Previous owner's debt letter

[ReyFinn]

Earlier this week DH opened mail for the previous owner of the house (accidentally, he just picked it up from the doormat and opened all the mail, half asleep after a shift).

It was from a phone contract company that he's also with and the logo was on it so he assumed it was his. Anyway, it stated that money was owed, around £250, that still hadn't been paid despite previous reminders. It stated that the debt was now being passed to a debt collection agency.

Normally I'd immediately get in touch with the estate agents to forward the mail but the owners were actually bloody awful and lied about so many things. They also left the bins full of shit and left crap in the shed, and didn't bother sorting a leak that had evidently occurred shortly before moving out, causing damage.

So I don't feel inclined to be helpful. Plus, if they're too tight to pay for mail forwarding, why should I provide that for free? I want to bin it. AIBU?

Tape the envelope up and chuck it back in a post box with 'no longer at this address' on it.

Yes binning it would be petty revenge, but you also risk eventually having bailiffs turn up on your doorstep if it goes that far, and while you obviously would just need to prove you're not the person they're looking for, it's still hassle you can avoid but just sending it back.

Don’t open any more.

If you get any further letters, cross out the address, put not at this address return to sender and put back in the post box.

And I never forwarded any mail on to the previous house owner en we bought our house. And we got loads. He didn't seem to change his address on anything. We just sent everything back.

I would sellotape it up, write 'no longer at this address' and put it in the postbox when you are passing. If the debt collectors come round it's more hassle for you because you have to prove you're not the previous owner. (We had debt collectors come round for our previous owners).

Put it back in the post with ‘not known at this address’ on it - if you bin it you’ll end up with debt collectors on your doorstep, not worth the hassle.

Call the companies. You don’t want debt collectors at your door, they don’t care about ‘Not at this address’ returns believe me. They want absolute proof that the previous owners no longer reside there and some collection agencies don’t even get the message the first time. I recently had to threaten all sorts as they sent the same company to my address twice in 3 months despite giving them said evidence.

If you ignore it you'll keep getting letters and eventually they'll end up at your door (this happened to us even despite trying to forward the mail)

Luckily they did leave us alone once I told them when they turned up at the door, but still it's a hassle you might not want

I’d do this, would not want them at the door.

I'm guessing he'll have a black mark on his credit score if he doesn't pay it?

Phone the company and tell them. if you return it not at this address they will take no notice and continue to send letters and maybe debt collectors.
You could tell them were he has moved to if you know.

No idea where he is now.

I'm still very tempted to bin it, and any subsequent letters.

I've had a few parcels with his name too, they're just in a drawer (no return address). He knows he's a dick and left issues so not surprised he hasn't been in touch to claim them!

Cross through the address and write MOVED - NOT KNOWN AT THIS ADDRESS RTS on EVERY letter you get and pop it back in the postbox. As long as you register on the electoral register to vote you should be fine. If you have not registered to vote it could cause a problem, as they will check on this.

Bin this letter, any more you just put a line through the address and write “RTS” (it’s post office short hand for return to sender), pop in a post box and job done.