Debt collectors visit notice for previous residents

alchemistkevin

We have been living at our address for two years now (We own the place), all the time we've been receiving letters addressed to someone else, intially we used to write RTS and put them back in the box, we're still getting the letters on their name so we just tear the letter up and put it in the bin now. Today we opened a letter and it seems its from Meritforce Doorster Collection Agents, telling us we'll have an authorised collector visit us if the guy that the letter is addressed to doesn't pay a bank's debt (HSBC if it makes any difference).

We've never been in debt or had problems with any debtors and we have no idea how to deal with this, I've been searching here for hours and realise that even if we're paid a visit we can ask the collectors to leave but we'd like to avoid any such visits as I dislike confronting people, especially when we're not at fault.

Can someone help and advise please?

Lavendyr

Either call or write to the DCA telling them that the perosn they are after does not live their any more, and if you have the forwarding address or contact info, give it to them. Everything in writing is usually best especially if you'd prefer to avoid confrontation.

torbrex

The reason that you are continuing to get mail for the debtor in question is because your address is their last known address. The best thing to do is arrange for the DCA to come to your address and show them documented proof of when you purchased the house and any other relevant documents such as council tax bills, solicitors letters in such anything from a trusted scource with a date on it.
I know it seems like a lot to do on your part but the sooner that your address is removed from 'the system' the better for you and if you allow the agency in question to come to you that is better as well, it is better done at the address rather than by phone or letter as it will give your proof more credence, also get the full address of the agency involved, agents name and badge number and also a case reference number and keep these details in case the case ever gets passed to another agency.

I know these things because I do part-time debt collecting and am involved in such traces.
pm me if you want more details.

queen_of_string

i had this when I bought my house, which had been previouslly repossessed. I had 3 lots of different debt collectors at the door. All of them were polite, friendly and did not return once I had explained the situation to them. I hope you have a similarly positive experience.

iwanttosavemoney2008

We get this too all letters now addressed to th eprevious owner i let my kids open them cos then they've got mail to open while i do mine and apparently he has been confirmed as living here (this was 3 months ago) though we have had the house for 4 years and if he doesnt pay in 7 days they are going to court then he had 10 days and they were going to court then he had 15 days or someone was comming round then some one was comming to remove goods from the house if he didnt pay within 10 days still not heared anything and noone has been.

I'm leaving it and leaving it so that when the debt collectors come and remove goods from the house (because apparantley they can do it whilst noone is home according to the letter:rolleyes: ) I can rage at them.:mad:

If they had done their homework and had actually confirmed thatr he was living here then they would know that he's not. I would have phoned them and told them he didn't live here if not for that letter (which was the first)

I know not helpful to your situation but this felt a good place to get it off my chest

I agree with the others let the agency know that he no longer lives there and you should be ok

Debt_Free_Chick

iwanttosavemoney2008 wrote: »

I'm leaving it and leaving it so that when the debt collectors come and remove goods from the house (because apparantley they can do it whilst noone is home according to the letter:rolleyes: ) I can rage at them.:mad:

Why create aggro and trouble for yourself?

If they had done their homework and had actually confirmed thatr he was living here then they would know that he's not.

Maybe the guy lied and confirmed he still lives at your address?

dollywops

torbrex wrote: »

The reason that you are continuing to get mail for the debtor in question is because your address is their last known address. The best thing to do is arrange for the DCA to come to your address and show them documented proof of when you purchased the house and any other relevant documents such as council tax bills, solicitors letters in such anything from a trusted scource with a date on it.
I know it seems like a lot to do on your part but the sooner that your address is removed from 'the system' the better for you and if you allow the agency in question to come to you that is better as well, it is better done at the address rather than by phone or letter as it will give your proof more credence, also get the full address of the agency involved, agents name and badge number and also a case reference number and keep these details in case the case ever gets passed to another agency.

I know these things because I do part-time debt collecting and am involved in such traces.
pm me if you want more details.

If you are dealing with a 'proper' DCA, it should be more than sufficient to respond with a simple note explaining the person they are chasing has 'gone away'. With my company, when people phone in, we merely ask them to put these comments on the back of the letter we have written, and return it to us in the pre-paid envelope enclosed. On receipt of a 'gone away', we mark it accordingly on our files.

torbrex

dollywops wrote: »

If you are dealing with a 'proper' DCA, it should be more than sufficient to respond with a simple note explaining the person they are chasing has 'gone away'. With my company, when people phone in, we merely ask them to put these comments on the back of the letter we have written, and return it to us in the pre-paid envelope enclosed. On receipt of a 'gone away', we mark it accordingly on our files.

That being the case, why does my agency with agents in the field constantly receive requests from other firms to do a doorstep call?

Your use of quotes on the word proper implies that you think I do not work for a real DCA, I find that very insulting.

It is the companies that do not follow-up traces correctly that end up sending threatening letters and turning a simple trace into court actions.

dollywops

torbrex wrote: »

That being the case, why does my agency with agents in the field constantly receive requests from other firms to do a doorstep call?

Your use of quotes on the word proper implies that you think I do not work for a real DCA, I find that very insulting.

It is the companies that do not follow-up traces correctly that end up sending threatening letters and turning a simple trace into court actions.

I only quoted your post to show that IMHO it is not necessary to allow a DC to turn up on your doorstep.

The 'proper' in quotes was not directed at you in any way.

There are a lot of genuine licensed DCA's out there who behave appropriately. The ones who don't should be reported to Trading Standards.

alchemistkevin

Lavendyr wrote: »

Either call or write to the DCA telling them that the perosn they are after does not live their any more, and if you have the forwarding address or contact info, give it to them. Everything in writing is usually best especially if you'd prefer to avoid confrontation.

Thanks, I thought about writing to them but was worried that they would ignore it... Will do that anyways...

alchemistkevin

torbrex wrote: »

The reason that you are continuing to get mail for the debtor in question is because your address is their last known address. The best thing to do is arrange for the DCA to come to your address and show them documented proof of when you purchased the house and any other relevant documents such as council tax bills, solicitors letters in such anything from a trusted scource with a date on it.
I know it seems like a lot to do on your part but the sooner that your address is removed from 'the system' the better for you and if you allow the agency in question to come to you that is better as well, it is better done at the address rather than by phone or letter as it will give your proof more credence, also get the full address of the agency involved, agents name and badge number and also a case reference number and keep these details in case the case ever gets passed to another agency.

I know these things because I do part-time debt collecting and am involved in such traces.
pm me if you want more details.

Thanks, I'm usually never home during working hours though someone from the family or a child minder might be present during working hours and it was the harassment to them that I want to avoid.

Guess, I'll write them and see what they come back with. If it were your agency, would you take a signed letter from that address as a proof that the person you're chasing has moved away and stop sending letters and most importantly debt collectors? (just curious)