Bailiffs and neighbours

[BrilliantBetty]

I hate posting on AIBU but here goes.

We bought & moved in to our house a few months ago. We had letters come through for a previous occupant. From what we could make out from the envelope they were repayment letters, final demand type things. We put back in the post box with 'return to sender. Addressee not at this address'.

In the last couple of weeks we've had dept collectors knocking for this person. Two separate companies, separate debts. Very early and it's been a bit unsettling. We have no idea of forwarding address and are worried this will continue. Have given details of estate agent who we used to purchase as we know nothing else about the previous occupiers.

AIBU to go and ask neighbouring houses if they have contact details for this person?
I don't want to spread details about them being in debt / trouble with collectors but ultimately just want to stop being hassled in my home.

What would you do.

Don't get involved. Next time letter comes, open it and let the company know and give them estate agent's contact.

We had this when we first moved in. All the collectors were very polite and left us alone as soon as we explained. It tailed off quickly. We only had estate agent details too. Sorry you’re going through this; it is unsettling.

I’d not be doing return to sender, I’d be calling them and explaining you’ve bought the house, and can provide evidence.

We had very similar, edf were awful wouldn’t listen, it got sent to a debt collector. I opened the letter and called them.

They were brilliant, asked me when I moved in. He looked in zoopla (he said land register) but I think it was zoppla where he confirmed the house had been sold when I said. I gave them the estate agents details and never heard from them again.

Had this in our own place, I just rang up the debt companies and explained that the addressed person doesn't live there. Never heard from them again.

I would have a chat with the nighbours and ask if they have a fowarding address but dont tell them the contents of the letters , just say you have some post for them .
TBH I think it is rather unlikely that that they do have a address for them if your homes occupiers are running from debt

I wouldn't in a million years talk to any neighbours about it. You have no idea what their relationships with these people are.

They could be friends. Or could tell someone in the butchers that you told the bailiffs where they lived.

It's a pain for you that you have to now sort this out in your new home and it's not really fair but you just need to deal with it in the official way.

@Bluntness100

I’d not be doing return to sender, I’d be calling them and explaining you’ve bought the house, and can provide evidence.

this.

Keep returning letters and telling bailiffs that they have moved. Eventually they will stop. No way would I talk to the neighbours and I actually think that would be completely inappropriate. You have no idea why the previous owners have money issues but I don't think it is fair to be gossiping about it.

I wouldn't ask neighbours.

Just keep returning to sender, it will die down. I had this when I moved into my property and while annoying, they soon stop calling when they check up and see the house has changed hands.

From my experience returning really doesn't work. Open and contact is the best way.

Open the letters and phone. The people who lived in my house were in masses of debt and I spent two years sorting it out - a real pain. Had bailiffs round at least four times. And three early morning police raids to arrest someone - except it certainly wasn’t me! X

Don't speak to any of your neighbours to try and find an address. Just leave it

I had the same, opened letters and contacted the debt companies to tell them I’d bought the place and referred them to the estate agent who dealt with sale and purchase. Letters stopped.

If you have contact details of their solicitors or e.a I would just resend them the letters

I would not be finding out their new address and sending trouble to their door. Likely to come back and bite you imo. Keep a letter of proof you live there and send letters back not at this address..

Surely your conveyancing solicitor will be able to contact them, or at least their solicitor, if you have recently bought the house from them? Then you could forward the mail (after calling the utility companies to advise them that you are now the owners).

I'd advise on keeping council tax bill close to hand, this proves to bailiffs you're not the debtor, and debtor no longer lives there.

Your solicitor who handled your purchase can contact previous owner's solicitor so you can forward bills to him.

I had the same thing a few years a while after I moved into a new place. Bailiffs or debt collectors, not sure which, called at 6am ,probably they thought they'd be in as it was early.

I told them it wasn't me, they asked me if I could produce my Council Tax Bill for the address as you receive a new one when you move . After showing them this I didn't hear any more from them.

We had this a lot when we first bought our house - it had previously been rented out. Every time we got a letter we phoned the company and asked them to make a note on their file. It can take a while to stop as the companies sell the debt on.

@tara66

Your solicitor who handled your purchase can contact previous owner's solicitor so you can forward bills to him.

Don't do this. Solicitors don't work for free. They will not send the letters on. Property solicitors have never been busier and won't have the time to do non-chargeable work.

a few years ago

If you open someone else's mail you are committing an offence.

I had this and I kept sending the letters back with return to sender written on the back of the envelope and a note saying I do not have a forwarding address. Whenever a bailiff came I reiterated that I wasn't the precious tenant and don't have a forwarding address.

You may need to check on that your address hasn't been blacklisted for debt on Experian

Previous tenant!!