Being pursued for a debt which is not ours - help please

Ch1ckenlady

I'm not sure where to place this thread.

Talk Talk have appointed debt collection agencies against a person at our address (which is a business) who has no connection with us, past or present.

We have repeatedly told them and the debt collection agencies to no avail.

The person is now being threatened with Court proceedings.

I have spoken to the agencies and Talk Talk again and followed up in writing to both and today, received a letter from Talk Talk advising that as our details don't match their accountholder, they cannot deal with us due to Data Protection.

Frustrating!

How do I get the point over and call off the debt collection agencies/action?

HappyMJ

What does it matter to you? You are just getting mail which you write "return to sender" on the envelope and put it in the mailbox every now and again. Your credit rating is not affected. Your house will not be repossessed. Nothing will happen to you.

bargainbetty

Write a last and final letter to all parties.

State that the person named on the debt does not live at your address, nor do you have contact details for them. Request that their records be updated under ICO guidelines and demand that all communications stop immediately.

State that further correspondence sent to the named person at the address will be destroyed unread, with the exception of court papers. Court papers will be returned directly to the court with a copy of your letter confirming that the person does not live there, and they can explain to the court why they continue to pursue action against the wrong address.

State that any attempts to send doorstep collectors, agents or baliffs to the door will be met by refusal of entry, dismissal from your door, or the Police.

Then, do what you've said. Chuck it away, unless it relates to a court date. Return that to the court with a note about the addressee.

benjus

Are you opening the letters?

My advice is to return them, unopened, to the sender. When I was in a similar situation I would write back to the return address on the envelope explaining that the person did not live there and enclose the unopened letter. After a few of these I just wrote "Not at this address" on the envelope and posted it in a post box. After a while they stopped sending them.

Ch1ckenlady

Yes, we're opening the letters, but good advice.

Thanks bargainbetty - I will write to them today as you suggest.

We were concerned that if we didn't deal with the matter, if proceedings were issued, it would have a detrimental effect on our company (due to the address association).

Thanks all

Yorkie1

Debts follow a person and not an address.

Ch1ckenlady

Just wanted to say thanks to bargainbetty for the suggested wording of the letter to Talk Talk.

It did the trick nicely and they've confirmed that they've called off the debt collector and will pursue their client by other means.