Debt collection letters for previous tenants

[Winterfellismyhome]

Hi,

Ive lived in my current property for two years with DP and now DS. We've always had letters for previous tenants arrive and have always returned to sender. I opened one today and its a debt collection letter for a previous tenant. The letter says if they receive no reply in 14 days they will escalate things to their collection department.

I dont really want bailiffs at the door, so if i call them, are they likely to believe me that this woman doesnt live here anymore? Should i pass it on to my estate agent to deal with?

Thanks

Phone up and say you now live there or resell and return to sender marked clearly that the addressee no longer lives there.

Reseal

Thank you,

Ill give them a ring on monday

Keep by the door just in case - ID, bills in your name preferably older ones. I get this a lot and have had them turn up despite me living here for 6 years, they are always pretty good about it as they deal with it all the time.

Just a heads up, debt companies do get calls claiming people have moved when they haven't so they may ask you to email some proof.

Just call them, I had it a lot at an old address where a previous tenant, who was a friend of mine and DHs, moved out and never changed his address (it's still going on and someone else has now bought the house!).

We had 3 different collections agents at the door and so many letters, they were all fine when I explained the situation though.

Thanks all. We passed it on to the landlady who dealt with it and was able to track down the previous tenants. She advised us not to call them ourselves because the probably wouldn't believe us

I had this and all the companies were fine and believed us. I'd tell them all I knew (not much but date I moved in and agency's details) A couple of times bailiffs did come to the door if I'd missed a letter but again they were very polite and understanding. I never let them in, but would explain when I moved in, and if they asked would shut the door and get ID and my tenancy agreement to show them. I think debt companies have a bad reputation but it's either due to difficult circumstances or they've got better over the years.