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Legal matters

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Original poster

final notice

22 replies

alphabite · 30/04/2012 11:28

This isn't really an 'AIBU' thread but I know it gets a lot of traffic on here and someone might be able to help.

Quick summary:I accidently opened some post that wasn't addressed to me today. I live in rental and it was addressed to the person who used to live here. It is a final notice for a payment of over £1000. It threatens baliffs or court. I have emailed my letting agent to tell them and asked them to ring the company but is there anything else I should be doing. I know this isn't in my name or anything to do with me but I am worried about baliffs showing up. I know I shouldn't have opened it but it was completely by accident as I didn't properly look at the name. Help!

OP posts:

Pseudo341 · 30/04/2012 11:34

Ballifs can't enter your home without a CCJ, otherwise they could just break into random houses taking stuff. If it goes to court the fact that the person no longer lives at your address will become apparent and they certainly won't be given permission to come into your home. Don't worry about the fact that you've opened it, it was an honest mistake, just pass it and any like it on to the letting agent, or bin them if you can't be bothered, it's not your problem.

Original poster

alphabite · 30/04/2012 11:36

Thanks very much. That makes me feel better.
It does say Our latest enquiries have now confirmed that you are still resident at this address.

I don't know how as she hasn't lived here for over a year.

OP posts:

fluffiphlox · 30/04/2012 11:37

Many, many years ago when we were renting we had a similar situation and we were able to prove that the people they were after didn't live in the flat any more. Actually, they (presumabaly bailiffs) were pretty reasonable. We could prove who we were and referred the bailiffs to the agency. Never heard any more about it.

Pseudo341 · 30/04/2012 11:37

On second thoughts, maybe send it back to where it came from with a very clear "addressee has gone away" on it.

MustControlFistOfDeath · 30/04/2012 11:40

I used to get those for someone who lived here about 7 years ago FFS. Having sent back countless envelopes marked 'not known at this address' I started opening them and contacting the companies involved directly.

Touch wood, seems to have done the trick.

cornflowers · 30/04/2012 11:41

Would the letting agent have her current address? Could you reseal the letter and forward it to her via them?

MousyMouse · 30/04/2012 11:42

make sure the electoral roll is up to date as well...

WhataMistakeaToMakea · 30/04/2012 11:44

I had that at three of my old rented houses! I would just ring the companies and tell them that person didn't live there with the date I moved in. I then gave them my landlords name so they could check the details it they wanted. Never heard from them again. (I did get one that kept writing from some shopping complex 200 hundred miles away. Someone had been caught and given MY address and a fake name and they wanted some money or something! Nothing came of it though even after two years of letters).

Original poster

alphabite · 30/04/2012 11:50

Thanks. I will wait and see if my letting agent has rang them but if they don't get back to me I will ring the company myself.

I do need to do the electoral role as I've been here over a year...whoops!

I'm glad other people have been through this too. I assume it doesn't affect my own credit rating or CRBs etc.

OP posts:

hermionestranger · 30/04/2012 11:52

I regularly get letters for a previous occupant who owes thousands, I open them and call the company involved to let them know that the debtor no longer lives here and from then in I return all misspent mail.

The companies will thank you for the information and if you can give then any idea of where the previous occupant ha gone, so much the better.

Original poster

alphabite · 30/04/2012 11:56

I just rang them. Thought it probably best to get it off my mind. The guy was very nice, just asked how long I had lived there and then said he would take the address off the action list. Phew.

OP posts:

niceguy2 · 30/04/2012 11:58

Our latest enquiries have now confirmed that you are still resident at this address.

I bet that's just a standard sentence in their letters to make the debtor think they are really chasing the debt.

The letters are just part of the debt recovery firms process. Eventually a bailiff may turn up on your doorstep. As others have said, don't invite him in. Talk to him on the door and just explain you are not the debtor and you've no idea where he/she is. That should be the end of it really.

If they continue to pester you then it's harassment and a matter for the police.

The debt shouldn't affect your credit rating as long as you are unlucky enough to share the same surname in which case you'd need to do that disassociation thing.

Basically don't panic. No need to stress. Just either return any further letters to the sender, forward them to your letting agent or even bin them.

izzyizin · 30/04/2012 12:01

Even if they are in possession of a CCJ, baliffs cannot break into homes unless the police are present, Pseudo.

TotemPole · 30/04/2012 12:01

If you get any more letter addressed to this person, put a line through the address, write "Not known at this address, return to sender" and pop it in the mail box or give to the postman if you see them.

mummymeister · 30/04/2012 12:06

Just sending the letter back with gone away or doesnt live here anymore wont do the trick imo. if i owed loads of money i would do this as a ruse to get them off my back so the companies know this and dont take much notice. far better to open it and call the contact number directly. explain how long you have been resident, if necessary send a copy of your tenancy agreement to prove this and make sure your name is on the electoral roll. be proactive if you want it to stop. Agree that baliffs cant break in but you want to avoid getting to this stage

lunar1 · 30/04/2012 12:11

Open everything, people will tell you it's illegal but the people who owned our house previously (we have been here 3 years) keep taking out credit on our address.

We have had lots of bailiffs, on one occasion i had to call 999 as he was threatening me and my 2 boys. the police have everything on file now as it had got so bad.

I had a note on my door for a while saying Mr and Mrs x are thieving bastards, they don't live here, if they owe you money, ring 000 000 000. do not knock on my door for them, check the electoral roll.

Seems to have stopped but just this Saturday a brochure for mini came in his name.

girlfromdownsouth · 30/04/2012 12:16

I am a landlady and get heaps of these letters years and years after the tenants have left. I always open them and contact the company involved and let them know when the person moved out and give them any forwarding information I may have. They are usually grateful.

You must update your details on the electoral register as that's on of the fail safe methods you can prove you live there not the other person.

VodkaJelly · 30/04/2012 13:18

Writing "Not at this address" doesnt always work. I have lived at my house for 12 years and in the last 2 months I have been getting letters for somebody who is claiming Job Seekers allowance from my address - never heard of the person. I must have sent back about 20 letters, all with "Not at this address" etc, rang the benefits helpline, informed them and rang the fraud hotline etc but still the letters keep coming. I opened up the last one I got on Friday and they are talking about baliffs coming round.

I did 192.com and found the real address, so if any baliffs come round - bring it on!

Original poster

alphabite · 30/04/2012 13:30

Found the scammer on facebook. She now lives in Thailand!

OP posts:

Feminine · 30/04/2012 13:34

What makes you think she is a "scammer"

Original poster

alphabite · 30/04/2012 13:35

Fair point but most people probably wouldn't leave the country with over a grands worth of debt!

OP posts:

Feminine · 30/04/2012 13:41

True. :)

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