Bailiffs threatening for debts from a previous occupant

Flourish

I've just returned home to a very threatening letter...a removal notice for a large debt owed by a previous occupant.

I moved in last December and have been returning letters addressed to this person saying 'not known at this address' etc. They are now threatening to come with a locksmith and seize goods up to around £7,000. There is a telephone number on the notice but when I rang it BT informed me it would cost 50p a minute...er so no thank you.

Surely they can't just enter anyone's house without a magistrates order AFTER establishing that the occupant is this person?

Not sure when the person they're after lived here...she wasn't the person I brought the house from....they told me they were always sending letters back 'not known at this address.'

Any suggestions/advice would be welcome. Though I often work from home I am frequently out of the country...would hate anything to happen whilst I was away.

Thank you!

chevalier

Hi there
A couple of thoughts
1) Are they really bailiffs or a debt collection agency trying it on? If the latter then they have no right to enter your home. If they are court appointed bailiffs (ie the debt is regarding council tax) then speak to the council.
2) You could ask your seller, if they know where the person is, if you want to tell the 'bailliffs' that.
3) Make sure you have some photo id ready, plus some form of document (ie from the house sale), that shows that a) you are not the person they want (the photo id) and b) that you are not responsible for the debt (the letter noting the date of exchange)
4) Get your credit file from Experien or similar. I am not sure how it is done, but you can put a note on your file, saying that x person has never lived at the address since you have been there. Or some wording like that. It might help over time.
5) If you go to saynoto0870.com, then you might be able to find an alternative, non premium number for the company that is threatening you.
6) If you have an actual address for them, it might (and take someone with you as a witness) be worth going along with the id mentioned above and show them that you are not the person they are chasing in person.

best of luck
chev

RAS

Who is the letter from?

Flourish

Thanks.
1. I suspect it is a debt collector...they're called North West Commercial Services (certificated Baliffs by Appointment) ??? They're not local...they have offices in Colwyn Bay and Chester. No it's not for council tax...though that it mentioned in their notice (all on red paper) and is scrubbed out with ND(i?)R (?) hand written above. Not sure what that means...else where it says Non Domestic something...Then we recommending that the magistrates are re-approached immediately for the issue of a 'warrant of arrest against you and your goods will be removed etc etc
2. No they didn't know...I think they brought off someone other than this person
3. I am away alot so might not be around
4. Just read something in the guardian (Money section on saturday) about how that is done
5. the number starts 07050 rather than 0870
6. As mentioned...not local

All looks a bit suspect...don't you think?

Thanks for being in touch...gives me food for thought.

Flourish

The company are called North West Commercial Services (certified bailiffs by appointment)...they have 2 addresses 9 Conway Road, Colwyn Bay, Conwy (they've ticked this one) and 1 Cuppin St, Chester...I live in Shropshire so neither address is local

chevalier

North West Commercial Services
9 Conway Road, Colwyn Bay, LL29 7NT
TEL: 01492 531345
FAX: 01492 534289

Is this them? If so then here is their number
chev

RAS

NDR - Non domestic rates???????????

Just a thought?

Flourish

Yes that looks like them...
Though in the article in The Guardian (15/9)...it says write...never phone...to the company threatening you.

Flourish

NDR...ah yes. I assume that's connected to a business then?

sunshine_shell

I had a letter like that once, rang them up and told them if they wanted to scare young single women, then i would get the police involved for threatening behaviour.

I would ring them up and enquire whether they have recieved the returned letters and would they like to arrange a time to come round so you can prove that you are not the person they are looking for. But don't let them in the house EVER!! show them from the doorstep

What a bunch of idiots

Flourish

Thank you very much...I'm sure that there must be quite a lot of people out there who get these kind of letters...so I'm sure others will pick up on your advice.