Debt letters sent to wrong address

Nasher said:
Do this. It isn't your letter.

Obviously they have no right to collect debt from you even if they turn up on the doorstep.
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It's worth remembering that a debt collection agency are the same as any other company or organisation. They have no special powers beyond trying to get in touch with someone. Even then they need to adhere to certain protocols (there's case history regarding that).

Of course, it's different if a CCJ is issued against you or you are asked to fight a debt in court and lose.
 
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beachBOYken said:
Person didn't live here before. As you say checks should be done anyway, debt collectors shouldn't just go off an address, neither should the agency sending these letters, pretty bonkers in todays world that there isn't better checks done at the start when people sign up to things and go into debt and use force details.
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I imagine they take much less of a rigourus approach for letters as it's just a cost of a stamp to see if something sticks. If they have to send bailiffs somewhere halfway across the country just to find out that the person doesn't actually live there it's a bit of a cost to them.
 
Semple said:
I imagine they take much less of a rigourus approach for letters as it's just a cost of a stamp to see if something sticks. If they have to send bailiffs somewhere halfway across the country just to find out that the person doesn't actually live there it's a bit of a cost to them.
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They aren't "bailiffs".

Bailiffs have the power to force their way into your home to recover debt and are the result of CCJ / Legal action against you.
 
steve_c said:
Don't show a random person your documents. Don't get into any conversation with them whatsoever. Just tell them you aren't interested and close the door.
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Would depend on the bailiff surely. If it's a high court enforcement officer then they do have a lot more powers, and for the sake of showing a driving license to prove you're not the person they're after would save you a bit of a headache.
 
Semple said:
Would depend on the bailiff surely. If it's a high court enforcement officer then they do have a lot more powers, and for the sake of showing a driving license to prove you're not the person they're after would save you a bit of a headache.
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At this stage, it's just a debt collection agency. Obviously if it was an enforcement officer then that would be a different story.

Semple said:
I use the term bailiffs loosely :), as in anyone collecting debt.
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People really shouldn't use that term until an "actual" bailiff is involved but I see what you mean.
 
BowdonUK said:
Some of these debt collection companies are shady. Be very careful of linking your name to the case.
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Yep absolutely this. Most debt collection companies don't actually care who pays the debt. They would happily chase the wrong person if they think they have a chance of putting enough pressure on them to cave in and pay it to make the hassle and stress go away. They just want their money, from anyone.
 
Firestar_3x said:
Had similar before but due to death of the previous house owner.

Phone the debt company and tell them the person doesn't live and has never lived at this address, make it clear you consider this closed and no more correspondence should be sent to this address.

Ignore it long enough and debt collectors will start knocking on the door.
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They can not do anything, only the court appointed ones can break in. If they are non court just from the company then there is nada they can do.
 
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Hades said:
Yep absolutely this. Most debt collection companies don't actually care who pays the debt. They would happily chase the wrong person if they think they have a chance of putting enough pressure on them to cave in and pay it to make the hassle and stress go away. They just want their money, from anyone.
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Yeah as I've mentioned before my parent's old next door neighbour's son got into massive debt (and a bit of fraud) even using neighbours details fraudulently in relation to those debts - the debt collectors didn't care played all kind of sneaky games to try and get the neighbours, including my dad, on the hook for the debt. Fortunately they were sent robustly packing but they'd have exploited anyone vulnerable without a second thought.
 
The worst thing people do is when get mail which is for a previous resident or gets mis-posted - right number, next Street etc is to bin them.

When lived in Leeds, got mail for residents for various roads down my estate. Right number, different road.

If you have never lived in Leeds or have friends or family living there. They have several roads with the same first part but different second parts. So for example. Ash Road, Ash Avenue, Ash Drive, Ash Oval etc.
 
Had a debt letter once where they were just speculating as I had a same name. I suspect these dodgy debt companies do it all the time. They just want someone to pay they don't care if you are the correct person or not.
 
Is this really the best advice?
What does something like citizens advice say?
Just curious, ive debt with collection agencies, I know their games. I've always been reasonable and they've Been reasonable back.
 
The way they operate is they purchase debts in bulk say from a phone company, they might buy a £300 debt for say £30.

Then they go after the money... They don't have any special powers but equally they don't need all the debts on thier books paid off to turn a profit.

Letters, lots and lots of letters is really the only way they can do this economically.

That's why they are also quick to offer deals... Pay now and we'll knock 25% off that £300!

It's basically a fishing exercise.
 
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If it’s any help I had this once a while back, it was the wrong postcode. It was a ballache and I basically had to do the detective work to find the person and the correct address and tell the debt collectors. Then it went away. Still on the plus side if I ever need to I could easily work in their “find the buggers” department with my new found skills.
 
CapitalOne said:
If it’s any help I had this once a while back, it was the wrong postcode. It was a ballache and I basically had to do the detective work to find the person and the correct address and tell the debt collectors. Then it went away. Still on the plus side if I ever need to I could easily work in their “find the buggers” department with my new found skills.
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Appropriate username is appropriate :p
 
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