what happens if I don't pay credit cards and loans etc?

katejo

dont.ask.dont.get wrote: »

Debts are by name not address!

I am fully aware of this but there have been many requests for help on MSE from new tenants/owners who have been plagued by bailiffs who are pursuing past occupants and who are not believed.

iolanthe07

I moved into a house where the previous occupier had died, but left thousands of pounds of debt. For at least a year people came knocking on the door demanding money. Some of them were quite aggressive, accusing me of being the person they were chasing and of lying, even when I showed them ID. It was very stressful. Leaving debt behind when you move does often mean unpleasant consequences for others.

dont.ask.dont.get

katejo wrote: »

I am fully aware of this but there have been many requests for help on MSE from new tenants/owners who have been plagued by bailiffs who are pursuing past occupants and who are not believed.

Maybe you should have added that then, just to make it clear that just because you live at a property you are not responsible for debts.
Many people foolishly think that Bailiffs or Debt collectors have more power than they do. If you are not the person they are looking for you have no obligation what so ever to enter into any conversation with them. Never invite them in, or leave a door or window open, they cannot gain access without being invited. If by any chance they do enter a property that is not lived at by the debtor they can be arrested themselves. Clearly it is important to make an offer how ever small to avoid anything like this happening, courts will rarely issue a judgement providing a offer is being made.
This does not apply to Council Tax though.

dont.ask.dont.get

iolanthe07 wrote: »

I moved into a house where the previous occupier had died, but left thousands of pounds of debt. For at least a year people came knocking on the door demanding money. Some of them were quite aggressive, accusing me of being the person they were chasing and of lying, even when I showed them ID. It was very stressful. Leaving debt behind when you move does often mean unpleasant consequences for others.

Yes I agree it can be, but if you are in no way connected then any repeated visits are classed as harassment. Even if you are the debtor, aggression is never acceptable, and they should be reported or the police called. The way things are these days it will become more and more likely that these things will occur as people are just finding it impossible to keep up payments.
The important thing to remember is to keep the debt company informed of your situation and never ignore communication, providing you do that, they rarely visit.