Unpaid Bills. Not my problem?

shortcrust

As others have said, just return them unopened with 'not known'. Refuse to get involved with lenders on the phone. "I'm sorry she no longer lives her, she's travelling abroad and we don't have a forwarding address" and hangup.

This really isn't their business. It's between the daughter and the lenders. If they're really straight down the line people they shouldn't be opening her post in the first place (though of course I understand why they have). They're not responsible for her debts or her conduct.

mwarby

Enterprise_1701C wrote: »

Did she close her UK bank account? If not she could just transfer money into that and pay the bills as normal.

Of course, her parents could always give the card companies her new address.

I'm guessing her old bank account has an overdraft, and balance is overdrawn, so not much use if she struggling. I'm not suggesting she should repay a possinle overdraft, just in proportion with other debts

[Deleted User]

Tarquin_Tarantino wrote: »

The problem doing that is it's not the way they conduct their business

It's not their business.

chattychappy

I have a block with a number of flats. People often disappear leaving debt behind. Contrary to what you might expect, I found that when open the chasing letters and call the companies concerned, they do generally stop.

I suppose this is less likely to happen if you're a family member, because there is the likelihood of the person returning (or people acting in cahoots).

Yolina

chattychappy wrote: »

Contrary to what you might expect, I found that when open the chasing letters and call the companies concerned, they do generally stop.

That's my experience too (albeit 16 years ago)
My flat was rented out before I bought it and it seems the last tenant did a runner owing money to a lot of people. Any post with a return address I duly sent back; anything without a return address I opened and phoned the company. Took about 3 months IIRC but it eventually stopped.

[Deleted User]

Yolina wrote: »

My flat was rented out before I bought it and it seems the last tenant did a runner owing money to a lot of people.

Same here, except the mail was for several previous tenants.

Any post with a return address I duly sent back; anything without a return address I opened and phoned the company.

I've been fortunate, in that pretty much everything had a return address.

Took about 3 months IIRC but it eventually stopped.

It's been over 6 years since I moved in here and, although it's reduced, I still get the odd bit of mail, for previous tenants.

I just stick on a "NOT AT THIS ADDRESS", and post it back.

After the experience I had, when ringing a DCA at my previous address :mad: , I would never ring one again.

MrJester

To sum up everyones thoughts, and I agree:

For each letter recieved named to your daughter, or anyone else for that matter, write on the front:
NOT KNOWN AT THIS ADDRESS, RETURN TO SENDER

I moved into a flat a year or so ago and we had mountains of letters for previous tenants. I was sick of it so I did the above and after a couple months it stopped entirely!

Make a list of all those companies that do send letters to her name. Send a letter to each of them, in very clear writing, and keep a copy for yourself, that DAUGHTER NAME no longer lives at the address, and provide a forwarding address e.g. her new address abroad.

They have then been clearly given all the information, if after 30 days (a suitable timeframe to assume the letter has been dealt with internally) you recieve more letters from said company, send another claiming that they are HARASSING you. Because if they are still pushing for money or info, you've given them the facts, and they CHOOSE to ignore them then this is harassment.
Keep copies of all contact.

The reason creditors will continue to harass is because they know that in the end, someone will pay. E.G. the parent who just wants this to all go away.
Anyone can pay any amount onto an account, just like recieivng money to your bank account. They don't care who pays, as long as someone does. I know from experience working for a finance company that we would recieve calls, the person would give the details of an account (either the account number, or describe the name, dob, and address of the account which we would use to identify it ourselves but never confirm or deny any info) and be able to make a payment to it.
DO NOT be that parent. Child or not, they have their own responsibilities as an adult and must FACE THEM.

Good luck.

jamesperrett

mwarby wrote: »

They won't have the address blacklisted, as credit records go by name address and dob

While this is how it ought to work, I know from personal experience that if you have the same initial and surname as someone with a bad record you will still have problems with credit.

mwarby

But you should be able to get such entries removed fairly easily, probably worth parents getting £2 statutory reports to check(better to find out before an application)

PaulW922

They need to keep an eye out for any County Court papers. The last thing they want is a judgement by default and a bailiff turning up. If a claim against their daughter arrives they need to advise the court directly that their daughter is no longer there.

Doubtless others will say it is not their problems if this happens, but a bailiff on the doorstep is not a good thing to have and can very much become your problem.

If it were me I would also check my credit file for any financial associations - I would not want to be tarred with the same brush.