Knock on door last night from someone (I believe) pretending 2 b from Electoral Role!

Facingup_2

I'm new on here and all help/opinions greatly appreciated.

I'll have to keep this brief as just about to leave work.

Basically i've been living with my boyfriend for 3 years and we've never sent back the electoral role form thingy they send you in the post. Last night a lady knocked on our door (my boyfriend dealt with it) saying we had not sent back our electoral role form and asked my boyfriend to fill in the details of who was living at the address for it. He did. I am worried sick as I am in debt which all started when I was living with my parents and they all still write to that address. I've never heard of the electoral role people visiting people at home to gather details. Have you? I believe it is some debt collection place trying to trace me at my current address. Are they allowed to do this?

I'll post in more detail about my situation, but for now my debts are all of a credit card nature and in total sit at around 8k. I just paid one off which I am very proud of, but really dont want all my past coming to haunt my boyfriend who is so good with money. He knows I have debt to pay off and how much but I know he'll go mad if I start having these people knocking at his door. It is HIS place. Help!

merlinormartin

Hi Facingup
My boyfriend and i had the same call last week, she knocked around 7.30pm saying we had not returned the "form" (we also sent the electrol form back through the post) .. we live in Somerset. My BF did not ask for ID and confirmed his and my details, we dont have any debt (apart from student loans)... hmmm ... you have me thinking now

chevalier

Ask your boyfriend if they showed him any id. If they didn't then at least call the council in the morning to ask if they had sent anyone around. If they haven't then you can report to them that someone is fraudulently impersonating their officials.

Other than that I can't think of anything else to do. But even if this was a DCA touting for addresses, it does not mean that you will necessarily get people to the door. Far more likely to get a letter first.

chev

Rikki

They council call on us round here too. I Just have to tick the form to confirm there are no changes as I am already registered.

Homework

We get someone round every couple of years checking that the information is correct and updating where necessary as well as a form to send back each year.

It means that the creditors can do an electoral register check though and find you if they are still looking.

RAS

Hi

yes, I have heard of this happening when people do not send the form back for a while and CT is being paid. There is a £1000 max potential fine for not returning the form, so just be glad that this is what happened. BF should have asked for ID however. maybe he should ring just to check that it was OK?

Re your own debts, have a look here http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/banking/credit-rating-credit-score and get your own credit checks so that you can see how you stand right now.

Be aware that most debts become statute barred after 6 years, so some may be unenforceable, although there are a number of scavengers who will try to tell you otherwise.

Also, DCA cannot visit without your permission, you can insist that they write to you not phone and you can get them into trouble if they talk to OH about your debts.

A better idea might be to put up your SOA, see here http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/loans/debt-help-plan#help and ask folk to help you cut your spends, reorganise you payments to best effect. Then you may feel able to tell BF where you are at.

And if anything does come out of the woodwork, we can help you.

Actiongirl_2

My parents always used to do the electoral roll and also the census in the evenings for some extra money.

Common practice to knock at peoples doors for details.

irishjohn

Hello
I work for an electoral organisation and can confirm that October is the time of year when all local authorities have to confirm their electoral registration for the following year. A new register has to be published by law on 1st December every year and the "qualifying date" is 15th October, in otherwords you ahve to register at the address you are living at on that date. Local Councils will chase up non returns in the latter half of October to improve accuracy as much as possible. ##

You can then update your electoral registration at any time if you move house etc.

It will not be possible for debt collectors to know you ahve moved so no need to worry on that score.

When you applied for a credit card, you will have been checked out on the register by the credit reference agencies.

When you move your details from one address to another, it is passed on to credit reference agencies but no one can search the register for you to find your address. The full register can only be looked at for specific addresses, not to search specific people.

If you really want to hide away you need to ensure your "opt out" of the edited register as it can be bought for commercial purposes.

You are required by law to register for the full register and the maximum fine for not registering is £1000

I think you can relax

duchy

Chances are it is genuine. Our council come around every year chasing up those who haven't returned their forms and it's usually to meet the November deadline so the dates fit.

Summer29

Yes they do come round after the second letter is ignored, my friend gets paid 25p for every one they get signed so its probably genuine

rog2

We have also received evening visits from the Council, to check that we have sent off the electoral roll form (although not for the last couple of years) so I would, also, think it most likely was gebuine.
However - you should always ask for verifiable identification, just in case, and refuse point blank to discuss your details with them if no such Identification is offered.