Lodger debts registered to my adress

cdunne

In 2008 I had a lodger for 6 months (I had a standard worded agreement for lodgers).

Very occasionally I received letters for from TSB bank (after it's separation) which I return to sender. However, have received one which had no return address and it was from Arrow Global. Apparently she had £1686.77 debt with HSBC which seems to be registered to this address.

I've emailed both Arrow and the agency they've passed it to (Moorcroft) starting she doesn't live her and I have no current address. Could either company try to claim off me? Or indeed impact my credit rating? I'd be very annoyed if they did.

jjlandlord

Debts are registered to an individual not an address.

They try to contact the debtor at your address because that's the address they have on file at the moment.

If anyone ever comes knocking on your door, don't let them in and tell them to p*ss off.

Marktheshark

Put them in the bin or join the very long line of people we see on here that ignore this advice and regret it every time the phone rings.
If they get your phone number, you better get ready for some stick.

Jhoney_2

cdunne wrote: »

In 2008 I had a lodger for 6 months (I had a standard worded agreement for lodgers).

Very occasionally I received letters for from TSB bank (after it's separation) which I return to sender. However, have received one which had no return address and it was from Arrow Global. Apparently she had £1686.77 debt with HSBC which seems to be registered to this address.

I've emailed both Arrow and the agency they've passed it to (Moorcroft) starting she doesn't live her and I have no current address. Could either company try to claim off me? Or indeed impact my credit rating? I'd be very annoyed if they did.

1. No, you are not liable for lodger's debt - it now follows the person not the property as was once the case but changed a long time ago.
2. No, it should not affect your CR, but I would check them for any anomalies during her occupation of the property.
3. I hope you didn't open the letter, that is illegal as far as I am aware.

pyueck

Jhoney wrote: »

1. No, you are not liable for lodger's debt
2. No, it should not affect your CR, but I would check them for any anomalies during her occupation of the property.
3. I hope you didn't open the letter, that is illegal as far as I am aware.

3. is not strictly true, it depends why you open it http://www.adviceguide.org.uk/wales/consumer_w/consumer_post_e/consumer_problems_with_post_e/consumer_problems_with_post_delivery_e/youre_receiving_someone_elses_mail.htm

davidmcn

Jhoney wrote: »

I hope you didn't open the letter, that is illegal as far as I am aware.

pyueck wrote: »

3. is not strictly true, it depends why you open it http://www.adviceguide.org.uk/wales/consumer_w/consumer_post_e/consumer_problems_with_post_e/consumer_problems_with_post_delivery_e/youre_receiving_someone_elses_mail.htm

That web page is an often-cited but misleading statement of the law. If you read the legislation, you'll see that it isn't illegal to open mail which has been sent to your address.

It might be illegal to open mail which has been incorrectly delivered e.g. addressed to next door, if it can be shown that you had nefarious motivations for so doing. But nothing intrinsically unlawful about opening mail addressed to previous residents of your house. The usual laws of fraud, theft etc still apply of course.

Jhoney_2

pyueck wrote: »

3. is not strictly true, it depends why you open it http://www.adviceguide.org.uk/wales/consumer_w/consumer_post_e/consumer_problems_with_post_e/consumer_problems_with_post_delivery_e/youre_receiving_someone_elses_mail.htm

Yes, but see:
If you don't recognise the name or don't know the previous occupier’s address, you should:

• score through the address with a pen
• write on the front of the envelope: "NOT KNOWN AT THIS ADDRESS, RETURN TO SENDER"
• place it back into a post box, which is free of charge

If there is no return address visible, Royal Mail has a returned letter centre in Belfast where they are allowed to open the mail in an attempt to identify the sender so they can return it. The returned letter centre can add these details to their database and the unwanted mail should stop. If they can't identify who the mail should be sent to, the item will be destroyed.


Hence the caution.

jjlandlord

The best thing to do if you want them to update their records is to return the letters to sender... It's easier to do if you don't open the envelopes!

Jhoney_2

Also, always a good idea to ask and remind lodgers/tenants to redirect their mail, but always ask for a forwarding address in the period before the return of the deposit.

If easier, make providing it a part of any agreement initially.

Guest101

Jhoney wrote: »

Also, always a good idea to ask and remind lodgers/tenants to redirect their mail, but always ask for a forwarding address in the period before the return of the deposit.

If easier, make providing it a part of any agreement initially.

And how would you enforce this agreement?

custardy

Jhoney wrote: »

Yes, but see:
If you don't recognise the name or don't know the previous occupier’s address, you should:

• score through the address with a pen
• write on the front of the envelope: "NOT KNOWN AT THIS ADDRESS, RETURN TO SENDER"
• place it back into a post box, which is free of charge

If there is no return address visible, Royal Mail has a returned letter centre in Belfast where they are allowed to open the mail in an attempt to identify the sender so they can return it. The returned letter centre can add these details to their database and the unwanted mail should stop. If they can't identify who the mail should be sent to, the item will be destroyed.


Hence the caution.

No RM may open the mail. This depends on the postage method used. The vast majority of mail without return addresses is disposed via confidential waste these days.