Debt collection agencies passing debt to other agencies (and it's not mine anyway)

EN11

A while ago I was visited by bailiffs as someone had used my address either in error or fraudulently. Eventually I managed to prove that the person didn't live here and they said they would make their own enquiries and that would be the end of it.

Fast forward 9 months and a letter from another bailiff asking for the same money.

I've got to send 3 years of council tax bills to prove who lived here then and now. It's quite a lot of hassle I need to contact the council and get copies but the bailiff have only given me 14 days to get the info to them.

So my question is how long will this cycle continue. Will this bailiff pass it to another...and another... How do I get it to stop?

bebewoo

I don't get why you have to send 3 years worth, surely just the current council tax bill will show them that the person they want isn't living there.
Even if the person did live there 3 years ago (which they didn't) it doesn't matter because you live there now and they can't chase you for that person's debt.
I don't get why the baliffs need the history of the debt. I think you are getting too involved, are you ringing them up every time and going into a detailed explanation of what has happened?

EN11

3 years worth of bills: Date of debt was March 2012, so they want the April 2011 -March 2012 bill and April 2012-March 2013 to prove she wasn't there, and April 13-March 14 to prove I live here now.

I'm getting involved as last time I just kept sending the letters back unopened "not at this address" and the bailiff turned up on my doorstep.
This time I opened the letter and rang the firm straight away.
I have explained, as I explained to the first company that the person does not live here (I've been here 15 years)

My problem is company No.1 have obviously passed the debt to company No.2 No doubt this will end up at another then another and I want to know how to stop it.

VitaK

I would send a sharp complaint in writing at this stage, and remind them that you provided proof 9 months ago to the company chasing the debt at that time.

It is convenient for them to demand proof within an arbitrary deadline, but it ultimately up to them to ensure that they chase the right person at the right address.

spacey2012

Why are you opening other peoples mail.

EN11

VitaK wrote: »

I would send a sharp complaint in writing at this stage, and remind them that you provided proof 9 months ago to the company chasing the debt at that time.

Told them that on the phone. They require me to prove myself to them within 14 days or they will be paying me a visit.

And Spacey please see my last post. I returned the letters unopened "not at this address" and they sent the bailiffs round.

And I repeat my original question, what do I have to do to stop this.

kathrynha

spacey2012 wrote: »

Why are you opening other peoples mail.

The OP has every right to open post delivered to his house. Perfectly legal unless you use the content of the mail for your own gain.

OP, it isn't up to you to prove that the debtor hasn't lived at your house in the last 3 years, it is up to the debt chasers to prove that they have. Write back instructing them that the data they require is available on the electoral roll, and that if they bother you again it will be harassment which will be reported to the police.

spacey2012

Let them send who they like round.



I think you might be better calming down and learning a few of your basic rights.
Ignore any demands of the debt firm, let them send as many folk as they like, inform them you are not who they seek and the person they seek does not live there and as a result they are now trespassing and must leave immediately via the shortest and quickest route.
Count to ten if they ignore and call the police informing them a trespasser is causing a disturbance of the peace and refusing to leave your property.

They are duty bound to attend and remove the trespasser and arrest them if they return.
They will soon get the message.

rizla_king

If you have provided evidence of current residency for the property then that is all you need to do. If they call again tell them to #### off and deny them entry.

michael1983l

kathrynha wrote: »

The OP has every right to open post delivered to his house. Perfectly legal unless you use the content of the mail for your own gain.

.

No they don't. I returned a letter to the post office that I opened as it was a debt letter and I wanted to send it back to the company to get them to change their address. Turned out it was the Post Office credit card and when I returned the letter to the post office after opening it on advice from here that it was legal to do so. I was sternly told off by the post office master and told that despite what you read on the internet, it IS illigal to open anybody else's mail even if it is posted to your house.

kathrynha

michael1983l wrote: »

it IS illigal to open anybody else's mail even if it is posted to your house.

From http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2000/26/section/84
"A person commits an offence if, intending to act to a person’s detriment and without reasonable excuse, he opens a postal packet which he knows or reasonably suspects has been incorrectly delivered to him."

So only illegal if you are acting in a way the harms the addressee, or if you have no reasonable excuse.

Therefore opening in order to act to prevent bailiffs turning up at your door and potentially seizing your property I would say is a reasonable excuse.