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Debt collection agency after a previous tennant
I moved into a rented house about six weeks ago, and this morning I got a card through the door addressed to one of the previous tennants. It says:
Certainly very vague, and a search on google tells me they are a debt collection agency.
Now, since it's all about one of the previous tennants then I know I should have nothing to worry about, but I've heard lots of scare stories about things like this.
Any advice on what to do? Things I should/shouldn't say? There's a (geographical) phone number on the front which I could phone, but I very much doubt that they'd forget about it all after a phone call telling them that the person they want doesn't live here! I've found a goldmine of advice for if the debt was actually mine, but nothing (other than more scare stories!) about what to do about debt that isn't mine.
I CONFIRM THAT I WILL BE CALLING TO DISCUSS THE RECENT COMMUNICATION FROM CSL
ON:.....WEDNESDAY........
BETWEEN: 9.00am - 9.00pm
If this is inconvenient please contact us using the telephone number and reference printed on the address side of the card.
Regards,
J.White.
Power 2 Contact Ltd,
Registered Office: Capella Court, Brighton Road, Purley, CR8 2PG.
Certainly very vague, and a search on google tells me they are a debt collection agency.
Now, since it's all about one of the previous tennants then I know I should have nothing to worry about, but I've heard lots of scare stories about things like this.
Any advice on what to do? Things I should/shouldn't say? There's a (geographical) phone number on the front which I could phone, but I very much doubt that they'd forget about it all after a phone call telling them that the person they want doesn't live here! I've found a goldmine of advice for if the debt was actually mine, but nothing (other than more scare stories!) about what to do about debt that isn't mine.
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Then ring the agency yourself saying that you have a card saying that a debt collector is coming round, they should be able to sort it out
BTW I wouldn't try to get any credit you might be declined as this house your living will probably be blacklisted
also I dont want to worry you but its probably why the last guy has done a runner as there might be more of these cards or letters on the way
Then we started getting anonymous hand delivered notes addressed to the previous tenant which were also quite threatening.
When we called the police their response was when we told them who used to live in the house was: "If you find him, let us know because we're looking for him too!"
However they cant do this unless they have been in the house before but you wont know that though
Might be different as they could check with the land registry that we were telling the truth.
I thought the law on entering premises changed so baliffs didn't need to have entered before in order to break in? I know there was some talk of changing the law about six months ago. Hopefully I'm wrong about the law being passed, just because of situations like this.
I've had credit checks here from Virgin Media and also BT and not had any problems at all. Are you sure that a property can have problems like that, even if it can be proven that the person responsible has moved on?
Are you sure about that? Especially since it's completely different people living in the house, I very much doubt they'd have any more legal right to enter than if they'd never been before (which would be none).
The woman who lived here before us was in soooooo much debt!
The debt collectors came round, I had to show driving licence, a bill and my marriage certificate to prove that I was not her!
They never came again, don't know if they found her, I think she went somewhere abroad, hope she stays there!!!
FFs, what are you on about! As the poster doesnt owe anything then no one can take anything from him/her.
You didnt have to show them anything! Simply say "they dont live here anymore, now p**s off". Thats what i did, never heard nothing since. I certainly wouldnt go running my house looking for documents that prove who i am because some tosser on the doorsatep doesnt believe me.
Thanks again for your help everyone.
If so, is there anything that I can do about it? Or is it just a (very unfortunate) fact of life?
No they arent!
Police, fire, custom and excise, gas and electricty board. A whole host of people can and wil enter your property.
If he hadnt been so big headed and obnoxious i may have helped him. As it was all i did was put the onus on him to prove i wasnt the previous tenant.
You do not have to make any expenditure (phone calls, letters that cost you postage etc) unless you wish to.
You can leave a notice on your door thats sufficient.
However, I strongly suggest that you call them and bring this to their attention. Be specific, tell them if you have a forwarding address for the person they are seeking. If the police are involved then you should definitely inform them of any information you are party to.
You should NOT give the bailiff entry to your address, their seizure order relates to the previous tenant. However it doesn't matter. The bailiff cannot seize (or engage in Walking Possession) of anything that is not the property (or joint property) of the person nominated on the order.
You should immediately call the police if any person seeks, forcefully or otherwise, to gain unlawful entry to your residence.
police can only enter with probable cause or a warrant. they can't just walk in uninvited.
the emergency services can enter for emergencies obviously - that includes firemen, ambulancemen and also if they suspect a gas leak.
the also cannot just walk in.
TV licence inspectors, despite what they would try and make you believe, also cannot just enter your property.
Baliffs are allowed to enter your property to pursue unpaid debts and fines regardless of if you invite them or not.
It can do, the whole house can become blacklisted, but its easily sorted out though you have to disassociate yourself from it by contacting experian/equifax should you have any problems
With regards to the second paragraph, these people will not be aware of the current situation ie they will still think their guy is still living there, there is a law that allows these people to enter the house again without permission if they have been in the house before, so if they have been to your house before (you wont know anyway if they have or havent) but they will come thinking that you are the other guy and walk straight in or climb through the window however another poster has just said that they have changed this law within the last 6 months so these people dont need to have been invited in before
I know that but the collectors/bailiffs dont know its a different person, suppose the OP is in the garden putting the washing out and these people come and see the door open they can just walk in and take mr X stuff etc not knowing mr X isnt there anymore its mr y instead
I never mentioned TV Inspectors. You are very wrong when you say no one can enter your property without a warrant. As i pointed out the police can, the gas and electric services can, custom and excise can, and that is just off the top of my head.
I think you will find that bailiffs have only a "peaceful right of entry" They can enter through an open door or window but cannot break in.The only bailiff that can do that (with a warrant) is from the Collector of Taxes.
http://www.payplan.com/debt-library/bailiffs-bailiff-law.php?campaign=google&kw=bailiffs
It's a common misconception but it doesn't happen. If you think about it, if houses were blacklisted, then how on earth would anyone ever buy a reposssed property.
People don't get 'blacklisted' either. Another common misconception?
If you have any credit, for example a loan or credit card, the monthly conduct of that is reported to the credit reference agencies and then if you apply for more credit, lenders can see this information and then make an informed decision about whether they want to lend you any more money. People can have a bad credit history but they are not 'blacklisted'.
When a lender does a search though, they will be able to see the credit for people at your address(es) with the same surname as you although this should not have any affect on your credit rating.
Therefore - any previous tenants should have NO bearing on your current credit rating, any bailiffs that turn up/send a card through the door should be informed as previous peeps said that you are new owners and they will not be allowed in your property