Debt letters persisting for previous tenant

LzzyIsGod

Good morning.

I just wondered if you lovely people would be able to advise on an issue my elderly relative is having or confirm we are dealing with this in the right way. I wasn't sure if I should post in Parking or here but as this is my old stomping ground I thought I'd start here!

My relative moved some months ago into a rented apartment for older persons and the previous tenant has not redirected their mail. All mail has been returned with "not known at this address" but the mail has persisted and one letter was accidentally opened recently (eye sight isn't brilliant so didn't see the name). This letter is chasing for money although they can't remember who it was from other than it was a parking fine but unfortunately I have no other details. Definitely not my relatives fine as they have not driven for a number of years now.

We've checked with the managing agent who don't have a forwarding address and have advised to just keep returning the mail. Do we just keep doing this? My relative is very vulnerable amd is starting to become very unsettled by the thought of anyone potentially turning up trying to enforce any payment, although we have been trying to reassure them.

Is there anything else I can do to help? Many thanks

marcia_

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6675329/debt-letters-persisting-for-previous-tenant

don't worry debts are linked to people not addresses. You can safely bin them or continue sending them back. If anyone comes knocking which will be a long way off just show id and tenancy and they will leave.

subjecttocontract

As a landlord I've had this situation many times. Having returned to sender on numerous occasions with no satisfactory response, I'd now file them in the waste paper bin and ignore. They should learn to live with it.

GrubbyGirl_2

Open it, contact them and tell them. I had a similar issue with the previous owner of my house who had died though it was credit card statements with a £100 credit balance on it (as well as catalogues and shopping stuff). Every month for 2 years I kept putting it back in the mail box, I even wrote on them that he had died but still they came. After 2 years I just binned them, then I got 2 in 2 days with one clearly containing a new card so I opened both and discovered he had a credit balance.

At that point I called them and explained he had died and they stopped immediately. It did take another couple of years for the shopping stuff to stop but I still get a financial news letter from one company and it's been nearly 6 years

eddddy

You (or your relative) can try phoning the debt collection company to explain, and see if that helps.

The problem is that people who really do owe money sometimes return post marked "not known at this address" and/or phone to say that the debtor has moved out, when they haven't really - in an attempt to fool the debt collection company.

So debt collection companies don't always take notice.

If that's the case, all your relative can do is ignore the letters - and if somebody does eventually turn up at the door, explain the situation to them.

Keep_pedalling

There is nothing illegal about opening letters sent to your home with someone else’s name on them sh he should not worry about the one he opened.

RAS

Do just check that the debtor's name has been removed from the electoral roll. It's just another way of distancing your relative from the debtor.

Companies dealing with parking re known to be pretty blase about collection practices.

Just for reference very few of these claims actually are really fines. They are privately imposed penalties with limited legal standing. So bailiffs are not going to be appearing.

I'd be inclined just to bin everything with that name. If that's too much, then ask the relative to store them and take them away yourself.

LzzyIsGod

Thank you everyone - excellent point about the electoral roll I will look into that - but reassuring that we just keep returning them. It is a secure (ish) complex but inevitably some people do get past the buzzer system which was my worry as my relative (on a not so good functioning day) would probably invite them in for a cuppa!

sourcrates

Do not contact any debt collector/company chasing a debt, under any circumstances.

If the letter is not in your relatives name, bin it, return it, just do not respond to it.

It has been known for debt collectors to be "not very fussy" who pays a debt, as long as someone does, and if your relative is vulnerable, well, its not a good mix, best to not get involved in the first place.