ex partners debt

illuminate

My ex partner and I split years ago after she covertly rode up huge credit card debts.

She left the house 5 or 6 years ago and I have since bought out her share of the property and had her name removed from the deeds.

I have little idea of her current financial situation and no contact details.

All the mail in her name has long since stopped arriving, with the exception of one monthly statement which, after googling the return address, I believe to be from a credit card company.

For over 12 months I have been posting these back marked "not known at this address - RTS", but they just keep coming.

My question is whether this may still be having any detrimental affect on my own credit rating ? ALL the historical bad debts, which included a CCJ, were in her name name alone.

Herbalus

I don't think (could be wrong) that getting her mail is an issue for you, because lot's of mail goes to the wrong address and doesn't affect the occupiers. Rented houses for example, where the tenants don't update their contact details.

If you are concerned about your credit rating, you need to focus on financial links. Did you ever have any joint financial products? If so, have you checked on your credit file (you occasionally hear stories that they don't update) that these are not active and that you are no longer financially linked? That is where your problem would lie.

[Deleted User]

Assuming the debt is in her name then it's nothing to worry about really. Contrary to popular belief, addresses don't get blacklisted, only people.

I'd recommend trying to establish what credit card company it is (via the return address - not sure how you would stand legally in opening one up) and calling them to explain that she is no longer resident.

They might try to imply that you're liable (inform them that they are breaking the law if they do) but that is just BS.

InsideInsurance

First of all mark them as Return to Sender, Addressee Gone Away rather than Addressee Unknown which is a more accurate statement and can trigger different processes.

As long as you have no joint accounts at all left then her history and yours is separate. It may be worth getting your statutory reports (or a free trial if you havent used it already) to ensure they are no longer listed as a financial associate as sometimes these things can linger.

If she is then you need to file a notice of disassociation and assuming no one is still reporting you having a joint account that will separate you and your histories.

illuminate

EVERYTHING else is cleaned up, so basically I should be in the clear and unaffected.

Think I shall give the senders a call just for my own peace of mind.

StuC75

Opening mail which has been addressed to your property is fine as long as you do not intend to gain any advantage from such an act. Afterall its the clearest way of understanding what is being sent as to whether it is general mailshot info or account related.

When I previously worked for card company when at Uni, was told how returned mail generally takes a while to come back and wasnt actioned as a priority process...

illuminate

It's definitely a statement as I can see that word through the envelope window.

Unless she has undergone a character overhaul, she probably left a couple of quid on it and as its been ignored the balance will have spiraled to hundreds in charges and interest.

Not that I give a !!!!, but it just irks me.