Previous owners debt now causing us problems

KirstyS86

Hi,

I have just moved into a property that we bought from a developer, who in turn bought it as a repossession and we are continually getting the repossessed owner's demand letters etc. I have been writing 'No longer lives at this address' etc & returning to senders unopened, but now I've had bailiffs round whilst I've been at work! Luckily the house is shut up tight, but when I've sent the bailiff company proof of purchase & council tax bill they are now telling me it takes 7-10 days to sort & call off the bailiffs!

I work full time and I'm terrified that more bailiffs may turn up for all the other debts (I think they run up the majority of the country's national debt) and I just don't want a) my new neighbours to think it's for us and b) I just want them all to stop chasing us!

I have redirected our post from our previous address so is there a way to block the previous owners post? What's the best way to deal with this type of thing? There's just so much debt outstanding for them and any time I ring these companies they say they can't deal with it as I'm not the person on the account so it's data protection! Just can't win!

Any help would be appreciated!

RAS

Bailiffs have no right to enter your house and if they were to do any damage (can think of one instance when this has been reported on here in the last 4 years) they have to compensate. That was actually a car left in the drive whilst the OP was on and extended holiday.

twink22

We have this at our current rented property, bailiffs did stop turning up after I called the companies to explain it wasn't us, however lots of letters have started to come for the previous tenant again lately so maybe they've sold the debts on and it's back to square one? I'm guessing they can't take anything without proof of ownership though, they didn't touch our car that was on the drive when they came and we weren't in.

G_M

They are not chasing you, they are (quite rightly) chasing the previous owners.

They cannot come in without your consent.

I'm sure the neighbours are well aware what happened to the previous occupants!

Whilst annoying, it is nothing to worry about.

Keep photocopies near the door to show any bailiff who does turn up:
* The property Title document showing you now own the property.
* Your passport/driving licence for ID

This will confirm to them that you are not the person they seek, and that the person no longer lives there.

It willall stop eventually but is no more than a nuisance in the meantime.

Your own credit rating will be unaffected.

Mr_Moo_2

What G_M says, we had this early on in our current rental, from which the previous tenant had done a runner. Once you explain who you are and why you're there, they will move on. All the Bailiffs we had round were fine about this. Died off after a couple of months.

ognum

Go exactly as GM says, this happened to my daughter, it took a coyle of weeks to sort out plus her neighbour was still in contact with the old owners so she text them and they were very embarrassed.

BitterAndTwisted

Debt collectors will continue to visit the property every time the debt is sold on, sometimes for a penny in the pound. This could go on for years.

No debt collector would pay any attention to phone calls or letters returned, as it could be the debtor doing that.

In your position I would make a lot of photocopies of your title document, open every letter that arrives addressed to the previous occupants, and write back enclosing their letter with a copy of your title document. This method might be a lot quicker than dealing with every individual debt collector who turns up on your doorstep but all of them are sceptics and used to dealing with complete and utter liars.

But being a debt collector or calling yourself a bailiff still does not give you right of entry or entitle you to break in.

I doubt you will have anything to fear from the neighbours finding out about debt-collector visits to your home. I daresay they are well aware of the previous repossession. It would be almost impossible not to have known about it.

hamster2013

its usually as simple as calling who the bailiff is enacting upon to resolve the issue
i have had to do it on various occasions
it could most simply be the council tax department

KirstyS86

Thank you all for your replies some of your comments have been so helpful!

Bitterandtwisted - I like your thinking about sending photocopies I think that may be the only way forward. These companies just won't speak to you on the phone anymore.

I just wish there was an easier way for home owners to register that they are new owners of a previous bad debt property. I am even registered on the electrol roll. Being a credit controller I understand that these companies are frustrated & just want payment, but the bailiff company have said that if windows/doors are left open they would still gain entry and collect our belongings for the next 7-10 days until it is confirmed - surely they should put them on hold until they have confirmed (not that I'd leave my windows/doors open).

It's more just that I can see this going on and on and on. Just so frustrating!

BitterAndTwisted

Debt-collectors say a lot of things. Much of it is untrue and just designed to alarm the debtors into paying up quietly.

It's unlikely that they will climb through an open window when you're out but that's no hardship as you'd be closing them all to prevent a burglary while you're out at work or gone shopping anyway.

Just don't let them in when they're on the doorstep! Close the door on them while you find your paperwork proving your identity and your ownership of the property.

HarryBarry

This happened to someone I know. Apparently the previous people had run up a load of debt and still even after moving out were using the address to commit fraud. This guy I know (only from the local pub so not a friend) said its brilliant, as he could now easily get away with doing the same thing while blaming it on the previous people.

PS not advising to do this (and I wouldnt know what and how), just thought the way he "handled" this situation was funny.