House purchase and previous owner debt letters

Markdavid1962

My daughter bought a house over 18 months ago and is now the legal owner, documents at Land registry etc

However she has been getting bills in the post for the previous owner, since she took ownership she has returned each one with a "Return to Sender, no longer at this address". 

However the bills (Demands) keep on coming now marked in red final demand.

My daughter has called the companies (name address from the outside of envelope) and told them and has even said she can send a copy of transfer of ownership of property.

However today she has been told the previous owner has told them they still live at the old address.

She is concerned about her credit file (address) and is concerned the previous owner may be taking credit out using her old address.

A few questions

1)Does she need to contact the credit agencies and tell them the previous owner is not at the address, to make sure her address is not used

2)Other post for the previous owner with no return address on the envelope, in the past she took this post to the estate agent but they can not contact the previous owner, mobiles changed etc. Does she need to open this post to contact the sender, as she is concerned bailiffs may pitch up

It is causing her a lot of stress so any suggestions which may help will be appreciated

user1977

Credit file is personal, she can't be "blacklisted" because of a previous resident.

Bailiffs can pitch up if they like, though it's very cheap to send out letters and I think much less likely that anyone will invest the time in turning up on the doorstep unless they think it worthwhile. If they do then she can explain to them that they're wasting their time.

She can open the letters if she wants (despite popular mythology, it isn't illegal to open mail addressed to your address).

Markdavid1962

Thank you User1977 I will tell her

Maahes

Had this before in rental properties - my way of dealing with it.

Mark all letters as 'No longer at this address' and put back in a post box. I do this for six months and then bin the letters.

Don't contact the debt companies - it's not your problem

If a debt company comes to the door, advise that the person no longer lives there but don't engage any further. Don't provide your details or proof that they have left. Just shut the door.

Tabieth

I’ve had this in previous rentals and in the house I bought last year. I returned all letters marked “not known at this address”. That worked for the vast majority, the letters slowed down and stopped after a few weeks / months. A few were more persistent and did not stop so I “accidentally” opened them. I also had debt companies writing to “the occupier” so I obviously opened those. I just called and told them when I completed / started my tenancy which always did the trick. It’s really normal and nothing to worry about. 

sheramber

Not your daughter’s problem.

Just keep putting them back in the postbox marked ‘no longer at this address’. Rinse and repeat. 

It won’t work immediately, as it is known  that debtors will do this to avoid paying bills, but they will stop eventually. 

I just post them the next time I am near a postbox as I do not have one near where I live. 

user1977

Tabieth said:

so I “accidentally” opened them.

As above you are free to open them deliberately if you want!

theartfullodger

If anyone turns up threatening she should 'phone police.  I had many such letters after buying two houses in Highlands of Scotland.  Nobody ever turned up.  Shame, I was looking forward to doorstep discussion of their knowledge of the law.

Brie

I normally give a few tries of "no longer at this address" and if that doesn't work I sometimes switch to "deceased".  They stop eventually.

Tracet74

Having had the same issue, it was tempting to return to sender with "Currently serving at HMP"!

ChirpyChicken

Most use mailing houses so a lot dont see returned letters