Debt collectors looking for someone who lived in my flat before me?

thesaint

pinkteapot wrote: »

I really don't know where spacey's advice is coming from. We've called several companies and agencies over the last few years who have sent letters to the previous occupiers about their debts. We've told them the date we bought the house and they've accepted us at our word. All have stopped writing to our address after we called them.

Sadly, a lot of posters like to sensationalise things, when the reality is far greyer.

spacey2012

I would take some time and read the forums and some of the stories when it has "not worked out"
Some of these companies can be very nasty to deal with.

knightstyle

Had this a while back. Asked around for advice and sent a recorded letter stating the debt was not ours and giving the date we moved in. Also stated that any further contact was not welcome.
Worked, never heard since. So send a recorded letter and keep a copy!
Then if they turn up show them the letter and tell them you charge by the hour for your time!

LADYXXMACBETH

It is illegal to open letters not addressed to you. My neighbour got a warning for it from the police. Anyhoo. Debt collectors have no powers to come in and take your possesions away they just threaten it in letters. If ballifs do turn up kindly tell them person x doesnt live here anymore and would they kindly leave as they are tresspassing and if they do not leave call the police. I would say if you get anymore letters return them to sender. If you continue to recieve them then you could call the company usually it is writen on the back and say we have been sent letters from yourselves to mr x and I am informing you he no longer lives here. Job done. It is up to the debt managment company to track him down. more often than not if you ignore them they usually stop when the Debt managers dig a bit deeper and find they are not living there anymore.

egoode

I've also accidently opened letters not addressed to me it's easy to do. Just throw it in the bin. They won't send baliffs or anything at this point. From memory another flat I lived at years ago we did get a letter about Baliffs arriving but that letter was just addressed to the householder and then gave details of who they were wanting the money from it was at that point we contacted them to say we had no idea who the person was they were looking for. Even if baliffs do arrive they need to ensure the person with the debt actually lives at the property before they start taking anything.

thesaint

LADYXXMACBETH wrote: »

It is illegal to open letters not addressed to you.

Again, sensationalist nonsense.

LADYXXMACBETH wrote: »

My neighbour got a warning for it from the police. Anyhoo.

My brother got warned for driving his car! It's illegal to drive cars!

Context needed.

Yasmin25_2

Thanks for your advice everyone. You have calmed me down a lot. The letter said that the next step of action would be legal action, is that bailiffs or could that mean something else? Like I said, I know nothing on the subject and would just like to be prepared for who might show up at my door looking for the old occupier.

ihatemyhouse

I had this when I moved in to a house, first few times, I phoned up and told them, they didn't live here, some stopped some kept sending letters, in end I ignored it and when they turn up, I tell them they don't live here and I have told your company

thesaint

Yasmin25 wrote: »

The letter said that the next step of action would be legal action, is that bailiffs or could that mean something else?

It depends what the debt is for. If it is for council tax, then they would go to court, get a judgement, and then send bailiffs.

If it is for anything else, nothing is likely to happen, apart from lots of annoying letters that go on for weeks/months/years. You may get a visit from a debt collector, but this is unlikely.

Yasmin25 wrote: »

Like I said, I know nothing on the subject and would just like to be prepared for who might show up at my door looking for the old occupier.

Your boyfriend has the right idea, nip it in the bud. 99 times out of 100, a phone call or e-mail suffices.

Yasmin25_2

The money is owed to British Gas/Scottish Gas.