My house mate owes thousands and now people are knocking on the door!

Soldato
Joined
5 Jun 2005
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20,915
Location
Southampton
Great at this point in time i have bailiffs randomly driving into my drive way and checking for his hire purchase car! The jist of the story is i have a mate who lives with me (rented house all in my name) his mum died a few years back and he’s pretty much been in some sort of depressed state and has somehow racked up a good 15k – 20k of debt, not living the life but by not working for buying things on tick. Most of the debt came from using dodgy websites and cowboy companies as he clear had a poor rating, he owes a company called ‘The British Credit Trust’ 5k for a 2001 Reno Clio.... the car was 3k and the rest is late fees and a wacking 25% apr.... i looked under his bed and found a whole host of companies demanding money and threatening CCJ’s and bailiffs. The keep swinging by looking for his car that is locked my garage at present....

Tried talking to him, but can’t let on i have been snooping and know how deep he is, his head is in the sand, to make things worse he is studying to be a driving instructor, paid 4k of his grandparents money to train and is currently driving a untaxed /MOT ? insured car and has been somehow since Jan of this year, it’s only a matter of time before he gets kicked off this dodgy course and loses even more...
I dunno what to do, can they take my property? I have a whole host of computer goods. If i had the heart or he was living the wild life i would kick him out, but i don’t i feel sorry and wanna help him... not quite sure how, i offered to write to his creditors but his head in the sand attitude is worring...

He has cancelled his direct debits to all the people he owes.......
just sent him a text saying i will help him and time to raise his head from the sand, wait and see i guess....
 
Make arrangements to move out as soon as possible, or start advertising for a new house mate, then sit him down and have it out - it's the only thing to do.

I'd also put all your valuable / sentimental stuff in your room and lock the door when you're away.

Also trying to get in contact with any family he has would be a good idea too, maybe they can help him?

Other than the above maybe go seek some proper legal advice, see where you stand when the bailiffs come a-knocking.
 
Why are you worrying? None of the debt is in your name and they can't take any of your stuff.

Just kick him out and get a new housemate and ignore all the letters that come.
 
been mates with this guy for 15 years, very quite and honest, like i said some sort of closet depressant, properly been drunk 10 times in his life, polite and has a nice girl friend... just in bad way and does not see it. I know he wont take my stuff, but wanna know who might try and get in my house!

his dad wont wanna know and is family are distant since his mum died
 
Sounds like he's let it go too far and is in a right mess. I'd suggest he get a debt management company involved to take the stress off dealing with it as they will do everything for him. They do charge a fee but it's nothing massive.

I can recommend http://www.gregorypennington.com/
 
Yes then could take your stuff .... unless you can prove it is yours with receipts etc; just saying that it belongs to you won't work.

As for your mate, tell him to get his act together or **** off!
 
He needs to get to one of those charity based debt management services now! otherwise he is screwed... or he can just file bankrupt :S

Seriously tell him hes looking for a new place if he doesn't get help... you don't need to let on you were "snooping" as obviously enough people have been coming to the door asking about it.

And deffinatly make sure anything of sentimental value worth anything is locked away as said above :( even if hes a solid guy, desperate times desperate measures I've seen it happen before.
 
Sounds like you're a good friend.

Get him to a debt management company as soon as possible, get him to talk to the citizens advice bureaux as soon as possible, and tell him you're aware of his situation. It'll hurt and may makes things between you hard, but he'll thank you in the long run.

And protect your belongings.
 
yeah i wont put him on the street, my life has been blessed and his is in a mess, i wont aid to that by binning him... i wanna help its just how when he denies it to me! arghghgh
 
Sounds like you're a good friend.

Get him to a debt management company as soon as possible, get him to talk to the citizens advice bureaux as soon as possible, and tell him you're aware of his situation. It'll hurt and may makes things between you hard, but he'll thank you in the long run.

And protect your belongings.

This, probably just needs a kick up the rear to sort himself out.
Maybe phone up cab ect first and get al the info on what can be done, then sit him down.
 
its happend to one of my mates before, luckily for him it was student accommodation and he wasnt living with him the next year, good luck in solving the problem :)
 
Sounds like you're a good friend.

Get him to a debt management company as soon as possible, get him to talk to the citizens advice bureaux as soon as possible, and tell him you're aware of his situation. It'll hurt and may makes things between you hard, but he'll thank you in the long run.

And protect your belongings.

This.
Also if he's having trouble coping with his Mum's death, get him to have a look at Cruse: http://www.crusebereavementcare.org.uk/
Sounds like he might need to talk to someone about it.
 
You need to be able to show proof of purchase, as has already been said.

They can't just burst into a house in somebody else's name and start removing goods. The householder has got nothing to do with the debts and therefore is under no legal obligation to provide proof of anything.
 
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