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?

I have had bailiffs trying to take my car, as my house's previous owner never told his creditors he had moved

Also had Crown Court representative knocking on the door at 6:30 one Saturday morning

And lots of bailiffs

I kept having to prove was not related/linked to previous owner

It was stressful.

Sending everything return to sender ("this person has moved") eventually worked. But it took 3 years to be shot of bailiffs

. Do make sure you send any letters for her return to sender ASAP!

But do not send back the letters you opened!

don't believe what that postie says (unless he is doing this illegally) by the way
personal.help.royalmail.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/5156/~/ive-received-someone-elses-mail
& when I worked there donkeys years ago - we would actually open letter & check for address to return to (although I can remember being told to tear up mail from an extremist political party - which I did as told with a great deal of pleasure)

Bailiffs cannot force an entry for a county court debt, but they can enter if they can get in by "lifting a latch" ie if your front door isn't locked or they can get it through an open window.

They are also often complete bastards who will tell all sorts of lies to get in.

Your mum really needs to get a handle on this OP. With that level of debt, bankruptcy may well be her only option. She should contact CAB, Step Change or Christians Against Poverty to go through remedies available to her.

You need to talk to your mother! Actually sit down and have a conversation. Then you can find out when and where she incurred these debts. No one on here can shed an light on that!

Are you interested in or prepared to help your mother work this out? Not suggesting that you should pay anything, but it sounds like she has some serious responsibility issues.

All the suggestions to send back the letters only deal with potential inconvenience to you.

If your mother does not face this and if they do catch up with her, she will have a problem.

I had bailiffs and my son answered but as he was under 18 they left a note for me. I called him when I got home and he was the most vile rude man I have ever had the displeasure of dealing with.

What in the name is she spending on? Obviously the repossession taught her nothing, I’m surprised she managed to continue to get credit.