Previuos Owners have open credit cards and applied fro loans using our address

Gayle_Evans

Hi there,

Hoping someone can help and give some guidance on this issue.

Bit of a back story. We purchased our property as first time buyers in July 2013. We knew that the owner had his own business and worked from home. They did not leave any forwarding address but informed us that they had put in place the redirect service from Royal Mail for the first 6 months until they were settled enough to then deal with changing addresses.

It's been over 3 years now and not only have we had incidences where we are still receiving junk mail, and birthday cards for their children but we still get bank statements on occasions. I approach this by reposting with return to sender or not known at this address emblazoned across the envelopes.

We have though opened some items recently, one being from Marks and Spencer Bank back in August which enclosed a credit card and a further one with an acceptance on a loan from M&S Bank. I called the phone number of M&S Bank and informed them that this was not their address and that we had owned the property for the past 3 years.

We have also had a recurring piece of post that is a bill for corporation Tax from HMRC for a Ltd company that the previous owner has registered to our property. I've called HMRC and they can do nothing about it, I've also called companies house and they say they can do nothing about it as I'm not the registrar of the company.

I feel lost and helpless as I don't know what to do about this ongoing situation. I'm certain that this will be effecting our credit rating and at the base of it, it is fraud. What do I do? Do I call the Police or get my solicitor who actioned our conveyancing to contact their solicitor? It really has me quite anxious!

[Deleted User]

It's absolutely not having an affect on your credit rating (unless they are using your name).

Either bin the post or return to sender.

National_Debtline

Hi Gayle,


Zx81 is right, this won't be on your credit file. Credit files are linked to people, so if this debt is in their name it is linked to their credit file.


However, I do understand why you would be worried about this 'landing on your doorstep'. If anyone did ever come to your home then remember - do not let them in, tell them the liable person no longer lives there and ask them to leave.


You are doing the right thing by returning the post, keep doing that, and on top of that you could even consider a complaint to the companies that are persistent, like HMRC. State that you have informed them by phone on several occasions that the liable person no longer resides at the address. Offer to send them confirmation of the sale (if you are happy with that) and ask them to confirm to you, in writing, that they will start to look elsewhere for this person. Unfortunately, I don't think solicitors are going to be much help in this situation, but may charge you for trying. Even if your solicitor agrees to write to the other solicitor, they won't be able to give you their new address because of data protection. Try not to worry,


Laura
@natdebtline

Westminster

Not sure it is a good idea to be opening post addressed to someone else if there is already a return to send address on it (which I would expect any envelope from a financial institution to have)

Ben8282

It would seem a bit strange applying for a new credit card and having it sent to your address. How did they expect to get their hands on the card?
I assume you have checked the electoral roll for your address and made sure the previous owners are not still on it.

Dobbibill

Ben8282 wrote: »

It would seem a bit strange applying for a new credit card and having it sent to your address. How did they expect to get their hands on the card?

It's probably a replacement due to expiry date on their existing card. Most credit & debit cards have a 3 or 4 yr expiry on them.

If they have forgotten to update their address, I'm sure this will prompt them when they don't receive their CC or their existing card declines in a store.

GingerBob_3

Gayle_Evans wrote: »

Hi there,

Hoping someone can help and give some guidance on this issue.

Bit of a back story. We purchased our property as first time buyers in July 2013. We knew that the owner had his own business and worked from home. They did not leave any forwarding address but informed us that they had put in place the redirect service from Royal Mail for the first 6 months until they were settled enough to then deal with changing addresses.

It's been over 3 years now and not only have we had incidences where we are still receiving junk mail, and birthday cards for their children but we still get bank statements on occasions. I approach this by reposting with return to sender or not known at this address emblazoned across the envelopes.

We have though opened some items recently, one being from Marks and Spencer Bank back in August which enclosed a credit card and a further one with an acceptance on a loan from M&S Bank. I called the phone number of M&S Bank and informed them that this was not their address and that we had owned the property for the past 3 years.

We have also had a recurring piece of post that is a bill for corporation Tax from HMRC for a Ltd company that the previous owner has registered to our property. I've called HMRC and they can do nothing about it, I've also called companies house and they say they can do nothing about it as I'm not the registrar of the company.

I feel lost and helpless as I don't know what to do about this ongoing situation. I'm certain that this will be effecting our credit rating and at the base of it, it is fraud. What do I do? Do I call the Police or get my solicitor who actioned our conveyancing to contact their solicitor? It really has me quite anxious!

You do nothing about it, other than write on the envelopes "Not known at this address" or "Return to sender" and put them in the nearest post box. If that becomes too onerous due to the volume of mail, simply bin it.


BTW, if anyone rolls up on your doorstep wanting to speak to the former occupants there's a standard response. "They don't live here anymore and I have no forwarding address" Do not engage in any other conversation and if they suggest you're lying you simply order them off your premises.

DCFC79

Westminster wrote: »

Not sure it is a good idea to be opening post addressed to someone else if there is already a return to send address on it (which I would expect any envelope from a financial institution to have)

Its perfectly fine for the OP to open the post, what isnt allowed is for the OP to open the post and do something they shouldnt like take out a credit card, spend on it and dont pay it.

boliston

I would certainly open mail addressed to my address as I would wish to be aware of why people are using my address. I normally reseal the envelope and write non known at this address - return to sender

Westminster

DCFC79 wrote: »

Its perfectly fine for the OP to open the post, what isnt allowed is for the OP to open the post and do something they shouldnt like take out a credit card, spend on it and dont pay it.

See here https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/2996652