Court Action for repossession scam.

Rosemary7391

N.FitzHugh wrote: »

My tenant is obliged to send on mail, it's in her contract, but it's no good suing her, she's from Libya and has a poor grasp of English.
The company which collects service charges and is an agent of the landlord, knows my address.
I have paid CSJ with a cheque once and attached a covering letter with my correct address, the trouble is that I don't have a copy and, of course, they won't produce it.
The Judge thought it was a scam and their system is set up to take advantage of problems of communication. The Landlord has no website or email address and only accepts cheques by post, in this day and age!! They do it that way on purpose if you read other people's experiences.
Yes, I am at fault for failing to remember to pay a once yearly bill which changes and which has gone to the wrong address, but they love those situations and exploit them to the full.

So you did tell them once? No way you can evidence it at all - no copy saved on your computer for instance?

Suggestion - if you use an electronic calendar, you can set up yearly reminders. This might help to avoid similar problems in the future.

G_M

I have paid CSJ with a cheque once and attached a covering letter with my correct address, the trouble is that I don't have a copy and, of course, they won't produce it.

Rosemary7391 wrote: »

So you did tell them once? No way you can evidence it at all - no copy saved on your computer for instance?

Suggestion - if you use an electronic calendar, you can set up yearly reminders. This might help to avoid similar problems in the future.

Even if you found this I doubt it would be sufficient. You might have sent the letter while on holiday, using your holiday address..

You need to ave explicitly informed them of your residential address to be used going forward until they are advised otherwise.

Good point about the Land Registry aaddress readingfan. Does the LR have your current address?

ronaldo asks

Is she here legally? Did the OP bother to check?

and yes, since 1/2/16 landlords must check tenants' immigration status., but it's a bit off-topic. I think we should assume that other than the dodgy tenancy agreement clause about mail, the tenancy is otherwise kosher!

Slinky

MrsNubs wrote: »

Also, you may have a clause in the tenancy agreement saying all mail should be forwarded on, but this is, as far as I know, unenforceable. Why should your tenant pay for your mail to be re-directed. This is a cost you should bear. It's no good suing your tenant because you will lose.

There's no charge for writing on an envelope please redirect to blah blah address and chucking it back in the post. No extra postage is required.

Cheeky_Monkey

The thing I find most unbelievable in the whole story is the fact that the Judge themselves phoned the OP rather than one of their minions :eek: :rotfl:

G_M

Slinky wrote: »

There's no charge for writing on an envelope please redirect to blah blah address and chucking it back in the post. No extra postage is required.

Not true.

RM can now require payment and may hold the letter at the distribution office until the correct postage and surcharge is paid.

In practice they often still simply deliver, but not always.....

MrsNubs

Slinky wrote: »

There's no charge for writing on an envelope please redirect to blah blah address and chucking it back in the post. No extra postage is required.

As G_M says, RM can charge to re-deliver mail. There is no charge for 'return to sender' but asking them to re-deliver is effectively asking for a chargeable forwarding service for free. It may work sometimes but it's not guaranteed

cloo

Cheeky_Monkey wrote: »

So presumably, she had no idea what she was signing!

Yes, that occurred to me too!

davidmcn

MrsNubs wrote: »

As G_M says, RM can charge to re-deliver mail. There is no charge for 'return to sender' but asking them to re-deliver is effectively asking for a chargeable forwarding service for free. It may work sometimes but it's not guaranteed

Well, at worst the OP gets a knock on the door from the postie asking for payment - it still doesn't cost the tenant anything (though I agree the OP shouldn't be relying on her goodwill).

Slinky

MrsNubs wrote: »

As G_M says, RM can charge to re-deliver mail. There is no charge for 'return to sender' but asking them to re-deliver is effectively asking for a chargeable forwarding service for free. It may work sometimes but it's not guaranteed

I occasionally get customers sending stuff to my accountant (registered office) instead of my home address by mistake. In 12 years I've only ever had 2 requests for payment. Once when there was an underpayment due to weight, and once where the accountant stuck on an address label right across the original so it didn't look like an obvious redirection. Everything else they've ever handwritten to forward to me has come at no charge.


ETA this must work for the accountants other customers also otherwise I'm sure they wouldn't be doing it.

Melanie1234

I have exactly the same issue with Chime Properties. They appear to be sending out the ground rent demands to my tenant claiming incomprehensible interest demands for overdue payments, even though I have personally given them my correct home address details, including my correct surname which they persist in getting wrong... There is definitely a problem with this company.