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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To start billing debt collecting companies?

25 replies

OscarPistoriusBitontheside · 20/12/2012 13:27

Background: previous occupant has mega debts and has seemingly vanished off the face of the planet. We get (usually) 10-15 a week for her. We have tried posting them back with "addressee gone away, etc" on them, but still they come.

We have opened them and called the various companies as well and they get all arsey with me when I. Askdemand they stop sending post.

Said person was a tenant of the people we bought from so I don't know where she is.

However today I had a letter from the data verification people and gave them details of the vendors business address because vendor and tenant are related. I also threatened another company with a bill for my time.

I am sick of it! It's been 2 fucking years! Argh!

OP posts:

lashingsofbingeinghere · 20/12/2012 13:30

Stick every document in a large jiffy bag, put some lead weights in it, post it back to them, unstamped.

DameMargotFountain · 20/12/2012 13:34

seriously, post them back

every time

MaxPepsi · 20/12/2012 13:39

You need to tell the creditors not the debt collection company if it is persisting.

DC's will close their files and send the account back to whoever their client is. They will then send the info to another debt collection company and then another hoping that someone will have more luck. They will then get referred back to the original company as a 2nd refferal and they won't cross reference any details, just take it as a new client and so it starts again.

HTH

MadStaringEyes · 20/12/2012 13:46

Returning the mail won't do anything. The loan companies cannot remove your address without a new one for their customer.

Just chuck them in the recycling, hardly time consuming, is it?

Original poster

OscarPistoriusBitontheside · 20/12/2012 13:47

I should mention we have also spoken to the creditors too, but there are apparently tens of them!

I post back. Constantly. It's ridiculous!

OP posts:

amy175 · 20/12/2012 13:51

bin them and ignore. short of getting a crystal ball and finding them you cant do anymore

DameMargotFountain · 20/12/2012 13:53

not all of these DCAs will be what they seem to be either, many will be linked to the same company and not really have any legal right to chase the debt.

names and info is sold on by large creditors who are owed smaller debts, they cut their loses and figure any remit against an amount they know will be hard to recoup is better than none - the DCAs then send in the heavies, using intimidation and fear to extract monies.

this is not the case in ALL DCAs, but i bet if you google the names you'll find many on MSE and other consumer forums

MaxPepsi · 20/12/2012 13:57

Of course the creditors can remove the address without a new one. They are just being lazy. As are the debt collectors.

They may not beleive you OP that the debtor has left as it is used as an avoidance tactic, however if you've told them often enough they should be doing a search.

If you have advised several times, ring one last time (if you can be arsed to) and ask for the Manager. Tell them that if you receive any more letters etc you will be reporting them to the financial ombudsman/ office of fair trading.

In fact just report them anyway - think there is an online form you can use.

PackItInNow · 20/12/2012 14:02

Our address was the same OP. We've been in our current address for 5.5yrs and we still get letters for at least 3 of the old tenants. We just write on the letters "NOT KNOWN AT THIS ADDRESS" and post them when we next pass the post box.

MadStaringEyes · 20/12/2012 14:02

I work for a finance company and we cannot remove an address without a new one supplied by an approved 3rd party or the customer. We absolutely cannot remove addresses at the request of somebody that cannot pass dpa over the phone. Its not about lazyness its about policy and data protection

Original poster

OscarPistoriusBitontheside · 20/12/2012 14:10

It's so frustrating though! Why can't you check the electoral roll? Why? That shows we live here and not the debt ridden woman who was here previously! Why can't you check the land registry? Why? Why should I as the legitimate owner have l keep
Posting back letters? The one that came today threatened bailiffs! What if they turn up? It's ridiculous.

OP posts:

MadStaringEyes · 20/12/2012 14:24

I understand how frustrating it is, for both sides. The thing is though that somebody could opt to not be on the electrol register, not be a home owner, and not pay any bills. I know that if I were not on the electrol role, I would be completely untraceable. I live in dps house and pay no bills.

Its annoying, but if bailiffs show up, you just refuse them entry, and show them a bill and ID.

allthatglittersisnotgold · 20/12/2012 15:35

Poor op living in fear of bailiffs turning up not for her. That's frightening. I wouldn't give a monkeys op about he dc company write to the ombudsman asap. This is abolutely not fair on you.

DameMargotFountain · 20/12/2012 15:37

Oscar

they don't want to check the electoral register, because sometimes people get so scared by the letters and threats that they actually pay up.

it happens. if a small debt is settled, they have made a huge % profit for the price of a few stamps and the original details

it's a huge business that sails very close to the edge of legal remit.

PessaryPam · 20/12/2012 15:51

Ha we still get yearly threats from one of the banks collection agencies about a loan my late MIL took out. We bankrupted her before she died and still they call us every year. I am going to take legal advise the next time from one of those no win no fee outfits for mental cruelty compensation.

MaxPepsi · 20/12/2012 16:00

Oscar - they don't check the electoral roll because they are to damn fucking lazy. Any self respecting debt collection company/financial company would do this as a matter of course to ensure they have all the correct info. It costs pence to do so too.

I know what Mad has said, and to a certain extent that is partly correct. You do need a procedure in place before you change addresses.

However steps can be taken to stop mail going to an address where you have been told the debtor is no longer there. Continuing to do so is a form of harrassment and the OFT will not be impressed.

Don't let any company fob you off with the old chestnut of data protection. You giving them info is not breaking any laws. Them saying thank you for the info, we will amend our records to ensure we don't send you any more letters is NOT breaking any data protection.

Original poster

OscarPistoriusBitontheside · 20/12/2012 16:00

Right I shall write to the ombudsman after Christmas. It's absolutely ludicrous that I have to live in fear of bailiffs when it's not for me! Not that I would ever let a situation get that far! The letter I had today, even the envelope was threatening and when I called them they were downright rude and aggressive.

The one time I ever let a situation get to bailiffs was out our old house when npower attempted to bill is for the whole street and I refused payment until a correct bill was sent. That time I felt sorry for the bailiff, he knocked on my door, Said he was from npower and apologised and asked for a correct meter reading and left. He explained this happened all the time with them (this was 2004 btw). Otherwise I'm never late with my bills.

OP posts:

MuddlingMackem · 20/12/2012 16:01

I had this problem when I moved into our house, the previous occupant was a tenant who presumably got kicked out when the house was put up for sale. She then gave me a non-existent address to forward her mail to. I discovered this when I tried to drop it round once.

When I asked about getting rid of her debtors I was told to open her post, enclose a copy of my council tax bill to prove she was no longer the occupant, and then return it. All of the hassling stopped as soon as I did this.

EverythingsDozy · 20/12/2012 17:40

Are you me?? We are having the exact same problem, we moved in two years ago and are still getting debt collection letters from the people from before. I know her parents though, I really want to just pass them on.

EverythingsDozy · 20/12/2012 17:42

And wrt the bailiffs, we actually have had bailiffs come here. Luckily, they accept my 'I am not her' speech.

MegaClutterSlut · 20/12/2012 17:49

I have lived at my house for 6 years and we are still getting bailiff letters for the previous tenant. I used to send them back but that achieved nothing so just chuck them in the bin now. I'm still waiting for a bailiff to come round like they have been threatening for the last 6 years

ophelia275 · 20/12/2012 19:25

Set up a redirection service to forward all post to vendor who can then forward it to tenant. Royal Mail offer this service.

Loislane78 · 20/12/2012 20:04

If a debt is over 6 years and there has been no attempt by the debtor to contact the company/make payments during that time is it not statute barred anyway? ie. 6 months to go OP and they can stop hassling you!

nocake · 20/12/2012 21:16

We get these letters but for someone who has never lived here so the debt collection agencies clearly are too lazy to actually check before sending letters. And as for the claim that they can't change an address... they may not be able to but they can certainly stop sending post or actually do their job and check where someone lives.

MrsFlibble · 20/12/2012 21:32

I used to get loads of them for 2 sets of previous tenants, i sent them back with "NOT AT THIS ADDRESS" written on them, its slow down the frequency of them now.

Then i get a hand delivered bailiff notice for council tax, so i rang the council and said obvious they dont live here coz you send the bills to me.

Bloody irritating.

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