Stepson is in huge debt

eddiewiltshire

Hi all


My wife's 30 year old son lived with us for two years but left in October to live with his girlfriend. Although his mail came here, he was never on the electoral role as being here, whether or not that makes a difference. On clearing his room, we found dozens of unopened letters that were from creditors and debt collection agencies. More letters arrive in the post every day and on Tuesday this week, a bailiff turned up very keen to make his acquaintance for an unpaid debt of almost £2,000. Another letter has turned up this morning, and from the PO Box number it seems to be from a company in Huddersfield who are also presumably keen to find him.


What is my best course of action here? Do we open the mail and call the creditors and agencies to advise of his new address, do we send the letters back marked as "no longer lives here" or do we do nothing. I certainly don't want a procession of bailiffs turning up at our front door, even if the debts are nothing to do with us. Thank you for any advice.

[Deleted User]

Send back as not at this address, or pass them on to him to update with his new address.

eddiewiltshire

OK, thank you

Mojisola

Also suggest that he contacts https://www.stepchange.org before his debts get any worse.

Pixie5740

eddiewiltshire wrote: »

Hi all


My wife's 30 year old son lived with us for two years but left in October to live with his girlfriend. Although his mail came here, he was never on the electoral role as being here, whether or not that makes a difference. On clearing his room, we found dozens of unopened letters that were from creditors and debt collection agencies. More letters arrive in the post every day and on Tuesday this week, a bailiff turned up very keen to make his acquaintance for an unpaid debt of almost £2,000. Another letter has turned up this morning, and from the PO Box number it seems to be from a company in Huddersfield who are also presumably keen to find him.


What is my best course of action here? Do we open the mail and call the creditors and agencies to advise of his new address, do we send the letters back marked as "no longer lives here" or do we do nothing. I certainly don't want a procession of bailiffs turning up at our front door, even if the debts are nothing to do with us. Thank you for any advice.

I'd call the creditors. I used to receive a lot of similar post for a previous occupant of my home. I was returning letters to sender for months but still they came. Eventually I called up the debt collection agencies as it was getting to the stage of debt collectors and bailiffs coming to my door. It stopped soon after that. I know he's your step son but I wouldn't trust him to update his address.