Just found out Mum has HUGE debt

[Pumpkinspicewhatever]

Wondering if anyone has any advice here. I live in a rented flat- my mum moved in with me when I was a single parent of a baby to help me out but has since moved to her own place as of about 2 years ago. Occasionally post still comes that is addressed to her and she just tells me to throw it away. I get post for previous tenants from years back and so didn’t think much of it.
I came back from Xmas holiday to find 3 envelopes all addressed to my mum and decided to open them as I realised I had been getting more regular post for her in recent months . I know I prob shouldn’t have opened it but I did out of curiosity, she made it sound before like it was probably junk and I didn’t think about it.
There are 3 letters from a debt recovery firm. One is for just over £5k, one is for £20k, one is for jsut over £15k. all were originally loans/credit from a U.K. high street bank. the letters state the balance as at end of 2018 and a year later - no movement at all.
I am staggered that she can have £40k of debt and never have mentioned this. She had her house repossessed about 10 years ago and I believe large debts written off then, plus my grandad left her money specifically to pay off credit card/s. I know she is absolutely shocking with money- I think she has been all her life- but this has left me reeling and I feel like I need to speak to her about it. It must be so stressful. She’s a teacher and I’m not sure how these debts will ever get repaid but I’m concerned a debt recovery firm is chasing her for them. It’s not clear how old the debts are either- just she’s had them outstanding for at least one year.
Anyone have any advice? How do I approach this?

The debt will have skyrocketed over the year she has been asking you to throw the letters away, due to compound interest and the debt being handed over to a collection agency, which adds a hefty charge.

Let them know she doesn't live at this address. (I don;t know the legal situation on whether you have to give her new address or not but I'd assume as her daughter you don't have to.)

And do tell her you know and how much debt has accrued.. She can't hide from this. It will haunt her. She needs to declare bankruptcy.

@Pumpkinspicewhatever

As @Wtfdoipick says if the debt is associated with your property then - although nothing to do legally with you - it may well appear at your property on your credit report. You would do well to check your credit report.

As for "bailiffs" calling at your property they cannot enforce a debt unless it has been to court and a judgment obtained. For the amounts mentioned I am very surprised that no debt collectors have ever called and made you aware earlier.

Confronting your mother may well be a difficult task but I would strongly advise you to get advice for your own position. It is correct that a court appointed officer cannot take your goods etc for her debt but they will certainly be a problem if it goes that far

I think you should tell your Mum that bailiffs have visited your property, and then she needs to see Citizens Advice who will go through everything with her and ultimately recommend either a debt management programme or to declare herself bankrupt.
It’s no good her just hiding her head in the sand, the debts get bigger and if debt companies can’t retrieve the money they just sell it on to another company who carry on trying to find the debtor. My ex partner had huge debts and so I sympathise with you as I know how worried I was, he wasn’t though!

You are getting some bad advice. I wouldn't be overly happy if my mother had done this using my address, but please don't get caught up in posters hysteria about blacklists and bailiffs. Your mothers debt is nothing to do with you if you are not financially associated with her. Even if she did rack it up when she was living with you.
There's no such thing as a blacklist on your address. Debts are incurred by individuals, not an address.
And bailiffs will not just storm in and take your belongings if your mother doesn't live with you, and you can prove your identity in the way HoHoHoik mentions.

I think you'll have to have a frank conversation with her and tell her you've opened her mail. It sounds like she is burying her head in the sand. Perhaps you could refer her to somewhere like Christians against Poverty. I've heard good things about their debt help and counselling. You don't have to be a Christian to use them.

In the meantime i would get a copy of your own credit report from Experian just to make 100% sure nothing is registered in your name, or coming up on your credit report by accident (this could happen in the unlikely event that you share a same last name and initial as your mother).

This is a bit tricky when you get to the bailiffs part.

Regular bailiffs cannot enter your property and you can show your tenancy agreement in your name only etc etc.
However.
If it goes to Crown Court, then the bailiffs can get power of entry to yout property if it is her registered address. They can take your goods to the value of the debt UNLESS you can prove they are yours. So if you have electrical equipment, keep the receipts.

Personally I would return all of the paperwork with No Longer at the Address on and then have a damn good talk with your mother. For those saying it isn't your business - well she either incurred the debt while at your address or has not given a damn (by telling you to throw it away) so it IS your business.
Plus, she needs help.

STOP scaremongering !!!
Unless the OP and her mother are finacially linked ( outstanding joint loans/ accounts etc ) then her mothers debts DO NOT effect the OP’s credit rating whatsoever. Remember data protection people.
Id send back to sender and photograph the envelopes sending them back. Only high court bailiffs can force entry and they cannot take items not belonging to the debtor

OP - tell your mum to admit to these companies where she is now living, or you will inform them

@SorryDidISayThatOutLoud are you a lawyer? Genuine question as if that’s how the process works I am rather concerned. I don’t think I have receipts for my valuable homewares...

As @Wtfdoipick says if the debt is associated with your property then - although nothing to do legally with you - it may well appear at your property on your credit report. You would do well to check your credit report.

The debt will only be registered with the property if it was secured against it which can only be done when you own it. The property is rental.

Credit reports are about people and not properties. Despite a common belief, it’s not possible to blacklist a property. The only ways it will show on somebody else’s credit report are: they are financially linked or the debt was taken out in their name.

OP, there is a lot of scaremongering on here. If the rental is in your name only (and I would also update the electoral roll) then write to all the companies telling them you live alone and are not financially linked to your mother who is not residing at your address. Keep copies of all your letters and if a bailiff arrives, call the police.

"It goes to the Crown Court" no it doesn't, I do wish that people who know nothing about the law would not post such scaremongering rubbish.

Do not call the company and stop opening the post- mark all return to sender. Do not disclose this is your mother or any other details, just that person doesnt live at your address, and have your proof i.e. council tax ready if baliffs turn up, do not let them into your property though!

@Wtfdoipick
Bailiffs will enter a house accompanied by the police even if the person is not living there. The police let the bailiffs in the house of a 90 yr old couple because the person they were looking for, a friend, had visited on the day and they knew it, They searched rooms and cupboards for proof, clothes and other things. The person lived over 100 miles away and actually didn't owe anything. They also put their foot over the threshold and lean against the door to stop it being closed against them. They bend the rules using the police who are totally biased against the accused and homeowner. Don't let them in without proper paperwork and read up on your rights and what they must do.

Honestly I’d give her new address you don’t want bailiffs as your door what a horrible thing to suggest. OP you dont need to throw your mother further under the bus

She needs to declare Bankruptcy asap..

Such a lot of sensationalism and scaremongering. Op, return to sender noting "not at this address". Rinse and repeat. Personally I'd tell my Mum that I know about her debts and she needs to face up to her responsibilities, then leave her to it.
If you need reassurance ring Citizens Advice or National Debtline for confirmation.

Do not pay her bills. Do not loan/give her money. Remember that money problems aren't solved with money. Only person who can improve this situation isn't interested in doing so.

Please don’t give them her new address, she’s your mum! Honestly, Mumsnet sometimes

However, she has not behaved well using your address for this, whether she’s intended to or not. The likelihood is she has run away from these debts and not thought about them since, it’s probably not a deliberate ploy to get you into trouble (I would hope).

If you don’t share the same last name I would ring the companies, say you keep getting letters for a random person (obviously your mum) and that they don’t live there. Or just write ‘return to sender’ on the envelopes if you can’t face doing this.

I would also tell your mum. Say you opened the first one accidentally and then you opened the rest. Then I would ascertain where this money is going. Is she overspending in general? Or is it a deeper problem like gambling? (Massive tell tale signs for that are spending too much time on phones/laptops/ telling you about huge wins - they don’t however mention the huge losses). If she gets angry about being tackled then you have bigger problems- let her know you are on her side, aren’t judging and will help her to sort it out.

By sorting it out- I mean sitting down and helping her with the finances. Please don’t give her any money. If you really must then pay for a big shop etc.

Your mother needs to know you know. She has a serious problem.
There is an organisation called step to change, or Citizens advice bureau or Christians against poverty - she is burying her head in the sand. She’s living way beyond her means.
She needs to deal with this.

I moved into a flat that I rented for 5-6 months. After I had been there some weeks I had received some post for the previous tenant and was going to give it to the landlords to pass on. Before I could do that, the previous tenant knocked on the door one evening to collect his post. He asked if I'd mind if he came again another time to collect any more post. I suggested he gave me a forwarding address but he really didn't want to. About a week later a bailiff for the High Court knocked on the door after that previous tenant for outstanding debt. Luckily, he believed that I was nothing to do with him (I think I had to show him my rental contract) and that all the furniture he could see was mine. He did ask me if I had a forwarding address for the debtor and, if I'd had it I would have given it to him. It would be very difficult, I think, for OP if she was in this situation because I assume it would be obvious she is related to the debtor and they wouldn't believe she did not know her own mother's address.

Return to sender.
And tell the stupid woman to contact them and get a repayment plan in place.

for the most accurate advice go to citizens advice but as long as the debt not in your name your fine.If your mother has a problem do digging now make sure she didn't put anything in your name

* I am staggered that she can have £40k of debt and never have mentioned this. She had her house repossessed about 10 years ago *

Staggered that someone who had their home REPOSSESSED has a debt problem?

If its unsecured debt it wont effect you personally in any way.

Yes be prepaired to hear about more debt. She needs to declare bankrupt if she has no assets. Her credit rating will be ruined now due to defaults. See a financial advice, cba or phone up one of the debt management companies with her and get some advice. It's a horrible feeling discovering this. But unless she fully accepts it and all the consequences I dont think it will ever stop.

We had a situation when debt collectors knocked on our door for previous owner. We told them the guy moved out, that they can check land registry to see change of ownership, and to remove our address from their database. We since opened every single letter to the dude and rang every company he was in debt to to let them know such and such moved out. They soon stopped, but you need to inform them that the person doe snot live there anymore.