Previous owner debt letters and callers

rosered22

We bought our house just over a year ago but have recently had two people knocking on our door asking for the adult daughter of the previous owners.
The first said she had rented a flat from them and left it trashed and with rent owing. The second just said she owes them money. Both asked if I knew where the parents had moved to.
I said no to both (even though I do have a forwarding address) as the parents seemed like decent people and I had no way to verify what the callers were saying but I've since taken the liberty of opening some of the mail we still get addressed to her (despite always returning to sender) and I've found they're all from different debt collection agencies.
I tried txting and calling the mobile numbers I had for the parents but am being ignored.

I'm annoyed now and quite tempted to reply to all the letters passing on her parents' address...

Am I legally allowed to do this?

Is there a better approach?

Is this likely to affect us if I do nothing and just ignore them?

Thanks for your help!

missindecisive

just return everything addressed to these people, return to sender, not known at this address. Do not open the mail. Put it in the post box and forget it, its nothing to do with you.:)

rosered22

Thanks what about the if people knock asking for their forwarding address? Am I legally allowed to pass it on?

silvercar

Eventually one of the organisations will register details on GAIN (gone away information network) and you will be left in peace.

mynameisdave

I wouldn't pass the address on to somebody knocking on the door. Could be any old cowboy who doesn't play by the rules

DRP

Not your problem and you don't really have enough info to make the moral decision whether or not to give out addresses.

I would probably open the letters where I thought it might be important to do so, and 'return to sender' them all.

Solsol

Returning to sender doesn't seem to do anything I spent a year doing this and we still get letters and phone calls five years later. We had bailiffs at the door but they were friendly enough when I showed them ID I think the whole of the previous family had debts as we have letters addressed to the five of them individually.

I know you shouldn't open the letter but after a year with no change and having bailiffs to deal with I started opening them as I felt I had a right to know if it was likely to happen again. I've also phoned the debt recovery agencies to tell them they no longer live here but still get phone calls.

I actually find it strange that we haven't had more bailiffs at the door as they appear to owe thousands of pounds to various companies and sending letters obviously isn't getting them their money back!

BitterAndTwisted

You're not obliged to do anything with their post. You can "return to sender" or open it, read it and then put it in the bin if you like.

I wouldn't give anyone standing on the doorstep the seller's address if they are looking for their daughter. Why send inconvenience to people who aren't responsible for the debts?

Do not expect "return to sender" mail or phone calls to stop the creditors from chasing. Any old Tom, !!!!!! or Harry would do that if they thought it might put them off their trail. Writing to them, giving them the date you bought the property might work but I wouldn't be willing to spend my time pay for the postage.

Mickygg

I have exactly this! Been here nearly 2 years and have letters every week. The previous owners emigrated to Australia. Haven't had the knock on the door yet though!

I don't care whether right or wrong, but I have done my best to pass on all info I know to the debt collectors. Why should people do a runner, passing all the hassle to a new home owner?? It's theft.

I would defo pass the address on to the previous owners parents if you have it. If more people were caught, less people would do it!

JencParker

Not quite the same situation, but I accidentally opened a letter addressed to my ex husband that was sent to my address (former marital home) around 10 years after he moved out. It was from a debt collection agency. I phoned them and told them we were divorced and he had moved out 10 years ago. I was told that they will try and old known address if they don't get a response, hence them contacting him here. Fortunately, I never heard from them again. I would return to sender and if you keep getting the mail, contact them and tell them that you are the new owner and they no longer live there.

Someone else may know, but can't you put something on the credit reference files to that effect too?

getzls

rosered22 wrote: »

I'm annoyed now and quite tempted to reply to all the letters passing on her parents' address...

Touts out. :eek: