Debt for lodger who has moved abroad

hello19

Hi guys, we had a lodger stay with us in 2018 to 2019. Since 2019 we have received letters from various debt collectors under their name and we have always sent them back with rts written on them. Since 2024 we have been opening the letters and calling the companies to tell them the only forwarding address we have for them is Australia. We are now getting letters of warrant of control and a potential enforcement action in 14 days. 

How do we go about this? The debt is from Lowell, so it sounds like a credit card debt. 

RAS

Ignore.

Lowell specialise in letters that mention dire circumstances that might happen, but they do not intend to spend money on legal action.

What exactly do the letters say? Can you type out the relevant sections.?

Unfortunately because you've been opening the letters and contacting the debt collectors, you've made the ex-lodger a much more attractive target. Added to which if they emigrated in 2019, this debt may soon become statute barred, which is time for debt chasers to ramp up the pressure. They will think that you have some sort of access to the lodger and want you to pressure on them to contact Lowell. 

hello19

RAS said:

Ignore.

Lowell specialise in letters that mention dire circumstances that might happen, but they do not intend to spend money on legal action.

What exactly do the letters say? Can you type out the relevant sections.?

Unfortunately because you've been opening the letters and contacting the debt collectors, you've made the ex-lodger a much more attractive target. Added to which if they emigrated in 2019, this debt may soon become statute barred, which is time for debt chasers to ramp up the pressure. They will think that you have some sort of access to the lodger and want you to pressure on them to contact Lowell. 

Thank you Ras. 

The letter states, We have been instructed to apply for a warrant of control. You may recall that a county court judgement was entered against you 12/12/2023 (fictional date for anonymity purposes) as you have failed to maintain an agreed payment plan, our client, Lowell has instructed us to apply for a warrant of control. if you do not pay x amount  within 14 days from this letter, we are instructed to issue an application for a warrant of control. 

The ex-lodger was a very distant family friend, we were from the same tribe back in Africa, they fled very severe domestic abuse and have no intentions to come back to the UK. We are not in contact, but from word of mouth, at family functions I heard they moved to Australia. 

I have only ever called the debt collectors to inform them that they have moved on to Australia. no records have ever been updated as when I call them back again after receiving more letters, they cant see that I have ever called. So someone from Lowell is not noting or documenting calls made in regards to lodger residing in another country. 

One thing i'm afraid of is, we share the same surname as we are from the same tribe. 

fatbelly

They can get a ccj at the last known address, which is what they are doing.

Not your debt. Just keep returning the letters marked Not at this address.

Brie

And if anyone should show up at your door saying you need to let them in to discuss collection, don't.  Don't let them in, don't answer the door if possible, doesn't matter if it's tipping down with rain and they're desperate for the loo.  Don't. 

If you do answer the door have your phone ready as if to film what they are saying or doing and they'll suddenly get nice and polite.  

sourcrates

Never open debt collection letters that are in another persons name, you can open up a whole can of worms for yourself if you respond to them, do as per fatbelly`s post.

If they obtain a warrant of control that involves County Court bailiffs, they will call with 7 days notice, when they ask if the debtor is in, you respond through a locked door that they no longer reside at this address, and you have no idea of there current whereabouts.

Under no circumstances open the door to them, its easier to deal with them when you keep them outside, even through you are not the debtor.

Don`t get involved any further.

hello19

Bringing this thread up again. I believe the bailiffs will be around soon as its been sometime since I last posted this and the letters keep coming through (I'm not opening them). My question is, can they clamp any cars on the driveway without speaking to me? I am also not the debtor as well, the debtor has moved abroad. 

DE_612183

You said earlier that you share the same surname - I presume that their name and the name on the V% document are different?
In that case I would assume that they can't clamp your car.

sourcrates

Lowell don`t tend to enforce the debts they obtain judgements on, to them its simply a numbers game, how many debtors can they persuade to engage with them using threats and intimidation err, letters and calls etc.

They won't spend more money on escalation to a bailiff, its not their "thing", I wouldn`t worry.