Diverting a debt collector to previous owner of house

garrunt

Bought and moved into a house in October 2011. Just got a letter addressed 'to the occupier' from a debt collecting agency titled 'Utility Investigation' asking for various information about who lives here and who lived here before.

I don't intend to give them any details on me. But I do have the name and new address of the person who owned the property before me. All I want to know is if I can get into any trouble by simply passing on that information to this agency.

I think the data proteciton act only applies to companies, but still I wondered if the sentiment applies to individuals,..i.e. that you have no right to pass on information about others to such third parties?

Anybody know the answer to this one ?

vax2002

Yes, put it in the Bin, they are trying to get YOUR NAME
At present No name = no contract
Dont make one.

princess*daisy

Hmmm, sounds a bit dodgy this. Personally I would not give any details away about myself or the previous occupier. I would return the letter back to sender, telling them that you have no dealings with their company, making it clear that they should not contact you again and also informing them that you have no details about the previous occupier that you are able to divulge to them.

edit - I would also tell them the date you moved in so that it is evident that any debt they are trying to trace from before that date is not your responsibility.

Em586

I'd be wary of giving a previous homeowner's details, as who's to stop them from just lying and giving your name and details back to the debt collectors?

Agree to put it in the bin or return to sender

shinyhead

Em586 wrote: »

I'd be wary of giving a previous homeowner's details, as who's to stop them from just lying and giving your name and details back to the debt collectors?

Agree to put it in the bin or return to sender

Totally agree. Put it in the bin. Tell them nothing. I think its a 'phishing' attempt, and they want YOUR details.

ladysparklexx

Def put it in the bin. When we bought our house and moved in the previous owners had stopped paying coucil tax, water electric etc when they moved out. There was a four month difference that they argued we should pay as they no longer lived there, we laughed and said we would pay from the date we legally became owners of the house and not before. It was a hassel sending off proof to everyone and we did give a forwarding address for the people who lived here before.

Honestly if there is a debt from the previous people you will find out if more letters continue, or when you phone the coucil etc to set up your new bills.