Previous owner of our house owes money

[beryllium]

Hi There, we moved into our house 7 months ago. The previous owner had his mail re directed for 1 month and did not give us his forwarding address.

The usual junk mail ensued, and I always return to sender.

1 envelope arrived without return address, so i opened it to repost and discovered that the previous owner has debt collectors after him.

That was the first of 3 debt collection agencies, and today, a letter arrived that had to be signed for. Another debt collection.... obviously I said he doesn't live here and send it back.

I rang the 1st agency and explained we were the new owners, because I don't want them visiting the wrong place etc..and they seemed oblivious to the facts...

It seems he is still using this address, even tescos is still delivering points, sent back 3 times now!!!

how do I get this mans address? his previous wife not only left him, she has changed her name completely and we only have a road that she maybe at but not a number.

The neighbours tell us that she disappeared and so did the young son, they found it strange that the house still had his toys in it........

I'm thinking data protection will not allow the solicitor we used to give us the adress he's now at, nor will the estate agent we bought the house through.

I'm stuck, can you help?????

B.

[Hammer]

You don't need to know his new address, just write 'not at this address' on all mail and put it back in the postbox.

Incidentally, it's illegal to open his mail even if you are just looking for a return address - the post office will do this if you write the note above.

[beryllium]

Hi Hammer, since I have been re directing and return to sender on all but 1 letter, Why are we still getting debt collectors from the same agencies insisting on sending to our address?

[CheekyChops]

Debt collection agencies always send mail to a debtors last known address.

I moved into my house 2 1/2 years ago and still get letters from Debt Collection Agencies chasing the previous owner. They have been threatening to send baliffs round for the last 18mths but as yet, none have been.

[Oneeyedvic]

If you are concerned, get a copy of your credit file from www.experian.co.uk and www.equifax.co.uk

Put a "Notice of Correction" on your credit file - something along the lines of "Please be aware that the previous owner of hte premises (Mr X) no longer lives at these premises - he sold his house on 1/1/05. Plese be aware that there is no connection with the current owners".

Both credit reference agencies will put this on their files and thus this will appear when Mr X applies for credit.

Do not worry about junk mail - it is irrelevant. Send it back or just throw it away (probably illegal but who cares). You can also try registering Mr X's name on www.mpsonline.org.uk
This shoudl help cut down on the junk mail.

[beryllium]

Must admit that some of the letters i've forwarded to his solicitors and some to the company that employ him, since he had his payslips sent here for 4 months!!!!

Blumin cheek of him!

[spaced]

i would stop forwarding his mail. just throw it away. make life difficult for him as he is doing to you.

[beryllium]

Thank you oneeyedvic, that's brilliant and I shall do that right away. Thank You........

[beryllium]

the temptation is there spaced, believe me, but firstly i do need to protect ourselves, so i shall follow oneeyedvics advice and then maybe shred the rest although r.t.s of junk mail is always satisfying..... :-)

[WendyS]

Although the solicitor or estate agent who acted for you probably won't disclose the address of the former owner, they might possibly be able to forward on any letter you write to him asking him to contact these people and update with his new address. However, as he obviously has serious money problems I doubt whether he will as he won't people people chasing after him. I suspect he simply forgot to notify some unimportant people like Tesco (for his points) and there is probably little you can do except keep returning the letters which arrive to the sender's address.

[Postdog]

Just to add a bit, you have a right to be concerned as his debts are at your address, and as pointed out, this could affect your own credit rating unless you follow the advice given.

However, regarding baliffs coming round, don't panic. Just keep handy some proof of who you are to show them. Chances are they'll take what you say as gospel (OK, they may carry out their own checks later just to satisfy themselves) but they are baliffs, not thugs, and in the event that you do have problems making them see sense, just call the police and let them deal with it.

[themas]

On the bailiffs issue, they are not allowed to come into the house when they first come unless they can get in through an open door or window (i.e. without breaking in), and are not allowed to push past you at the door to get in. Its always best not to let them in. As Postdog says, show them some evidence of who you are and they should go away again.

[sandbach99]

My daughter bought a house and received a lot of mail not for the person she bought the house off but for the previous owner who had left owing loads of debts, she sent all the mail back ' not known at this address' she had phone calls from debt collection agencies, visits from these agencies. One early morning the door bell rang and there stood 2 bailiffs and 2 policemen luckily they proved who they were by their passports, utility bills, mortgage details etc, had they not had these details her partner would have been taken to court there and then, and still they get letters from other agencies.

Needless to say no apologies from the bailiffs or the debt agency involved

[beryllium]

out of interest, when we were buying this house and selling our other property, we had to fill in some questionnaire about whether we had any outstanding debts and if so to whom? surely he must have had to do the same? but then where does that info go? if he was honest....

[beryllium]

I don't believe this!!!! I've just googled the mans name and lo and behold..... there he is. His work no. and e-mail contact. Any ideas on how I word this? and how I get it in writing that he has contacted the relevant companies concerned or will the proof of contact be the e-mail or phone call? aswell as the experian and equifax contact or do I get my solicitor to do the work?