My sons debts- Could I be liable? Very worried please help

Siamese

Gosh. Haven't posted here in ages but just wanted to say how sorry I am to read this.
You really need to protect yourself Baz. Yes, you'll be liable for the moblie bill but take the advice of others above and come to an arrangement. Get the number disabled anyway (it's your contract so you can request this)
Next thing would be to make sure your son is not on the electoral roll at your address (makes it a bit harder to get credit).
I'm sure you are worried about you son but please protect yourself first and don't agree to fund anything else.

bargainbetty

You've had lots of good advice already, but I'm going to tweak it a little bit.

Change your locks. Your son has no right of access to your property anymore, so stop him coming and going as he pleases. If you have his new address, there is nothing to stop you passing it on to his creditors with a request that they note the change in his circumstances. He said they have to find him before they stop bothering you, so let them. You should not have to deal with his arrogance. His debts are not legally yours, and nor should the stress be. I'm so sorry he is doing this to you. Just give them all his new contact details and they might stop, or at least direct it to the right target. Tell him that he has two weeks to notify everyone of his new address, or you will start doing it yourself. You should also be able to get a discount on your council tax if he ins't registered there.

Speaking to Vodafone regarding the account should enable you to close off the phone altogether. Have it shut down if you cannot have a new SIM sent to you for your own use, and have them note on the account that your son is not permitted to reopen this account. Arrange a repayment plan with them.

Does he still have possessions at your home? Books, clothes, anything? Personally, I'd sell them to recoup your losses. But then I'm fairly harsh. If he demands you return them to him (you've changed the locks remember) then the phrase you are looking for is 'seizable assets' and you can offer to exchange them for the cost of the phone debt. In full. He still doesn't get the rest of the contract back.

If he is going to behave like this and treat you with such utter disrespect, then it may be time that you quietly give him the parental spanking (not in literal terms) that he so obviously deserves. It might be the shock he needs to stop his deterioration?

I wish you much luck and happiness.

Monkeyballs

Ooh! Pies is right, that's defo worth a shot

You said you're new and never used a forum before so here's some details which might help...

There is a 'Vodafone complaints' forum which the rep seems to post on (for obvious reasons) which is here: https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/295048

Or you can see their account and send a private message (I'd possibly go down the new thread route or at least ask them to look at the one you've started) here: http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/member.php?u=791417

Hope it helps

MB

-taff

Same advice here - start sending back any correspondence addressed to him as 'Not known at this address' If he doesn't live with you, he doesn't need to use your address.
If any bailiffs do knock the door, you don't have to open it, but if you do, tell them he doesn't live there, neither does he store any property there.


Best way to resolve it is to make him responsible for his own actions and not enabling him.

Powered_By_Pies

Monkeyballs wrote: »

Ooh! Pies is right, that's defo worth a shot

You said you're new and never used a forum before so here's some details which might help...

There is a 'Vodafone complaints' forum which the rep seems to post on (for obvious reasons) which is here: https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/295048

Or you can see their account and send a private message (I'd possibly go down the new thread route or at least ask them to look at the one you've started) here: http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/member.php?u=791417

Hope it helps

MB

Top drawer MB, I'd have posted links but I'm on my phone at the moment which is a nightmare to use for linking stuff!

dealer_wins

If that were my son, I would cut him out of my life completely, and if it were my only child my house would be willed to the cat home when I die!!

DCFC79

dealer_wins wrote: »

If that were my son, I would cut him out of my life completely, and if it were my only child my house would be willed to the cat home when I die!!

Might be hard for the OP to do but it would put an end to it all, it might even give the son a kick up the rear.

SeduLOUs

How horrible! I'm sure if you discuss with Vodafone you wil be able to cancel the contract and repay at a monthly amount that is manageable for you. It is disgusting that he is leaving you in this mess. Get the phone sorted soon as it's the only thing you're liable for.

Stick any other letters unopened back in the postbox marked "not at this address". If they are already phoning your landline regularly it might be time to get your phone number changed.

I can't comment about cutting him out of your life completely, but you do need to completely disassociate yourself from him financially at the very least. Do not hand over any post to him, just return it all to where it came from. Hopefully something he wants will turn up eventually (i.e. a new card when his expires) and it will incentivise him to change his address on the accounts.

Good luck, please let us know how you get on xxx

Vodafone

Hi ConcernedParent,

Thanks for making me aware of your concerns.

For further help with this, email me with your details via the link in our profile here.

All you need to do is copy and paste the link into your web browser and it'll take you to the Contact us form on our website. To make sure it reaches me, quote the code WRT135 - MSE in the subject line.

Once sent, you'll receive an automated reply with a reference number. Post back with this and I’ll check I've received it.

Kind regards,

Lee

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Vodafone UK

whitewing

I would go further than sending his bills back 'not known at this address'. Give them his actual address. (Once you've changed your locks).