Bailiffs verging harassment

[changeofnameagain1234]

So i moved into a rented property 3 years ago and ever since i keep getting letters from Equita Limited, who are a bailiff company. Their client is not me its from the previous tenant. Over the years i have spoken to them numerus times told the what they need, still send people out, shown them council tax letters at the door, get another letter a month later and it repeats.

Last time i called them i told them that this is getting to harassment now as i am not who they are looking for. Had another letter so went online and sent off a water bill which is what they asked for. Today i receive a text message saying
"removal proceedings have now begun. We will be attending your property shortly, please be aware we are authorised to remove goods/vehicles and further charges will be applied. Call .......... now to pay £££ quoting reference number ....... Equita Limited"

Please what else can i do? I'm at a loss now i have done everything they have asked.

If they turn up call 999 and let them explain to the cops why they are after the wrong person.

Make an official complaint to, if this is not upheld you can escalate it to the Enforcement Conduct Board. If you know who the debt they’re trying to collect is owed to, you could also complain to the creditor (e.g. the council).

Send an official complaint to them

block their number

return any further post to sender

ideally don’t answer the door to the talk through the window. Record the transaction on the phone, display your ID and tell them that person down not live here (have they been? If not they’re probably bluffing)

If they do visit your property and won’t leave call the police and request their attendance.

they want someone- anyone to pay. Any engagement makes you seem
like a responsible person who could be bullied into paying.

Just ignore them.

Surely they send letters to a named debtor, even if they have an out of date address. So any proceedings would be against that name not yours.

It’s nonsense anyway- what even are “removal proceedings?” Baliffs persuade people to give them belongings or cash to pay the debt. They don’t care whose cash or whose belongings.

its the dirtiest industry going.

I have ignored them in between too, but its every month I'm getting a letter or someone knocking on the door and now texts too. My car is outside so also worried about that.

I shouldn't have to do anymore than i have already they need to find the right person or at least stop with me.

They are persistent, no matter what i have done, who could i complain to please? as i have told them on the phone that i don't want any more or further contact with them and anymore contact i would consider it harassment, I'm at a loss.

I’ve had this before and I had my landlord/letting agent contact them and explain the old tenant had moved out, have you tried that?

Annoying

I have had balliffs turn up at my home for dh who moved out 18mths ago think 3 times now for diff debts

I tell them he doesn’t live here and check council records to see only me living here

assuming you don’t have their new address

def call the police

Do you have any proof of ownership wrt the car....bailiffs cannot take it if it can be proven that the car does not belong to the debtor

I would suggest writing to their Legal Department quoting this case

Ferguson V British Gas Trading

https://www.lexology.com/library/detail.aspx?g=444d5027-8cdb-49ef-8f17-149378dba91d

I might also make a formal complaint to The Police under the Protection From Harassment Act and quote that case

I would definitely report them to the police for harassment now. Then if they do turn up the police will be aware of it when they are called out.

Id also write to the bailiffs, tell them you’ve reported them for harassment with the background history., then send it recorded delivery. So they can’t deny receiving anything from you,

Equita Complaints email: [email protected]

Enforcement Conduct Board: https://enforcementconductboard.org/making-a-complaint/

Pretty sure if they start taking your stuff that is burglary, and you are permitted to use reasonable force against burglars. This can include the threatened or actual use of a weapon.

Another option is to write to one of the consumer champions for the newspapers. The Guardian definitely has one and I think The Observer do to. They seem to be very helpful in intervening in these situations.

Or sign up to Which (though it costs money so that may not be an option) and use their legal advice helpline.

Definitely agree that it’s a dirty business and they don’t really care if you’re not the debtor, they just want to pressure someone into paying.

They are texting you… Why on earth do they have your mobile number op?! That can’t possibly be connected to the former person. Why have you given them so much of your personal details? Next time someone sounding like an authority figure asks for your private details like your own household bills or your mobile number, stop and think what they could do with it and if they really need it. And if they have any legal right to your info.

I had something similar with a debt agency for over 2 and a half years. I eventually wrote them a letter (as recommended by Which! legal) essentially saying that I was not the person responsible for the debt, and unless they could provide me with written evidence that I owed them the money they should not contact me again. That was 6 years ago and I never heard another peep.

BTW, they can get your details by searching for you online. You'd be surprised just how easy that is.

You've engaged with them too much and they’ve put your personal details onto their system associated with that debt.Block their number and have no more contact with them.

This, call 101 to report.

You can’t report them to the police. This is what bailiffs do. You can’t possibly think the police will do anything. You’re just wasting more time on it.

What about the Ombudsman if it's a utility company ?

They can’t take your car, it’s in YOUR name

I’ve had this before, ignored and blocked everything. There’s nothing they can do.

if they turn up at your door you can just show your ID and they fuck off, they can’t do anything.

You need to make a formal complaint in by email to the company. Ringing these people is pointless because a phone call can be denied and the contents of a call not logged at all or only in part. I started getting calls on my mobile, initially it was a solicitors in NI who this person owed money too. I called explained I wasn't the person they were looking for and that the number they had for this person was clearly incorrect as it was mine. It escalated to me repeated getting debt collectors calling me, again lots of explaining, but it made no difference. I don't even live in NI, but in England, and have never visited NI!! In the end I got so fed up, I ended up going through the debt collectors complaints procedures and emailed them. I gave them as much information and included proof of my identity. I received an apology and all phone calls from them stopped. You must put everything into an email, and go through the debt collectors complaints procedure. Provide proof that you are the new tenant and ask them to stop contacting your address.