Do debt agencies get address from Council Tax?

greenjellybean

My partner recently moved in with me and because I like everything to be above board, I added him to my Council Tax bill, forfeiting my single person's discount. Since then, he has been receiving letters from companies chasing pretty old debts. I can only think these companies located him through the Council. Is this right? Is it legal? Thanks for your help. First time poster...

adouglasmhor

Yes they do, they write to the council and ask if the named is a council tax payer or on the voters roll.

give_them_FA

Shouldn't do, DPA applies? Has he changed the address on his bank account, because that is the more usual way?

Oh, OK, thanks Douglas, obviously earning money is higher on the councils' priorities than data protection. Bit like DVLA selling your details to car park companies so they can scam you!

Anyway, how old is pretty old? Are they statute barred?

greenjellybean

Thank you for the advice both. I think they might be coming up for 6 years old which from what I have read means they will become statute barred. The letter he received this morning (from Lowells) said it was for a debt they purchased in 2008. We set up a joint bank account late last year so perhaps they got his address from there but that doesnt seem right either. Surely it's Data Protection?
From my research, the general consensus is to just ignore such letters which he finds quite easy to do but it panics me! I imagine the bailiffs coming round and throwing us out of my home! (over active imagination...)

chrissie57

Did you put him on the electoral register? Contrary to other replies my Council would not even talk to him unless his name was actually on the account let alone a random debt collector but electoral register is different

=booboo=

As you opened a joint bank account he will now be associated with you at your address. DCA's use credit searches to confirm addresses so will have picked it up from there.

heartbreak_star

I'd agree it's more likely to have been the bank than the council.

HBS x

greenjellybean

He isn't on the electoral role so it looks like it's the joint bank account that has opened up the DCA's access. That makes me feel a bit better actually. Don't like to think of the council passing details on willy nilly.

Thank you all for your input. Much appreciated.

give_them_FA

Anyway, never mind worrying about who grassed you up, just get on with the business of ignoring any type of approach you get from Lowells. I have had approaches from them both written and by telephone. I ignored them and they are gone. Remember, they are fishing because there is no way they will be certain he lives at your address. The last thing you want to be doing is confirming they have a bite by responding. I would suggest you note the return address on the back of the envelope and write "Return to Sender" on any future letters. Alternatively just bin them. If it's shortly due to go SB then it shouldn't be difficult. How much approx is involved?

vax2002

One of the most common methods is credit checks, many make you agree that your data can be shared with third parties.

give_them_FA

greenjellybean wrote: »

I imagine the bailiffs coming round and throwing us out of my home! (over active imagination...)

Yes indeed- I think you could carve out a career for yourself writing fiction, gjb! lol