Previous owner of my home applying for credit using my address

jhs123

We moved into our home 13 years ago. We were led to believe that the previous owners had moved to Australia over a year prior to that (the house was let in between). Over the years we have continued to receive mail for the previous owners. Mostly NHS screening appointments. On one occasion we got the son’s driving licence. This has all been a bit of a pain but hasn’t worried me. Today however, I got a letter declining the previous owner’s request for a credit account. Is there anything I can do?  

TheJP

No not really, you can juts dump it in the bin albeit its annoying when you keep getting someone eles's mail after 13 years.

Tabieth

I’m absolutely sure you’ve already done this, but make sure the electoral register is correct and up to date. Then just return all mail to the sender. I find it works quite well at reducing mail from previous occupants. 

jaybeetoo

Don’t open mail not addressed to you.  Write ‘not known at this address - return to sender’ and put it in the nearest post box.

user1977

jaybeetoo said:

Don’t open mail not addressed to you.  Write ‘not known at this address - return to sender’ and put it in the nearest post box.

Or open it if you want (there's no law against doing so if it's addressed to your address), and then return to sender...

Brie

Take a look at your (& any other adult in the house) credit history to ensure there's nothing going on there.  Likely isn't but it's best to be certain.  

Smalltownhypocrite

Our rental had a tonne of debt collect bills for some random woman, neighbors had never even heard of her (next door neighbor lived their since the 60s) so I don't even think she ever lived here.

Started with red overdue notices which we just ignored them and eventually ended up with two bailiff knocking on the door to collect. To be fair I just said its not me and I never heard of the woman and they just where like 'ok', very polite and level headed and nothing more ever came of it. After that all the debt letters all stopped (although we still get occasional gambling a credit card stuff through for her) and no ones came back over the next decade.

I assume from the sheer amount of stuff though she must have been known as a scammer but rest assured the courts won't come after you because someone fraudulently used your address.

Uriziel

Cross out the address on the letters and write RETURN on the top and on the bottom ADDRESS FRAUD since typing an incorrect address when asking for finance is actually illegal so let them know that they are helping with law breaking by doing business with him. I had this last year and the letters stopped very quickly. Nobody wants to be fined for lack of due diligence.

eddddy

FWIW, in similar circumstances, I opened a letter and then phoned the relevant bank to say the addressee didn't live at my address.

The bank person ask me a few questions, and thanked me for phoning. Obviously, they didn't tell me anything about the background or what they planned to do.


Realistically, the bank person didn't know whether...

• I was a prankster or a vengeful  ex, trying to make trouble for a genuine addressee

• The addressee had made a genuine mistake when typing their address

• The addressee was trying to commit some kind of fraud

• Or something else

But my guess would be that they put a temporary block on the card and/or access to the online account - and when the addressee phones them, they ask a few questions.


Similarly, somebody was telling me that a letter for them was returned to the bank marked "return to sender", so again the bank put a temporary block on the account, until the account holder phoned to ask why their card was being declined.

Beeblebr0x

user1977 said:

jaybeetoo said:

Don’t open mail not addressed to you.  Write ‘not known at this address - return to sender’ and put it in the nearest post box.

Or open it if you want (there's no law against doing so if it's addressed to your address), and then return to sender...

No, don't open the mail or Royal Mail will charge postage plus a fine on the item when delivered at the other end, unless that's what you want.

glennevis

user1977 said:

jaybeetoo said:

Don’t open mail not addressed to you.  Write ‘not known at this address - return to sender’ and put it in the nearest post box.

Or open it if you want (there's no law against doing so if it's addressed to your address), and then return to sender...

If there's a lot of mail shorten it to
 NATA RTS
which will be understood by RM (as advised by my postie).