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

acs_2

quidsy wrote: »

Ignore. Nothing to do with you. If they turn up show your driving licence & send them on their way.

As for openeing the letter, regardless of the name as long as it has been correctly delivered to the address on the letter you can open it.

This.

I had the same problem when I live in a flat. I got letter after letter for the previous owner and the one time debt collectors turned up I showed them my driving licence and mortgage statement and told them that if they turned up again, id be taking be taking legal action against them personally for harassment, intimidation and making threats.

My knowledge of the law on those subjects is minimal to say the least, but I decided that I wasn't going to just let them act all big and hard and called their bluff. Anyway, I never heard from them again and I lived in the property for a further 3 years after that happened.

makeyourdaddyproud

SnooksNJ wrote: »

I would leave a window open and when they did break in I would sue them for intention infliction of emotional distress.

Does that apply to envelopes too?

SnooksNJ

makeyourdaddyproud wrote: »

Does that apply to envelopes too?

No, that would go in the garbage can.

googler

Honestly, I don't see the problem.

If mail arrives for previous occupants, put it back in a postbox marked "Not known at this address - return to sender" or similar.

If debt collectors arrive at the door, tell them you're not the person they're interested in. Show them a driving licence or other ID to prove it, and they go away.

Guest101

Yorkie1 wrote: »

Please cite the relevant sub-section in the legislation which states specifically what you have said.

The statute says only that at the time of opening it the person "intends to act to a person’s detriment and without reasonable excuse".

Admittedly my paraphrasing is not great, but it's a rough translation. As it's to the persons detriment if debt collection is ongoing

Yorkie1

Guest101 wrote: »

Admittedly my paraphrasing is not great, but it's a rough translation. As it's to the persons detriment if debt collection is ongoing

Paraphrasing noted but it is simply misleading to tell people that they are committing a criminal offence if they don't then forward it on, and it also perpetuates the myths which surround this topic on a daily basis on this forum.

People hardly ever have forwarding addresses for previous residents, particularly in rented accommodation where actually the DPA would prevent the LL from providing it to the T.

The person has only themself to blame if they haven't paid their bills.

Self-protection from repeated threats of bailiff visits is entirely a valid reason to open post which has been correctly delivered to the address on the front of the document.

Homeagain

Gwhiz wrote: »

This.

I had these letters when I moved into my rental. Called the debt collectors and that was the last I heard form them.

I have done the same thing too.I suggest you call the creditor and advise them that you are not the person they are looking for. I have done the same in the past and never heard another word. In any event, they need a judgement and a warrant to remove goods. As for opening mail 'in error' which is easy to do, I think previous posters have made it very clear that unless you have some kind of bad intent, to open a letter which is not addressed to you personally -by mistake - is not a criminal offence. I think you have nothing to worry about at all.

silverwhistle

googler wrote: »

If mail arrives for previous occupants, put it back in a postbox marked "Not known at this address - return to sender" or similar..

Far too much effort!;) I just scribble RTS and it eventually gets back to the post box. I'm a bit more long-winded ,if it has been concerning child care, which has been evident on a few occasions.

gazter

thesaint wrote: »

Again, sensationalist nonsense.



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

Context needed.

There would at least need to be an element of mens rea for the opening of a letter not addressed to you to be illegal.

Tigsteroonie

Shelldean wrote: »

In my experience, calling the company will stop the letters, although not always.

Just wait a couple of years, and it'll all start up again when those debts are sold onto another company. That's what's happened here - I spent the first two years contacting companies and explaining that the former owner had done a flit. Two years of peace, and now she's getting loads of post again - presumably because the debt has been sold on. We've given up, they go straight into the bin.