Previous owner debt letters and callers

BabyBoots

I used to get this at a previous address - 9 copies a day in identical envelopes of the same letter chasing debts - goodness knows why. You try writing "moved - return to sender" on 9 identical envelopes every day - you soon get tired of it.

When the bailiffs turned up I sent them to their new address - the mail stopped.

verulamium

I would give the debt collectors the address. I know it is morally questionable, but if each member of the household owes money then it is more than likely they are doing a runner. If our vendor has done that I would definitely pass his details to any bailiffs that appear on my front door.

stebiz

rosered22 wrote: »

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!

TBagpuss

have you forwarded any of the letters to the vendors new address? I would be marking them 're-direct to...' and sending them on (you don't need to put any additional postage on.

I think after that I might be telling them in general terms where the vendors went - not "they are at 120 The Street, Anytown, ABC 123" But "I believe that the vendors moved to Anytown. I don't know whether the daughter still lives with them"

pmlindyloo

If the letters are addressed to the daughter why don't you forward the letters c/o the parents?

At least that way the daughter might stand a chance of receiving them. if there are court summons it might spur her to do something about her debts.

rosered22

Thanks for the advice everyone. Yeah I might try writing to the parents telling them I'm not happy (which will remind them I could potentially pass their address on) and then start forwarding the mail on to them instead of returning. I wasn't aware you could do that. Hopefully they'll get the message and get the daughter to sort it out.

[Deleted User]

I'd just ignore it, throw it directly in the bin. If people visit you just tell them you aren't the previous occupier and they have the wrong address, and shut the door.

There is no way to stop it unfortunately. The only thing I can suggest is opening each letter, wiping your bum with it and them sealing it back up and marking the envelope "return to sender". Might discourage eventually.

yoshiyella

Will be honest I do not see what the issue is with regards to letters (the baliffs and people knocking at the door yes) - either return to sender for the first month of receiving thereafter bin them like you do with your junk mail and leaflets. It is no great hassle!

As for the baliffs/people knocking at the door in my experience you find that if you tell them you are the new owners then they leave you alone thereafter. Annoying yes but that will stop after a few visits!

rosered22

Haha! Thanks again for the suggestions! It is easy to just ignore. It's not bothering me that much. Might sound silly but I don't want to just let them get off Scott free. It's annoying that ppl think they can just run up debts then run away when others do the right thing and face up to their mistakes responsibly.

yoshiyella

rosered22 wrote: »

Haha! Thanks again for the suggestions! It is easy to just ignore. It's not bothering me that much. Might sound silly but I don't want to just let them get off Scott free. It's annoying that ppl think they can just run up debts then run away when others do the right thing and face up to their mistakes responsibly.

They will catch up with them eventually! If not they have a trashed credit history for at least 6 years to stop it happening again! :beer: