Getting letters from bailiff for previous owners

camperdown9

Hi

We completed the purchase of our house last Tuesday. When we moved in on Wednesday there was a letter from a bailiff for the previous owner on the hall floor. It wasn't in an envelope. So I called the number on the letter to tell the company that the previous owner had sold the house and moved. They told me to call the energy supplier who was the bailiffs client. I called the energy supplier and was told that to stop any more action by them that I would have to set up an account with them. Which I did.

However on Thursday and again yesterday I have received two further letters that are addressed to the previous owner and have " to be opened by the addressee only" printed on the front.

What do I do?

I'm guessing that he owes other people money. If I ask the estate agent to forward the letters. Then I'm worried that the previous owner will do nothing and I will end up with a debt collector on the doorstep. If I return the letters to the senders with a note explaining that the house has been sold is that the best course of action?

Advice please.

Alex

m0bov

Just mark return to sender. Not known at this address.

kinger101

Regarding the letters, I'd return to sender. If they show up again, open them and call the sender. It is legal to open someone else's mail if you have a reasonable excuse.

antrobus

Stormy_Petrel wrote: »

They lied to you. You can sign up with whichever energy supplier you want.

Not really. The second you move into your new house you are effectively obliged to 'open an account' with whichever energy co was previously supplying that address.

By giving their details to the energy co and 'setting up an account' the OP is doing nothing more than confirming that someone else other than the previous occupant will now be responsible for the bill, thereby dissuading the energy company from taking any further action.

The fact that the OP can (of course) switch to another supplier should they wish to do so isn't really that relevant to their current predicament.

antrobus

camperdown9 wrote: »

.... Which I did.....

Contacting the energy supplier and giving them opening meter reads should have been on your priority list of things to do anyway.
So at least that one's done.:)

camperdown9 wrote: »

....I'm guessing that he owes other people money.....

I'd imagine your guess was correct.

These things happen. People move into a new house and find that the previous occupier has done a bunk leaving a trail of debt behind them. There is not a lot you can do about that.

Take the previous advice given and mark any letters - return to sender, not known at this address - and stick em back in the post box. Or if you like open the letters, telephone the number given therein, and tell them what has happened.

Nothing bad is likely to happen to you. It's just a hassle you're going to have to put up with for a while.

davidmcn

kinger101 wrote: »

It is legal to open someone else's mail if you have a reasonable excuse.

If it's addressed to your house you don't even need a reasonable excuse.

Upsy_Staffordshire

We had the same problem and opened the letters because we knew how serious some of them would be. We called up everyone that was threatening to take action to explain the previous occupants no longer lived there and we stopped getting any letters after a while.

camperdown9

antrobus wrote: »

Contacting the energy supplier and giving them opening meter reads should have been on your priority list of things to do anyway.
So at least that one's done.:)

Thanks

I didn't know that we needed to do this. I called British Gas on Wednesday as I want them to supply me. They took all the details and gave me the names of the previous suppliers, but never told me that I needed to contact them.

Bluebirdman_of_Alcathays

Stormy_Petrel wrote: »

They lied to you. You can sign up with whichever energy supplier you want.

Rubbish. The moment a new occupier flicks on their first light switch they enter a deemed contract with the incumbent supplier. Giving meter readings to said supplier should be on the list for people to do on day 1, failure to do so will lead to estimated bills, or if there's a PPM they could even be paying the previous occupants debt!

kaya

Ignore them , if the bailiffs turn up answer the door with a pencil up each nostril and repeat the word " wibble" several times until they go away, it's not your debt, they can't take anything or enforce it upon you and certainly shouldn't be telling you to contact the energy supplier ! Personally I prefer the phrase " jog on big boy" to wibble wibble

theartfullodger

Bin them. If you wish to waste your time, return-2-sender.

If bailiffs turn up DO NOT LET THEM IN.
http://www.adviceguide.org.uk/england/debt_e/debt_action_your_creditor_can_take_e/bailiffs_e/bailiff_due_to_visit_-_what_to_do_e/keeping_a_bailiff_out_of_your_home_-_top_tips_e.htm

Instruct them politely to depart: Then "Get orf my laaanndd". Then call Police.

Bailiffs are, anecdotally, rarely polite, helpful or that bright.

However I do hope they find the scr*at previous occupants & collect the debt as otherwise honest decent folk (I make no claim or assertion that that includes me..) end up paying the scr*at's debt through either higher taxes or higher prices.

I have had LOADS & LOADS of such letters at properties I rent out: I have lived in them on-and-off for a number of years: No bailiff (or Sheriff's officer, Scotland) has ever turned up, sadly. I've been looking forward to an interesting conversation with one. To that end you could go that extra mile & let them know where the perps have gone..

Cheers!