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.

Agree you should open letters and call companies involved and you may need to email deeds to the house showing who own it and when you bought it. I had the same trouble when I moved into my house. The previous owners were moving back to NZ and had ran up huge debts with everyone before they left.

There have been no letters for a couple of months. Any that came before that were sent back.
So I have no way of contacting them directly to discuss.
I didn't take the company name of either of the two men who came knocking.

If any more letters come I will open them.

Yes and have a council tax bill by the door in case anyone knocks unexpectedly making demands.

Had this once in a rental in London where previous tenant had returned to her native country owing a mobile phone company money. I kept returning the letters but eventually the phone company asked me to sign some kind of document saying I didn't know where she was to disassociate myself. I did that and it stopped

I know from experience that solicitors / bailiffs etc largely take the "gone away" with a pinch of salt as so many people are dishonest - you'd be amazed at the tales people make up.

I'd have copies of the Land Registry Official copies to hand as this will demonstrate when you bought the house after the debtor left. Not ideal but it is proof as to when you took ownership of the property and supports your position.

Future post definitely call the companies to explain. It's annoying but needs to be done.

I had this in my flat, I got loads of letters for the previous tenant and returned to sender etc until one day I accidentally opened one (put in the wrong pile when sorting my post from previous tenants) and it was a threat of bailiffs.

I took the letter, my tenancy and a copy of my ID to the bailiff office at the local court and explained that the person no longer lived there and I didnt want bailiffs turning up. They photocopied my tenancy and ID and said they would put a flag on their name and my address in their system to say the former tenant no longer lived there. Since then I've had no further letters at all.

Copy of the land registry is a good idea. That's a public document so you're not showing them anything they couldn't already access.

Debt collectors, as opposed to bailiffs and sheriffs, have no powers to seize goods. But they can and do try it on.

This happened to me, I just showed the bailiffs my tenancy agreement and they asked about Dh (his work clothes were hung up in the hallway) so I showed them a letter with his name on and they never came back
I hope this helps.

Oh but do not open the door without the chain on, they came into my hallway and refused to wait outside. it was a bit scary because I was alone with my young children and babies, and I'm a tiny tiny woman!

@pinkstripeycat

The Postal Services Act 2000 clearly states that it is certainly illegal to open someone's post.

Stop spouting nonsense. It is not ILLEGAL to open someone else's post.

The post office services act 2000 says...

"The Postal Services Act 2000 is clear that an offence is created if anyone intentionally delays the post or intentionally opens a mail bag."

Which means you are not allowed to intentionally delay or mess about with someone else's package in transit.

It is NOT illegal to open someone else's post! It is only illegal if someone else's letter comes to you, and you open it and use anything in the letter for nefarious purposes. (IE, to steal their identity, or use any credit card or storecard in the letter, or if you try to poach their bank account details, or if you use someone's driving licence for I.D,, and try and open a bank account or take out a loan or credit or something, under their name.')

Just opening a letter to find out what it is, and to try and find the company or sender, to enable you to deal with it, is NOT ILLEGAL!

And don't suggest sending it back to the address on the back of the envelope, because it is often not the same as the address of the company. It's often just the mailing centre. In many cases, if you send it back to the address on the envelope, it won't reach the sender.

Meant to say 'it is not illegal to open someone else's post when it comes through your letterbox (unless you intend to use it for nefarious purposes!)

I posted this 3 or 4 weeks ago.

Have had a further 3 letters through, I opened them all and called the different companies. Two were quite substantial amounts owed and the third is a driving fine.

It seems my earlier contact with the debt companies was noted, but now there are more companies..
And presumably he still had driving licences ID registered to this address.

I just don't know what to do.

If it's driving offences, perhaps contact the DVLA? It is an offence not to keep your address up to date. They might be able to assist.

It's annoying but you'll have to persevere and keep contacting people.

We had this for 2 years!

Including the police turning up as she had left the scene of an accident and her numberplate was taken, she hadn't contacted the DVLA to change address.

In the end, because despite phoning companies and sending letters back, we still had quite threatening bailiffs turning up, some official and some loans shark types who were genuinely scary, I posted on local Facebook gossip group

A lady came forward, amongst three men who she owed money to, who told me she worked with this individual. Told me she knew her address as she had been there.

So, I contacted the police and they told me she would be fined by them and the DVLA.

Best way to find someone's new address that was

Thank you @Tiktokersmiracle

I know my DH is considering putting something on the local FB pages.
It's probably a bit petty but I just want this sorted out.
He'd ask round the local pubs if they were open. I've got the car number plate memorised incase I see them around locally too.

Contact the DVLA, they will take note, have also had this issue.

I had one debt collector remain persistant after ne calling but did back off once I reminded them it was harrassment to keep contacting me when I had already confirmed I was not the person they were looking for.

I wouldn’t ask neighbours or try and get the old people’s detail - what do you think they’re going to do ask the bailiffs to stop knocking on the door as they don’t live there and give them their new address instead?!

Every time they knock explain that you’ve not long moved in and ask for the company name. Then ring the company and explain and tell them if they knock on again you’ll be taking things further as it’s harassment when you’ve repeatedly told them they have moved.
There may be several different companies but they will soon get the message - they probably think the old people still live there and you’re pretending they’re not.

We had this when we bought our house.

We have them the previous occupants solicitors details. And forwarded all mail to the solicitor too. Soon died down.

what do you think they’re going to do ask the bailiffs to stop knocking on the door as they don’t live there and give them their new address instead?!

Well I am wondering if they might be embarrassed in to sorting this out, if approached directly by us. Or the possibility of it going on local social media, small town and they will be known by a lot of people.
They seem like normal middle aged people with normal jobs and lives, if trying to be a bit flashy. We are not intimidated by them, they should be sorting it out not leaving it for us to be contacting all these companies and answering 6am knocks at the door.