Vendor problems - a month after completion

Lemoncurd

The vendor of the house we bought last month seemed a bit of a nightmare from the beginning. For a start she'd attempted to redo the house in the 2 years she had it but absolutely everything had been bodged, we were aware of that when we went in and knew that we'd need to redo/replace a lot of the work to put it right. Then when it came to any documentation guarantees etc during the purchase she put "lost" for absolutely everything and seemed a bit evasive (in some cases we would even go as far to say we are pretty sure she lied) in her answers to the questions on the forms the solicitor sent to her. She wasn't living in the property but her two sons and at least two others appeared to be living there.

We completed on the 15th July and last week I tried to arrange for BT to reconnect the phone (we haven't moved in yet). They said there was service to the property in someone elses name so couldn't transfer it to us without giving notice to the other person first. They said it would then be transfered over to our name on the 15th (yesterday). We already knew that the phone line was dead as we'd tried it out and our electricians had tested it but BT said that they couldn't do anything about it until it was in our name but when they transfer the line over it would all be tested so only ring back if it still wasn't working on the 15th. There appear to be two lines running to the house and one has been ripped out and is hanging loose. Of course it wasn't working today so I called BT again, theor automated fault reporting sservice said there was a fault but they now say that the previous occupant has asked for their service to be disconnected on the 22nd August so it still can't be transfered to our names until next week? Why would they want service 6 weeks after they moved out???

Another strange utility issue, the paperwork from the solicitor said that elec and gas was supplied by British Gas so a couple of days after completion I phoned them with the meter readings taken on the day we got the place. They noted the readings and said that they couldn't transfer the service into our names yet because there was an order to transfer to a different supplier on the 5th August so they couldn't transfer it back to them in our names until the 27th August. I was kind of hoping this issue would sort itself out as they were supplier at the time I phoned and took the meter readings but I haven't had a bill yet so I'm a bit concerned we'll end up being billed for previous usage. The house has been in the process of being rewired over the last month so very little gas or elec will have been used as the supplies have been off.

The previous owner/occupants wouldn't give us any forwarding adresses or contact details. One of the sons came to collect the post and wouldn't give any details then saying that redirection had been set up (it can't have been, there has since been tons of post for them and no letter from Royal Mail notifying of the redirection).

When we looked around another son had said that there was a guarantee for a repair to the roof (noted as lost on our purchase documentation) so I asked the one collecting the post about it or if he could at least give us the name of the roofer as it was leaking again. He obviously knew about the leak but pretended he didn't and promised to drop around the guarantee straight away but didn't.

There are a load of other things but I've gone on a bit already!

Am I being paranoid or have they been deliberately trying to make things difficult for us with the utilities? it doesn't seem to make sense. I was thinking of calling the estate agent to try and get them to contact the vendor for us and ask her to bring forward the disconnection from BT but they've done their job now so doubt they would be much help. Would you bring things like this up with the solicitor? can't see it would make much difference now as it wouldn't make things happen any quicker.

Doozergirl

I don't want to frighten you but they could be on the scam. It's possible that by not cancelling utilities and setting up new ones they are making it difficult for you to change things over in your name. It could be that they do not intend to pay their outstanding bills and may even intend to apply for credit at your address or leave credit unpaid now they've moved. Not leaving a forwarding address or redirecting mail makes me think even more so.

You can ask British Gas who is supplying the utilities now (they will know) and call the new company with your meter reading. You can swap back if you want but at least make sure the bill you will get is straight. You should look at the articles on energy bills though on this site and workout exactly who is cheapest for you.

I think you could be a little stronger with BT. Tell them that you own the house now and no utilities should be in somebody elses name and to cancel that contract immediately.

I don't think you need to be helpful in this case by keeping their mail. Give anything you have to the estate agent and ask them to pass on the fact that you will be returning any new mail from now on back to the originator with 'no longer at this address' written on. And do it! If they are being naughty, any creditors will hopefully realise and stop the accounts.

I hope this helps a little. Ulitimately you are not responsible for any unpaid bills and noone will pursue you for the money.

Good luck!

Bossyboots

After your words of caution Doozergirl I think the OP would be justified in opening the post and checking what is going on. That way any potential nasty surprises can be avoided or dealt with.

I agree that the utility companies need to be dealt with more firmly and told not to continue this nonsense and transfer the accounts over.

Lemoncurd

Unfortunately we did have similar worries already - I had a letter from the local revenues and benefits office saying that they needed to urgently contact three former owners/occupants. As far as we were were aware those people had not lived there although there were a small number of letters in their names. We thought it might have beeen something to do with benefit fraud and passed back the only info we had - the solicitor details for the vendor.

Ian_W

Bossyboots wrote: ... I think the OP would be justified in opening the post and checking what is going on

Not sure about the legality of opening mail addressed to someone else? However, the words, STEAM, KETTLE & RESEAL spring to mind!!

I would also contact the Town Hall and get yourself put on the voters list ASAP as I believe it is now updated monthly, and is used by lots of companies in relation to credit checks. It may be they are going to continue to use the address to obtain credit so I'd have a look at Martin's recent article on Credit Scoring and use the contact numbers to give the 3 main agencies a call and see if you can get them to show you, not the vendors, at your new address.

Whilst DoozerG is right that you are not responsible for their debts - you will get a load of hassle if they do continue to obtain credit using your address so the sooner you can stop their tap the better.

Sujamjen

Hi Lemoncurd
Sorry to hear about the grief you're getting because of the previous owners and I agree with all the other posts but I really only wanted to wish you all the best in your new home and I hope everything is settled to your satisfaction soon. :beer:

MissSunshine

I had post turning up at my new house for previous owners even though they'd been renting it out for a year They did give me a forwarding address, but when letters kept coming including ones from IR (guy was self employed electrician) I started to get fed up, so from then on I crossed out 'my' address and wrote 'Not known at this address, please return to sender' Not long after a bailiff turned up one evening, so I gave there forwarding address, call me a grass, but it wasn't my problem!!

How often does a son come?? If within next week son turns up & he still won't give you a forwarding address, only way forward for you is to start returning all mail to sender. And make sure all the utilities you're having probs with know exactly what date you moved in

Pal

We have a similar problem with the rented house that we are currently living in. The utlities are fine, but we keep getting parking fines, hire agreement invoices, train fare dodging notices, congestion charge fines and so on sent through the door. Occasionally balliffs turn up asking for the previous tenants, but they go away quite happy when we explain the situation. Clearly some previous tenants are using our address to get credit and then not paying them.

Most of the time we just write "not at this address" or "not known" on the envelope and post it back, however if it looks interesting we open it. By chance we received confirmation of a new address (we didn't know it previously) in a letter and so we give that to the balliffs now, and scribble it onto any letters that are received from the court or solicitors.

To be honest it doesn't bother us. You only need to make sure that your credit records are not linked to the previous tenants, but apart from that it doesn't do any harm.

In your case you need to make sure that BG have amended the records using your meter reading. It doesn't matter that someone else is responsible for the gas or electic up to mid August. If so then they can pay it! If it arrives at your house then send it back "not known".

As long as your first invoice states your name, address and account number and shows the correct meter readings, then you have nothing to worry about.

irnbru_2

Ian_W wrote:

Not sure about the legality of opening mail addressed to someone else? However, the words, STEAM, KETTLE & RESEAL spring to mind!!

As ever, I can't find the link when I need it.

Then I found the link to section 84

isayoldchap

Lemoncurd wrote:

The vendor of the house we bought last month seemed a bit of a nightmare from the beginning. For a start she'd attempted to redo the house in the 2 years she had it but absolutely everything had been bodged, we were aware of that when we went in and knew that we'd need to redo/replace a lot of the work to put it right. Then when it came to any documentation guarantees etc during the purchase she put "lost" for absolutely everything and seemed a bit evasive (in some cases we would even go as far to say we are pretty sure she lied) in her answers to the questions on the forms the solicitor sent to her. She wasn't living in the property but her two sons and at least two others appeared to be living there.

We completed on the 15th July and last week I tried to arrange for BT to reconnect the phone (we haven't moved in yet). They said there was service to the property in someone elses name so couldn't transfer it to us without giving notice to the other person first. They said it would then be transfered over to our name on the 15th (yesterday). We already knew that the phone line was dead as we'd tried it out and our electricians had tested it but BT said that they couldn't do anything about it until it was in our name but when they transfer the line over it would all be tested so only ring back if it still wasn't working on the 15th. There appear to be two lines running to the house and one has been ripped out and is hanging loose. Of course it wasn't working today so I called BT again, theor automated fault reporting sservice said there was a fault but they now say that the previous occupant has asked for their service to be disconnected on the 22nd August so it still can't be transfered to our names until next week? Why would they want service 6 weeks after they moved out???

Another strange utility issue, the paperwork from the solicitor said that elec and gas was supplied by British Gas so a couple of days after completion I phoned them with the meter readings taken on the day we got the place. They noted the readings and said that they couldn't transfer the service into our names yet because there was an order to transfer to a different supplier on the 5th August so they couldn't transfer it back to them in our names until the 27th August. I was kind of hoping this issue would sort itself out as they were supplier at the time I phoned and took the meter readings but I haven't had a bill yet so I'm a bit concerned we'll end up being billed for previous usage. The house has been in the process of being rewired over the last month so very little gas or elec will have been used as the supplies have been off.

The previous owner/occupants wouldn't give us any forwarding adresses or contact details. One of the sons came to collect the post and wouldn't give any details then saying that redirection had been set up (it can't have been, there has since been tons of post for them and no letter from Royal Mail notifying of the redirection).

When we looked around another son had said that there was a guarantee for a repair to the roof (noted as lost on our purchase documentation) so I asked the one collecting the post about it or if he could at least give us the name of the roofer as it was leaking again. He obviously knew about the leak but pretended he didn't and promised to drop around the guarantee straight away but didn't.

There are a load of other things but I've gone on a bit already!

Am I being paranoid or have they been deliberately trying to make things difficult for us with the utilities? it doesn't seem to make sense. I was thinking of calling the estate agent to try and get them to contact the vendor for us and ask her to bring forward the disconnection from BT but they've done their job now so doubt they would be much help. Would you bring things like this up with the solicitor? can't see it would make much difference now as it wouldn't make things happen any quicker.

Lemoncurd
Welcome to your new home.I assume you asked your solicitor to pursue the
possibility of written guarantees.I guess your surveyor may have also requested the same.Personally the meter readings I would have used a digital camera and taken the photos including the serial numbers on the meters.You then don't just have a written reading that can easily be numbered wrongly.
Use energyhelpline from Mse website to help you on the best prices for you.

Sometimes forwarding addresses are not left as vendors do not want to be contacted for faults etc.In anycase someone maybe looking for them and you
may incorrectly pass on their new address.Of course there are ways you could find someone(but I would give it a few weeks first) by using this website http://www.1stlocate.co.uk/
My mother was left with a loft full of rubbish in Jan 2001.We knew the vendors were trying to rent before they bought and the rough location.That's why we left it for around 13 weeks.From day one we took photos of the loft and adjoing digital dates and times.A video was also taken.You just need to supply initials and any family links (the buying paperwork is excellent for this) and we paid £50 for the service then.Within 30 minutes we got their full address and phone number.Wow were they shocked when we phoned.They had to pay £450 for the clearance inc the skip (£150) and locates fee.You may also find them on a free search from www.192.com
but I guess you may have to wait until October as I think that's when they get updated.In anycase they may not be on the system yet.

As for the letters.....Here you may have to use www.saynoto0870.com. Use
the verifieds bit if you can't find the number straight away.Make a nte of all letters that arrive including dates and times.Note all your actions what you did with the letter.The not known etc is then the way forward but I would open all of them from the side flap carefully and reseal.You would be better to make sure you phone these companies noting who you spoketo ,times,positon etc.Records are important for piece of mind.Also remember that the companies maybe feeding off each other so be prepared to return a few items of post over the next few weeks or months or more if need be.

Get a free credit check from www.creditexpert.co.uk overtime to see what's against your name especially as you are at a new address.Check the items are correct.You can amend within the 30 days if you wish.Don't forget to cancel it as you will be charged after if you don't.Hope this helps

Go on rip that paper from the walls like you want to tear the vendors' head off

Ian_W

After your words of caution Doozergirl I think the OP would be justified in opening the post and checking what is going on.

IRNBRU:
My comment was in relation to what Bossyboots had said [above] in post 3 - first law of criminality matie, don't get caught!!

For lemoncurd - if you didn't follow the link - it is an offence WITHOUT REASONABLE EXCUSE to open someone elses mail.