I have been with my present partner now for close to 2 years. She is not divorced from her estranged husband , he refuses to sign divorce papers so we are having to wait the 5 years to do this without his consent.

He is constantly using his old address, ergo the one I now live in, to obtain credit, has his driving licence here, all his letters and correspondence, even his passport (which he had delivered here via courier).

The trick with this guy is he is a postman and gets all his letters redirected (for free). Instead of a direct to address he goes to a post office and picks them up so no forwarding address is available.
He has since moved in with a new girlfriend, however she knows nothing of all the shady past and dealings he is up to hence his reluctance to redirect or change his address.

We do not know where he lives (two of the children do but we don't think its fair to involve them, that's what he likes to do and uses them as weapons or to gloat)

We changed our home number as he is one of those constant redialers who likes to go on and on til he gets a response. he even found that out and now we sometimes get creditors calling for him.

He's gone to Wonga :eek: (is that a swear word round here) and they have taken him to debt collectors for his £300 loan has now shot to over £1200. we had a letter delivered here and my partner opened it in a fury (HEY I ain't getting in between a woman and her fury I Not silly!!)
We have had Bailiffs calling, debt collectors on our doorstep etc etc.

We are in the process with Experian of getting access to her credit file. Equifax we have already done and cleared an association with her Ex on that file.

We checked the Electoral role and he is definitely not on it.

What can we do?

It seems wherever I go and read up on it, its a dead end. there seems to be nothing we can do to stop this fool. I see a lot of, 'put no longer at this address on the envelopes and send them back' quotations, but as I said he redirects his post so we cant get hold of it
I thought of reporting him to the DVLA and Passport office as he is using this address and hasn't actually lived here for over two years. But some things I read seems there is no interest or Police and authorities couldn't give a monkeys.
We thought of telling his employer, that being the Royal Mail, seeing as he is in some ways committing fraud, and they couldn't possibly want an oik like that delivering peoples mail

Is this something that goes away slowly? as more and more companies realise he isnt here?
Can we get some sort of court injunction against him?

At the end of the day my lady wants some closure. She wants him to stop this and move on, but the guy isn't all that intelligent, devious and sly, but thick as two short ones. He still thinks that to this day he can try and ruin MY life in the vain hope his ex will take him back. :eek: (which just makes us stronger )

I just want my lady to be happy and this would allow her to move on somewhat.

If anyone can offer advice I would be most grateful

halibut2209

I would definitely report it to Royal Mail

vikingaero

If you get any mail which isn't intercepted then write to the creditor explaining this.

The only thing I can think of is as halibut says to report it to the RM, put a note on your Experian, Equifax and Callcredit credit files and possibly subscribe to CIFAS: http://www.cifas.org.uk/pr_for_individuals

and maybe contact National Hunter: http://www.nhunter.co.uk/

brettcta

he sounds like a right shit. i applaud you for holding your patience with him. i must be honest, i'd have given him a good shoeing many moons ago.

i wish i had more advice for you, but i was just replying to say that. there should be people on here who will be able to give you better advice. this may do better in a different section of the forum, but i'll leave that to the mods to decide

squeaky

Hi,

I've had a look around and, since we don't have a "Legal" board any more, I can't see one that is any better a fit for this query than Consumer's, which in itself isn't really targeted at things like this.

From reading the OP I can only suggest that drew has a word with a solicitor. There are many who will offer the first half hour of a consultation for free. One way to make the best of this half hour is to write out the situation (as the OP had done here) and let the solicitor read this first. This because solicitors can read faster than most people can speak, and because you can present your case in an orderly manner without forgetting any important points (as we all so often do when talking "live")... and the solicitor can then use the remaining time asking any salient questions.

Using someone else's address as if it was an accommodation address sounds as if it should be wrongful - but what remedies might be available in law can only be answered by solicitor I would think.

pimento

Are you in a position to move house?

DVardysShadow

vikingaero wrote: »

If you get any mail which isn't intercepted then write to the creditor explaining this.

The only thing I can think of is as halibut says to report it to the RM, put a note on your Experian, Equifax and Callcredit credit files and possibly subscribe to CIFAS: http://www.cifas.org.uk/pr_for_individuals

and maybe contact National Hunter: http://www.nhunter.co.uk/

As credit records are based on individual rather than address, don't put a note of the Credit Referencing Agency files. It is not necessary and there is a hint on the Mortgages board that some lenders will reject any credit application where anyone has put a note on their own credit file.

drewT65

Thanks for the reply everyone.
I wont be getting a mortgage any more. after MY divorce the ex dumped me in some nasty situations (ermm...all the debts were in my name, how convenient) and I ended up getting black listed. I am slowly crawling back out of the mire!

To the ideas. I have never been one to 'snitch' on people, particularly if there could be aftershocks! the idea is tempting but i am putting that one on the back burner as far as reporting him to the RM. The ideas with the solicitors I like.
No we cant move house. I am too old to start another mortgage that I can afford, especially as we live in south London the cost would be enormous, (I took on 5 step kids so imagine the requests for bedrooms!!) and they prices round here start off at 400K for a 2 bedroom broom cupboard, so we rent.

I didn't know that records were individual only. Are they not some what attached to the address? We are kind of worried it will effect all the other occupants of the house as two are due to be 18 soon so that's not the case then?

I think we will have to look towards legal help with all this. There does seem to be a grey loophole area this has slipped into as no one seems to be concerned authority wise!. perhaps a visit to BBC watchdog ?

Any ways thank you for all your help. Its gratefully received.

Kira000

drewT65 wrote: »

I didn't know that records were individual only. Are they not some what attached to the address? We are kind of worried it will effect all the other occupants of the house as two are due to be 18 soon so that's not the case then?

The previous poster was correct, credit records are related to a person or persons and not the property in any way. So by ensuring your partners name is not connected to her ex's name on any of the big 3 credit reference agencies, you have covered the bases.
It might be an idea once the children turn 18, to periodically ensure their names are not connected to his as well.

Sending any of his post that does get through to you back "no longer at this address" is the best bet. Assuming that he isnt trying to list himself on the electoral register at your place, if you get creditors calling, you could offer to send them the electoral register showing only yourselves at the address. If he isnt on the register for your address, then his credit score will soon be affected, along with the impact of any missed payments. It will not impact you or your partner.

The only thing you may need to prepare for, is if he lets his situation get very bad, and bailiffs come calling. In which case, being prepared for that is the best plan: not opening the door, or windows, and having evidence handy that can be passed through the letter box, showing who lives there, and who the property, cars and contents belong to.

drewT65

I didn't think that Bailiffs could take legal ownership of anything if the debtor didn't own the item. i.e if they came , saw the company car outside, they couldn't take it as I didn't own it.

I may be wrong, but as far as I am aware, there is nothing left in the house that he has ownership of or that isn't in my partners name.

I did however find out an interesting fact and maybe one for others to use today.
Part of my job requires me to have contact with certain people within the Royal Mail group. I wont say who when or where for obvious reasons.
I mentioned this to him this morning and he told me to do the following.

Call the Royal Mail and say you have a definite 'concern' that someone is using this address and redirecting it to a PO Box or hold at post office.
Apparently under their rules they MUST investigate.
We will require proof, i.e tenancy and Electoral role to certificate this. But then, and here is the cruncher, if it is found that said person IS using the address illegally RM MUST stop it as it is against the law. And him being a postman will get a kick up the rear too according to him.

So, we are not essentially reporting HIM, but what we 'think (know) is happening and the result will cascade to him anyway.

so in fact we win all round as far as that goes. It then means we can get hold of his letters and send them back not known.

Question there though. Are we legally allowed to open his mail?

DVardysShadow

drewT65 wrote: »

... Question there though. Are we legally allowed to open his mail?

There is no legal 'right' to open mail, but you can only be prosecuted for opening mail with the intent to harm the interests of the person addressed.

So OK to do it to forestall grief against you in your property, grey area to shop him to creditors. Not on to cause him economic damage.