Ex and debt collection letters.

[PurpleBugz]

I own my house and it has nothing to do with ex. I did move into a rental with ex but we split over two years ago and I moved back to my house. We were never married.

When we were together they turned up to tow his car over unpaid council tax and I paid £3.5K for him on the spot so he didn't loose his car. I'm self employed and at the time was working but unable to earn due to my disabled child- that year my net income £7000 ex earnt just shy of £100k pre tax. So half my fucking income. He never paid me back.

Since splitting I've had the occasional letter for ex and passed it on to him. He has never lived at my current address. He says he has never given out my address. I called bulshit on that said people clearly after money he said it's admin errors he will sort it out don't worry.

I've been getting phone calls recently as ex has given my number as his when hiring a car that he didn't return or pay for. I contact ex and he said he had sorted it it was an error. Couple weeks later and today I get the same call first thing. I called ex he said it's an error he will sort it today. End of day I get a call again and I said I'd told ex he said admin error what's the situation? They said the number they have for him doesn't work (I checked they had correct number they do so he has blocked them) he's hired a car not returned it and there is an outstanding balance my number is down as second contact that's why they chasing me for the money. I said he's my ex I will chase him.

I get home to a letter for ex. I opened it this time and it's an enforcement agency informing him he has 14 days to pay unpaid council tax or they will take further action. Ex turned up to collect ds and I asked bluntly if he's in financial difficulties he said no. I gave him the letter and asked what is going on. He said he's paid it this is another error.

Can anyone tell me if this will be affecting my credit rating as all his debt has been registered at my address?! What do I do when they turn up to tow my car and take the TV?!

You need to get a credit check and make sure nothings in your name. Try Clearscore for a free one. Check it regularly.

Call the bailiffs and send proof you’re not the person and don’t live there.

Get proof of ownership, ID and council tax bill ready for if bailiffs come. Do not open the door. Show through the window and make sure your kids and visitors don’t let them in either. Keep all doors and windows closed or on a latch so they can’t be opened. Make a complaint to all agencies involved. Ask to log a CEO complaint.

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/debt-and-money/action-your-creditor-can-take/bailiffs/stopping-bailiffs/stopping-bailiffs-if-you-dont-owe-the-debt/#:~:text=If%20it's%20someone%20else's%20debt&text=Tell%20them%20you're%20not,your%20partner%20or%20a%20housemate.

This link has the information if you scroll down.

@Jiski

Thank you very much that's very helpful!

I've just checked clearscore and it's not showing anything but it also has my address wrong. It's got my previous flat I sold before I bought this house years ago now. I tried to update it but it has a drop down menu of addresses I have loved at in the last 8 or 9 years but not my current one and there is no option to add a different address?!

It's got my income and credit card limit and balances correct, no loans etc all correct but wrong address 😕

Do not pass letters on, return them to sender stating he does not live at your address. Tell him certainly - but never pass letters on

I would agree with @ragdoll12345 - I would return to sender with "not known at this address. " We had to do this once when we got letters re debt from previous owner. But if ex DP has never lived there it isn't his address

I'm down a rabbit hole on credit scores now. It was lower than I thought it was going to be and this looks to be due to what I believed to be good financial habits. I have one credit card I never use and never take out loans or finance I always save up and buy when I have the money. It's been the same score going back around 3 years when it dipped 200 points but doesn't say why. That may have been around when I maxed out all my overdrafts to pay the people trying to take ex car.

Looks like to improve my credit rating I should start using my credit card but always pay it off every month? Why don't they teach this stuff in school?! I was raised only acceptable debt is a mortgage and have followed that advice ffs

Don’t worry about your credit score as such. No one, including potential lenders, see it, apart from you.

Lenders only see your credit history, but yes, if you have history of using credit responsibly (including a credit card), then that is a big advantage.

You have got to stop passing things onto him because you are storing up absolute chaos for yourself. It’s not admin errors at all; he’s clearly using your details when he’s signing various agreements so they won’t be able to contact him directly. And although this doesn’t mean that you become responsible for his debt, it does mean that it’s you who’ll have to deal with the bailiffs etc when they come knocking.

This man is intentionally causing you problems. You owe him nothing. If they phone you, tell them his correct phone number and warn them he may well have blocked their number. Give them his address. If you are the only adult in the house, then it’s reasonable that all official looking letters are addressed to you. It’s not beyond the realms of possibility that you would open such a letter without checking that your name is on it. Phone them and give them his new address.

I gave them my exes new address and made it clear he was no longer at my address or on my council tax or anything to do with me.

Don't do him any favours.

If he says how did they know my new address just shrug your shoulders and don't even mention another bill came to you.

RETURN ALL LETTERS TO SENDER AND WRITE THE EX.S NEW ADDRESS ON THE BACK _ STATING HIS NEW ADDRESS

I had a similar issue. Ex h left for and moved in with OW. When they sold her home and moved, I started getting letters from debt collectors for a whole list of unpaid bills/debts and even her debts! Then I had a bailiff on the doorstep. Fortunately I have a court order in relation to my house!

I wrote to the collectors with their new address and phone numbers. I haven't heard a thing since. I would do this. Send everything back. Don't engage with him about debts. Just return to sender. Unless the debts are joint, it will not affect your credit rating.

Nobody mentioned but check the registered voters record at your address make sure he’s not on it. Return any letters without passing them on back to the company. If you know his address check who is registered to vote at that if he’s on it then debt collection agency’s usually use that register to check whereabouts of debtors

And don't presume the post office will deliver a letter marked 'return to sender unknown at this address'.

You need to put a stamp on it to be sure it reaches its intended destination. And preferably a note inside so they know you're not telling lies and explain the situation.

My postman told me this. It may be illegal but they just bin things like that.

Hence you think the company knows he's not there but they've not received that communication from you so they don't and keep sending stuff....