Scottish Power - vendors debt in fictitious name

mini_cooper

I recently completed the purchase of property and rang SP to give my opening readings.

Unfortunately the vendor of the property has been less than truthful and envelopes keep arriving addressed to the letting agent he used but at my address. I have spoken to the letting agent and forwarded the bills onto them but they say vendor ceased being a client a long time ago and the gas and electric bills are nothing to do with them.

I cannot find an email address for SP so is the Scottish Power MSE rep on here very often as I tried to send them a private message with all the details but their account does not accept them. After opening a bill the vendor has built up a large debt but as the name on the account is fictitious the problem will not go away.

I mentioned it to my conveyancer but she advised that the vendors solicitors would not deal with it as it is not addressed to their client and I don't want debt collectors turing up so don't know what to do.

worried_jim

Debt collectors will never turn up. It's not your debt or problem.

mini_cooper

worried jim - debt collectors do turn up - I bought a property back in 2000 and the vendor did a runner. I had letters for years and people did turn up at the door looking for vendor - I just don't want it to happen again.

anna42hmr

mini_cooper wrote: »

I recently completed the purchase of property and rang SP to give my opening readings.

Unfortunately the vendor of the property has been less than truthful and envelopes keep arriving addressed to the letting agent he used but at my address. I have spoken to the letting agent and forwarded the bills onto them but they say vendor ceased being a client a long time ago and the gas and electric bills are nothing to do with them.

I cannot find an email address for SP so is the Scottish Power MSE rep on here very often as I tried to send them a private message with all the details but their account does not accept them. After opening a bill the vendor has built up a large debt but as the name on the account is fictitious the problem will not go away.

I mentioned it to my conveyancer but she advised that the vendors solicitors would not deal with it as it is not addressed to their client and I don't want debt collectors turing up so don't know what to do.

Just send the letters unopened back as returned to sender not known at this address and it will eventually stop.

footyguy

mini_cooper wrote: »

I recently completed the purchase of property and rang SP to give my opening readings.

Unfortunately the vendor of the property has been less than truthful and envelopes keep arriving addressed to the letting agent he used but at my address. I have spoken to the letting agent and forwarded the bills onto them but they say vendor ceased being a client a long time ago and the gas and electric bills are nothing to do with them.

I cannot find an email address for SP so is the Scottish Power MSE rep on here very often as I tried to send them a private message with all the details but their account does not accept them. After opening a bill the vendor has built up a large debt but as the name on the account is fictitious the problem will not go away.

I mentioned it to my conveyancer but she advised that the vendors solicitors would not deal with it as it is not addressed to their client and I don't want debt collectors turing up so don't know what to do.

Don't open other peoples mail.
You've tried your best to forward mail to the correct recipient, but they obviously don't want to know.

Simply cross out the address, write on the outside of any mail not addressed to you or your family "Not known at this address" or "Moved away, return to sender" as appropriate, and pop back in the mail box. You don't even need a stamp.

Problem solved.

In the unlikely event a debt collector does turn up (they may do short term, but unlikely to do so after about a month once the sender starts getting the mail returned), then you can simply tell them the person they are seeking does not live at your address.

As you can prove it is not you, they they will go away as they cannot enforce a debt against anyone other that who it applies to. It does not apply to you.

Edit: I'm not sure I understand you correctly, but it seems very strange that a letting agent would have energy accounts in their own name for properties they do not own or occupy. If the seller was a landlord (and the account was not in the tenant's name) then the account should be in the landlords name, which maybe uses the mailing address of his appointed agent, but it wouldn't be in the letting agents name as that would make the letting agent entirely responsible for paying it (even if the landlord had no funds to do so)

Even stranger is the landlord dropped the agent a long time ago

Even stranger still, that accounts in the name of the letting agent have your address on them. Why wouldn't they have the letting agents address on them???

Good luck!

alibean121

Energy companies are low on the list of companys causing annoyance in these situations.

Mainly because they know there is a new occupant which many companys would have no way to know. They have to write to the old occupant at that address as they have no other address to use and it will enable them to register a CCJ.

As you've been advised, stop opening the mail, write "not at this address" on it and shove it in the postbox. Don't get involved.

ChumpusRex

anna42hmr wrote: »

Just send the letters unopened back as returned to sender not known at this address and it will eventually stop.

Been there. Done that.

It doesn't stop, and it ends up with bailiffs peering through the windows making a catalogue of stuff, and putting stickers on your car saying, this vehicle has been seized and must not be moved pending collection by bailiffs.

I agree that most mail can go back in the post with "not known at this address" on it. But if it looks like its from a court or bailiff, then it's well worth opening it to find out what is going on, and to contact the court directly to tell them that they have the wrong address.

Pincher

I have an ex-tenant, whose American Express statements will not stop. I call American Express about once a year to complain, plead, and they simply will not deal with me, even though I have an Amex card myself.

I have been returning them "RTS, addressee unknown" for more than seven years. The return address is in America.

naedanger

mini_cooper wrote: »

I recently completed the purchase of property and rang SP to give my opening readings.

Unfortunately the vendor of the property has been less than truthful and envelopes keep arriving addressed to the letting agent he used but at my address. I have spoken to the letting agent and forwarded the bills onto them but they say vendor ceased being a client a long time ago and the gas and electric bills are nothing to do with them.

I cannot find an email address for SP so is the Scottish Power MSE rep on here very often as I tried to send them a private message with all the details but their account does not accept them. After opening a bill the vendor has built up a large debt but as the name on the account is fictitious the problem will not go away.

I mentioned it to my conveyancer but she advised that the vendors solicitors would not deal with it as it is not addressed to their client and I don't want debt collectors turing up so don't know what to do.

I don't think the SP rep has posted on here in months (if not longer).

My suggestion is you send SP an email (email rather than telephone so you have evidence of what is said) giving them the letting agent's address. Also tell SP the date you purchased the property and demand SP stop sending any letters in respect of any energy used prior to this date to your address. Further state you will open any letters they send to your address.

Then if they send any further letters open them and complain to SP it these letters are not for you, and consider demanding compensation (my suggestion would be £10 per letter).

alibean121

ChumpusRex wrote: »

Been there. Done that.

It doesn't stop, and it ends up with bailiffs peering through the windows making a catalogue of stuff, and putting stickers on your car saying, this vehicle has been seized and must not be moved pending collection by bailiffs.

I agree that most mail can go back in the post with "not known at this address" on it. But if it looks like its from a court or bailiff, then it's well worth opening it to find out what is going on, and to contact the court directly to tell them that they have the wrong address.

How did your car become associated to the debts? It's surely registered in your name.

I open anything hand delivered but nothing else really.

The previous occupant of my flat was clearly having problems and I used to find a lot of letters left while I was out at work but it's dried up now.

I only really had problems with equita chasing council tax debts and the council were very slow to intervene. I stand by what I said though in that I would ignore them and not be interested in what letters arrived.

They can't force entry unless you let them in first so they can sniff around all they like. Although I agree it can be distressing/annoying to have people banging at the door. I'm also still very paranoid about locking the door when I'm stepping 2m outside the door.

spiro

naedanger wrote: »

I don't think the SP rep has posted on here in months (if not longer).

My suggestion is you send SP an email (email rather than telephone so you have evidence of what is said) giving them the letting agent's address. Also tell SP the date you purchased the property and demand SP stop sending any letters in respect of any energy used prior to this date to your address. Further state you will open any letters they send to your address.

Then if they send any further letters open them and complain to SP it these letters are not for you, and consider demanding compensation (my suggestion would be £10 per letter).

I would attach a copy of paperwork proving the date you took ownership of the property.