Retro bailiffs
Question
I keep getting letters addressed to the previous tenant at my flat about unpaid bills. I've told the company responsible that the tenant has moved on, but the letters keep on coming and now they're threatening me with bailiffs.
Answer
This is a common problem for people when they move into a new home, but don't panic. Ultimately, bailiffs can only take things that belong to the previous tenant.
When letters arrive, return them (unopened) to the sender stating 'return to sender, no longer at this address'. If the bailiffs do come you'll need to be firm but polite, stating that they can't come in and that the person they're looking for has moved away. You can also make it clear to them that you don't have a forwarding address.
If the bailiff becomes abusive, simply close the door and phone the police telling them that you are being harassed and that the debts aren't yours. Even if you let the bailiffs in, they can't take anything that belongs to you because the previous tenant owes the debts, not you.
For further help and information, contact your local Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB).
Question answered by CAB
