Previous owner using our address for banking, DVLA and setting up new accounts

Norburgh

Thanks all - I've been returning all the bills, banking letters etc to sender for the last 18 months but they still keep sending them. As you say it's very easy for someone to just write no longer here etc and hope to get away with it. I have spoken with their lawyer when a brand new account was set up using this address and was assured it had been an error, but it's still going on. Does anyone happen to have an email address for DVLA? 

My concern is that while we are away on holiday, bailiffs force their way into the house to claim items to settle the debts (perhaps over thinking this one but you do hear of it happening) I'd be pretty fed up if it happened.

elsien

https://contact.dvla.gov.uk/email/

You are overthinking it. Because bailiffs can’t force entry without a CCJ and any court paperwork would more than likely be coming to your address.

user1977

Norburgh said:

My concern is that while we are away on holiday, bailiffs force their way into the house to claim items to settle the debts (perhaps over thinking this one but you do hear of it happening)

Do you? Even if it ever happens, it doesn't do so often enough for it to be sensible to worry about it.

You may as well worry about them turning up to completely the wrong address, which would come without any sort of warning (in the past I've dealt with things like the wrong flat being repossessed...)

theartfullodger

It terrible the decline in the quality of glue these days: Amazing how many envelopes simply "fall open" on the mat - and you just can't help notice what it about....

user1977

theartfullodger said:

It terrible the decline in the quality of glue these days: Amazing how many envelopes simply "fall open" on the mat - and you just can't help notice what it about....

As already pointed out, there's no legal problem with opening the mail anyway.

theartfullodger

user1977 said:

theartfullodger said:

It terrible the decline in the quality of glue these days: Amazing how many envelopes simply "fall open" on the mat - and you just can't help notice what it about....

As already pointed out, there's no legal problem with opening the mail anyway.

Well aware of that: Just pointing out what happens....... Sigh!

macman

Bailiffs cannot force entry to a residential property even if they did obtain a CCJ, which you would know about anyway.
They are far more likely to try to seize or immobilise any vehicle at the property, which would fail anyway as it would not be registered in the name of the previous owner.
Your house does not have a credit history, only you do. Your 'credit rating' is a fictional score that lenders can't even see.

p00hsticks

rach_k said:

 I've found that it takes a lot of doing that for each company to remove the address, whereas a phone call or email to the company usually sorts it straight away.

Personally I'd never provide these companies with a potential opportunity to get another means of communicating with you (e-mail address and telephone number). 

[Deleted User]

Postal Services Act 2000

Interfering with the mail general 

(3)A person commits an offence if, intending to act to a person’s detriment and without reasonable excuse, he opens a postal packet which he knows or reasonably suspects has been incorrectly delivered to him.

(5)A person who commits an offence under subsection (1) or (3) shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months or to both.

Level 5 fine Unlimited for offences committed after 13 March 2015

" postal packet " means a letter, postcard, reply postcard, newspaper, printed packet, sample packet, or parcel, and every packet or article transmissible by post, and includes a telegram;

Would invading someone's privacy by opening their private mail be acting to their detriment?

p00hsticks

Deleted_User said:

Postal Services Act 2000

Interfering with the mail general 

(3)A person commits an offence if, intending to act to a person’s detriment and without reasonable excuse, he opens a postal packet which he knows or reasonably suspects has been incorrectly delivered to him.

(5)A person who commits an offence under subsection (1) or (3) shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months or to both.

Level 5 fine Unlimited for offences committed after 13 March 2015

" postal packet " means a letter, postcard, reply postcard, newspaper, printed packet, sample packet, or parcel, and every packet or article transmissible by post, and includes a telegram;

Would invading someone's privacy by opening their private mail be acting to their detriment?

I can't see how it can be in your case , as you would be doing it in an attempt to ensure that the named person actually receives the communications that they are currently not getting. That would also count as a 'reasonable excuse', so no offence is being committed.