Old Tenant getting final notice mail

Vladimir1720

Hi one and all,

First post, so please be gentle - just assume that I don't know much about anything :P

Anyway, my wife and I have been living in our new home for almost a year now. To this day we receive mail for the previous owner with monotonous regularity.

I have been writing "RTS" or "Return to sender" on most of the letters and sticking them back in the letter box. Some of the letters I have opened and it seems that this person has amassed debt to various companies including credit cards and payday loans. Some of the letters are notices of details being passed onto debt collection agencies, etc.

EDIT, extra info: The person in question has not been in touch to collect their mail. They appear to have "done a runner", for want of a better phrase. The neighbours informed me that they could no longer afford to live here when they split up. Not sure whether this means that the house was repossessed or whatever. We bought this place (leasehold).

What I was wondering is - what is the best course of action? I can keep writing RTS, etc on letters and putting them in the post, but I was wondering what else I can do?

I think I am reasonably safe from the bailiffs, should they arrive at any point, as far as I know, it is illegal for them to enter your property without knowing your identity, etc. What is the real deal with that, though? Are bailiffs in the habit of knocking down doors and taking your stuff anyway?

Any and all advice much appreciated.

Thanks

Vlad

jonesMUFCforever

Just send them back eventually the letters will stop.
No bailiff will knock on your door - if they do tell them to do one without a court order as they have no power of entrance.

Vladimir1720

Thanks for the reply so far, jonesMUFCforever

The latest letter is from CFO Lending. They have an email address - collections@

Now I'm wondering, is it worth me sending an email to that address and stating that so and so doesnt live here anymore and that their correspondence is not reaching the intended recipient, or will that just open up a can of worms?

Also - can I send the letter back now that I've opened it? And do I need to use a stamp? (the original envelope is in the bin)

Cheers

Vlad

sleepygirl126

hi vlad.....don't waste the stamp...email them back
Bailiffs may well knock your door but show them your id and they'll leave you alone.
keep sending all the letters back with not known at this address on
I lived in a house with similar issues once

Vladimir1720

Thanks for the reply.

Yeah it seems a lot of effort to use snail mail.

The only thong is, with email - I wonder if they will reply asking for proof that I'm not just the debtor pretending to be someone else - if that makes sense?

Is there a template somewhere that I can use, if I do decide to email them?

sleepygirl126 wrote: »

hi vlad.....don't waste the stamp...email them back
Bailiffs may well knock your door but show them your id and they'll leave you alone.
keep sending all the letters back with not known at this address on
I lived in a house with similar issues once

lammy82

Vladimir1720 wrote: »

Thanks for the reply so far, jonesMUFCforever

The latest letter is from CFO Lending. They have an email address - collections@

Now I'm wondering, is it worth me sending an email to that address and stating that so and so doesnt live here anymore and that their correspondence is not reaching the intended recipient, or will that just open up a can of worms?

Also - can I send the letter back now that I've opened it? And do I need to use a stamp? (the original envelope is in the bin)

Cheers

Vlad

I get these letters for previous tenants where I live. You need to accept that they will continue to arrive from time to time and try not to worry about them too much. If you want to get in touch to let them know that the person has moved away, that's probably fine, but personally I don't do this because I don't want to give up any of my personal information to them (including my email address!). So I've never done this.

I just write "Return to sender - Gone away" or "Not known at this address" and pop them in the post box when I get a chance (no stamp). It's worth adding the explanation rather than just "Return to sender" as this makes clear that you're not the intended recipient returning them because you can't face dealing with them!

Occasionally I open one to see what it is, but wouldn't try to send it back once I've done so (I certainly wouldn't pay for a stamp for it!). Just wait for the next one and send that back instead.

Over time the letters have become less frequent so I think it starts having an effect at some point!

Don't worry about people turning up trying to collect the debt. I've been here nearly 3 years and this has never happened. It's extremely unlikely. And, as you say, they wouldn't have any rights to enter anyway.

cynicalgit_2

Borrow a Rottweiller.
That way you won't get letters or Bailiffs.

Vladimir1720

Thanks for the reply.

Yeah - I have been writing "RTS - not known at this address" and popping them in the postbox with no stamp.

I think I'm getting irked over this is our first home (that we own) , we pay all our bills on time and for some reason I just feel a bit upset that there is some kind of record of some irresponsible person who ran up debts at this address... maybe I'm just being over-possessive of my own house and/or being irrational! :P

I am of the same opinion as you, in that I don't want them to know any of my personal details - including my email address, so I think I won't contact them at all.

Will keep putting them back in the postbox and just build a bridge and get over it

P.s. is it illegal to open other people's post?

lammy82 wrote: »

You need to accept that they will continue to arrive from time to time and try not to worry about them too much.
Over time the letters have become less frequent so I think it starts having an effect at some point!

Don't worry about people turning up trying to collect the debt. I've been here nearly 3 years and this has never happened. It's extremely unlikely. And, as you say, they wouldn't have any rights to enter anyway.

Vladimir1720

OHHHH I'd LOVE to have a dog, but realistically the flat is too small for one, what with the cats as well...

Great idea nonetheless! :P

cynicalgit wrote: »

Borrow a Rottweiller.
That way you won't get letters or Bailiffs.

lammy82

Vladimir1720 wrote: »

Thanks for the reply.



P.s. is it illegal to open other people's post?

Not if it comes to your address, and you're not intending to act to the detriment of the intended recipient.

Vladimir1720

One thing I am wondering...

The date on the letter is 19/10/2013

The details of their issue with this unknown person is:

"Provisions breached: Under the above agreement you agreed to pay back the total amount borrowed on your next payday.
Nature of breach: you have failed to make the payment in accordance with the agreement"

Does this basically mean that said person took out a payday loan using her old address recently?

As I say we've been living here for a year (in fact, to the day) and previous to that the vendor had been doing some renovation, etc so she hasn't had anything to do with this address for at least 14 months...