Fraud at my address

[themalster]

Hi guys,

I have lived at my house for 3 years and for the past year i have been receiving around 2 letters a month for a woman who has never lived here (i know the names of the last 2 owners spanning 7 years prior to me).

The letters are from different debt recovery agencies as it seems the woman has been getting money from various finance companies and using my address. I know where she lives (a different part of London) and when i phone up the recovery agencies i give them the address but a few weeks later im getting letters again from different agencies for money she owes through different finance companies.

Is there anything i can do short of me going round there and sorting this out myself (or at least get "friends" to go round there)? I am worried that this could affect me and my fiancee in the future.

Any help is greatly appreciated

[mrs_overall]

I'd send the debt recovery agencies letters stating the facts, and post them recorded delivery. Point out that you've told them about this woman loads of times, and their behaviour to you is now verging on harrassment. Tell them that if they continue to contact you, you will take legal action against them.
This worked for me several years ago when I bought a house from a woman who left the area, leaving zillions of debts.

[O'Reilly]

I had the same problem but unfortunately there is no legal action (according to my solicitor) but what I did do was to start opening letters and returning them with an attachment of my tenancy agreement as proof of the date I took over the property. There is no reason why (if you own your home) you do not photocopy your purchase agreement (erase any purchase price details) and use that. I simply (after 2 years) open letters and return them with an attachment and my friend returns letters with an attachment of proof of purchase...the problem is that often one debt collection agency will pass on details to other agencies and you can end up with half a dozen different names all chasing you for the same debt and my Solicitor advises me that really I can do nothing about someone using my address. I can't stop it happening but I do find in returning paperwork showing how long I have lived at my address does stop an influx of demands.

[themalster]

Thanks guys, appreciate the help.

Will this womans actions affect me personally if, for example, i ever decide to apply for a loan etc as it is my address that she is using?

[O'Reilly]

No it won't because these days people (Banks, HP, loans, mortgages etc) tend to check your name with firms like Experian to do a personal credit check on you.

[O'Reilly]

No it won't because these days people (Banks, HP, loans, mortgages etc) tend to check your name with firms like Experian to do a personal credit check on you. It's your name that is important and not your address.

[O'Reilly]

sorry about the duplication. Trying to post brings up awful correct parameter messages and application errors!

[themalster]

Thanks very much.... must admit i do sometimes think about taking matters into my own hands as i know where she lives. But i wont!