Debt Letters Left By Previous Tenant

user1977

TBagpuss said:

sevenhills said:

user1977 said:

Who told you that nonsense? There's no problem if it's been delivered correctly (i.e. to the correct address, which it has). Might not help you any, of course, and there's no principle that you're liable for her bills anyway.

You can't open someone else's mail, but who is going to know.
I still get debt letters from when I had a lodger. I open them and have a read. Then into the bin, as he went back to India.

If you open a letter because it's been delivered to your home and you are the only occupant, so you don't check the name, you don't commit an offence, as you had a reasonable excuse (belief that post delivered to your home is for you.)

As I explained above, if it's delivered to your home because that's the address on the letter, it does not matter whose name is on it - it has not been "incorrectly delivered" in terms of the Act (because that's where they're meant to deliver it). So you don't even need to start worrying about the "acting to a person's detriment" point because it doesn't come into play. It's only "incorrectly delivered" if the postie has put it through the wrong door.

Ath_Wat

wolvesbruza said:

Who even does things like that to someone elses property who was a friend and supported the family and kids during a very rough time for them.

Half the country.

However, as you have it clearly stated in the tenancy that she is responsible for the bills, stop worrying about it.  It is not your problem. So what if they send letters to the flat?  What are you actually worried is going to happen?

newsgroupmonkey_

Ath_Wat said:

You are not in debt now.  Why on earth is your new tenant stressed?  Some letters are arriving that are not addressed to them; tell them to put them on one side until you come round and collect them.

Absolutely not. Return with "Not at this address".

A tenants home is THEIR home without needing the landlord just "popping by" regularly. I rented houses for a number of years. I had no wish to meet or see the landlord any more than I had to (apart from one lovely family whereby due to circumstances we rented their family home). I don't need reminding that I don't own my own home and having someone invading my privacy.

sheramber

Shell are stating that unless 'I' give them a forwarding address or the ex tenant gets in touch they will simply keep sending the letters to my property.

Tell Shell you will keep returning them.

Note on the envelope the tenants name and 'gone away. Address unknown' and put them back in the post box.

All other letters addressed to her return to sender.

I am currently getting letters for a debt agency for the previous owner of my house, which I bought two years ago, despite advising them she no longer lives here.

They get popped in the postbox the next time I  pass one as I do not live near one, nor pass one  day to day , and am not making a special trip to a postbox.

macman

It's up to Shell Energy to trace and pursue the tenant: you are not obliged to give them a forwarding address, even if you had one. Make a formal complaint to them, submitting evidence of the tenant being liable from date x to date y, and settle any bill due for the void period.
If they continue to write, return the letters as above.

Alderbank

sheramber said:

Shell are stating that unless 'I' give them a forwarding address or the ex tenant gets in touch they will simply keep sending the letters to my property.

Tell Shell you will keep returning them.

Note on the envelope the tenants name and 'gone away. Address unknown' and put them back in the post box.

All other letters addressed to her return to sender.

I am currently getting letters for a debt agency for the previous owner of my house, which I bought two years ago, despite advising them she no longer lives here.

They get popped in the postbox the next time I  pass one as I do not live near one, nor pass one  day to day , and am not making a special trip to a postbox.

Agree.
The previous owner of my house must have been a little 'forgetful' about paying bills.
The letters stop completely after a time.
Don't stress about it.

alibean121

I moved into a flat in the past where the previous tenant clearly had money problems and I had bailiffs and hundreds of debt collection letters coming. Just keep shoving them back into the letterbox not known at this address. They did stop eventually. The worst mistake I ever made was ringing one of the bailiff firms that put a hand delivered note through the door - they wouldn’t stop ringing me for months.

Ath_Wat

newsgroupmonkey_ said:

Ath_Wat said:

You are not in debt now.  Why on earth is your new tenant stressed?  Some letters are arriving that are not addressed to them; tell them to put them on one side until you come round and collect them.

Absolutely not. Return with "Not at this address".

A tenants home is THEIR home without needing the landlord just "popping by" regularly. I rented houses for a number of years. I had no wish to meet or see the landlord any more than I had to (apart from one lovely family whereby due to circumstances we rented their family home). I don't need reminding that I don't own my own home and having someone invading my privacy.

I also rented houses for a number of years and never had any problem with the landlord knocking on the door to collect mail.  So each to their own, eh, a thing best decided between individuals.  I didn't need reminding that I didn't own the place I was renting, I knew that, oddly enough, and it was not a problem to me to know that.
Landlords doing that no more invade your privacy than people delivering things.

Also, this is the landlord - how are they supposed to return them with "not at this address" without collecting them?  

michelle09

Alderbank said:

sheramber said:

Shell are stating that unless 'I' give them a forwarding address or the ex tenant gets in touch they will simply keep sending the letters to my property.

Tell Shell you will keep returning them.

Note on the envelope the tenants name and 'gone away. Address unknown' and put them back in the post box.

All other letters addressed to her return to sender.

I am currently getting letters for a debt agency for the previous owner of my house, which I bought two years ago, despite advising them she no longer lives here.

They get popped in the postbox the next time I  pass one as I do not live near one, nor pass one  day to day , and am not making a special trip to a postbox.

Agree.
The previous owner of my house must have been a little 'forgetful' about paying bills.
The letters stop completely after a time.
Don't stress about it.

Same! For all non-Sky bills for many many months. 

OP- all these companies will try for the easiest payment. Maybe warn the new tenants that bailiffs like to knock at 6am, the companies don't believe the "return to sender" on envelopes and will still apply for court orders, and some will still try to make you pay even if you can prove it's not your fault (my particular favourite being a bailiff who told me that paying the £2k bill from previous owner would stop all correspondence...), and to keep some photo ID close to hand to make bailiffs go away. 

But just keep firm. You could always give Shell the HA details and let them chase your ex tenant. 

FreeBear

michelle09 said: OP- all these companies will try for the easiest payment. Maybe warn the new tenants that bailiffs like to knock at 6am, the companies don't believe the "return to sender" on envelopes and will still apply for court orders, and some will still try to make you pay even if you can prove it's not your fault (my particular favourite being a bailiff who told me that paying the £2k bill from previous owner would stop all correspondence...), and to keep some photo ID close to hand to make bailiffs go away.

If they are just door knockers from a debt collection company, they are not bailiffs and no right of entry and zero right to demand money.

A court appointed bailiff will have a copy of the judgement (warrant), but can only demand payment from the named individual.