Debts incurred using my address

Beverley

I was widowed during lockdown and my husband's brother travelled from overseas to attend his funeral. He stayed for a couple of weeks in my house. 

I have received several letters from a bank informing me of an overdraft in excess of £10k and a credit card (again in excess of £10k) I opened the letters as they appeared to be addressed to my late husband (they shared the same initial letter of their forename). After arguing with the bank on several occasions, we got to the bottom of it and it was revealed that the debts belonged to my brother-in-law.

I scanned the letters and emailed them to him but received no acknowledgement. I tried calling him lots of times but the calls were never answered. Eventually, I tried calling his wife. The call wasn't answered but he called me several days later saying they had been on holiday at the time. By way of explanation for the debts, he said he'd been having a few problems trying to get his British pension transferred - no apology.

I obtained his address and, in addition to, "Never lived at this address, see over for correct address" included it on the back of every envelope that arrived after that. The debts have now been passed to a debt collection agency who continue to write to him at my address. I contacted the agency who said that they would place a note on the file with his correct address. 

Frankly, I'm disgusted, but sadly not surprised, that he would do this.

The credit score agencies are proving difficult to contact. Is there anything else I can do?

sourcrates

The debts are his, and his alone, debts are attached to the person, not to any particular address.

Just keep returning the letters as "not at this address".

eskbanker

Beverley said:

The credit score agencies are proving difficult to contact. Is there anything else I can do?

Credit files are associated with an individual rather than an address, so an entry for someone else at your address has no impact on your credit situation.

Brie

Don't worry about "credit score" agencies. You're the only person that sees your credit score.  Banks (and others) look at your credit history.  Your BiL might be noted on that just like your husband or previous owners but it's not you so it's not relevant.  These are BiL's debts and not yours so shouldn't affect anything about you.  

Worst case scenario - if a collection agency sends someone to your home, don't let them in, don't open the door if you know it's them, just state he doesn't live there, never has and that they need to look for him elsewhere.  If they try to play the heavy with you have your mobile out as if you are filming them and they'll leave pretty quickly.  If they do anything silly like clamp your car call the police as they have no legal right to do this.  And if they look desperate and in pain and say they need the loo when it's pouring down with freezing rain tell them to go elsewhere as they are not welcome in your house.  As others will say - they have as much right to enter your home as your neighbour's dog.