How do I stop debt selling-on after 10 years?

racchy1

I'm still getting debt letters for someone - not me - at my address after nearly 10 years. I've contacted the companies concerned to let them know the person doesn't live here and has never lived here and they acknowledge this, it goes quiet for a month or so and then I'm contacted by another debt agency who have 'bought' the debt.

Even were I to point the debt agencies in the right direction, I believe the debt is 'dead' if the person isn't contacted after this amount of time so it's doubly frustrating having to keep getting rid of them.

Is there a central controlling ombudsman or something I can contact to ensure these debts doesn't keep regurgitating itself?

Lensman_2

I don't want to sound harsh - but stopping opening letters not addressed to you is a much simpler solution.
[STRIKE]
You shouldn't be doing this anyway - it is against the law.[/STRIKE]

Edit - post corrected, see below.

racchy1

With respect Lensman, that wasn't so much harsh - more a bit of a pointless reply. Did I say I did open them? For the most part, I return them unopened to the return address on the back. That isn't the issue, I could continue to do that until the cows come home. The question was how do I stop receiving them.

I rather object to the fact that if I have opened them - and, yes, in some instances I have so that I can speak to the exact people who sent them - the onus then seems to switch to me opening a letter I shouldn't, rather than asking questions of debt agencies hounding a householder for over 10 years who isn't in any form of debt whatsoever!

antrobus

Lensman wrote: »

....
You shouldn't be doing this anyway - it is against the law.

On no, not this one again..

No criminal offence is commited by anyone who opens a letter that has been correctly delivered to their home, if nothing else you'd have to do so with the deliberate intention of causing some detriment to the intended recipient in order for it to be a crime.

racchy1 wrote: »

Is there a central controlling ombudsman or something I can contact to ensure these debts doesn't keep regurgitating itself?

Sadly no. There is no such central register.

Alternatively; you could, of course, simply mark the letters as 'return to sender - not known at this address'. As annoying as it is, you can't stop people sending letters to the wrong address.

poppasmurf_bewdley

I had this when I moved to my new home, and just kept returning the letters all unopened and marked "Not known at this address".

After 18 months they have now stopped. I would imagine that at 50p for a second class letter now, most companies will be more careful what they send out.

For some debt purchasing companies, the postage cost will now be more than they have paid for the debt.

StuC75

Again avoid the misinformation from lensman; there is nothing wrong with opening mail that has been 'correctly' addressed to your property. It is only ever a problem if someone intends to then 'gain' from that information.. Afterall how would you ever pick up if someone was using the address in an active fraud.

Mail Preference Scheme allows you to register previous occupant information - but that may only relate to marketing rather than debt collection..

How upto date is the electoral register for the property? afterall something seems to be drawing the mis-traces back to your address!

dancingfairy

Hmm. In theory I guess you could pursue the harrassment angle and point out it against the law to harrass people that are not the debtor and that it is causing you distress and could they cease, however they probably also have the right to send letters to the last known address.
Not sure if you could point out that you are not the debtor and that you will hold them personally liable if they sell the debt on to yet another 3rd part and then they start chasing you but not sure how well this will hold up -perhaps someone on here will have tried it?
Other things are to ensure the electoral register is correct,also are you renting or owner - if renting you could download the tile documents at the land registry and see if there is anything on there, also you could try the mail preference service and register to only receive things in your name (it's free and you can stop junk mail - perhaps it would also help with this problem?).
Best of Luck
df

dancingfairy

Aahh StuC75 seems to have beateb me to it!
df

vax2002

You open other peoples mail and start contacting people you are representing that person.
Start collecting them and put them all back in the postbox unmarked, the post office eventually intercept them as unpaid mail and bill the company posting them a fee for re-suing franked mail and eventually the company involved get the message you have learnt to play the pester game yourself.
Collect and re-post, if they come back, repeat.

StuC75

vax2002 wrote: »

You open other peoples mail and start contacting people you are representing that person.
Start collecting them and put them all back in the postbox unmarked, the post office eventually intercept them as unpaid mail and bill the company posting them a fee for re-suing franked mail and eventually the company involved get the message you have learnt to play the pester game yourself.
Collect and re-post, if they come back, repeat.

Not sure where you get the representing the person angle from.. As long as you are not looking to communicate 'As that person'; and merely contacting to say you are the current owner \ occupier and are receiving this through to your address so seeking to clarify what is going on..

At my last address the couple did a runner back 'overseas'; so received many letters through from DCA & courts \ bailiffs (even 2 spanish court officials attend my house re an outstanding court case).. In each case a quick call & chat resolved the communications. Imagine if bailiffs had turned up at the door!

as for just putting back in the post - many times this is used as a ploy by people seeking to avoid the debts in the first place. They receive the letters back then refer it to there tracing agents to track down again..

einalem

I just came accross this thread similar situation here mail for the previous people on average a few letters a week and we have been here 4 years. I collec them up write not at this address and put them in postbox. This is a right pain. I dont open them as I still thought it was illegal lol
Would it be wrong just to bin the letters as that would be easier than me collecting them all up?