Being chased for debts not in your name or that you’re not liable for

When a person moves home they should update their creditors with their new address. This doesn’t always happen, or there may be a delay while their creditors update their records. During this time they may write to you or visit your home to collect the debt.

You’re not legally obliged to provide proof that you’re the current resident of the property. However, you can offer to send a photocopy of your council tax bill to the court or bailiff to prove that the person they’re looking for is no longer a resident. Doing this should prevent further contact.

Dealing with letters from creditors

1. Simply write ‘not at this address’ on the envelope and return to sender. You don’t have to pay for the postage.
2. If you continue to receive letters, you can then send a written complaint to the company. Find out about making complaints to creditors.

Dealing with phone calls and texts

If someone calls your number looking for payment on someone else’s debt:

1. Tell them you are not the person they’re looking for and ask them to stop making contact by telephone immediately
2. If they keep contacting you, you can make a complaint in writing
3. If they still keep contacting you, many mobile phones have a number blocking feature you can use
4. Sometimes you may receive text messages from a creditor pursuing a debt. We recommend that you don’t respond to these kinds of text messages, and block the number if the debt isn't yours.

Should a bailiff (or a sheriff officer if you live in Scotland) visit the property to take control of goods for someone else’s debt, we recommend that you do not let them in. Instead, you can either talk to them through your letterbox or ask them to go to the end of your driveway where you can talk at a safe distance from your front door.

Showing the bailiff your council tax bill to prove your identity is usually enough to make them leave.

They cannot legally take goods that the person they’re pursuing doesn’t own. If they’re within viewing distance of a window, you can put your council tax bill against the windowpane for them to see.

If a debt collection agent visits, please keep in mind that they are not bailiffs and don’t have any right to enter your house and seize goods. Visits from debt collectors are relatively rare as they’re more likely to contact people by phone in the first instance.

Find out more about the differences between bailiffs and debt collectors.

If this happens to you, you should immediately contact the credit reference agencies and tell them you’re a victim of identity fraud. They should investigate and update your records.

You can also call Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040, use the Action Fraud online reporting tool, or visit the FCA ScamSmart website.

Sharing an address with someone does not make you liable for their debts.

Previous debts associated with your address are also not your responsibility. You can only be liable for joint debts which are in your name, or in joint names with you and someone else.

If you’ve allowed someone to use your address to receive mail (for example, if they don’t have a permanent contact address) and you get letters for them chasing debts, tell them about the letters and urge them to get debt advice.

If the person being pursued for the debt is vulnerable or otherwise unable to deal with it, you may be able to deal with their debts on their behalf. This is called power of attorney, and it still does not make you liable for that person's debt.

If you guaranteed a credit or rental agreement you are responsible for repaying the full amount owed if the third party falls behind with payments.

When you take out a joint loan or other joint credit agreement you are still jointly responsible for the repayments even if you no longer have a relationship with the other person you signed the agreement with, such as following divorce or separation.

Guarantor loans and rental agreements

When you apply for a guarantor loan on behalf of someone else, you will start receiving letters if that person falls behind with payments. It’s important that you don’t ignore letters about a guarantor loan you’ve taken out. You would now be expected to cover the amounts they’ve missed.

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1. Speak to the person you acted as a guarantor for and make them aware that you’re now being asked to make payments
2. If they’re unable to pay, you’ll need to deal with this debt as if you took it out for yourself – that means making the payments or asking the creditor to agree to a temporary, affordable debt repayment plan.

Find out more about being a guarantor.

Joint debts

Maybe you’ve taken out a joint loan with a partner but have very little to do with that debt, other than your name being on the credit agreement. Should your partner or ex-partner reduce or stop payment on this debt, the creditor is allowed to pursue you for payment because you’re ‘joint and severally’ liable.

This means that the creditor can pursue either of you for the full amount.

Both of your credit scores will also be affected by any reduced payment on a joint debt, and if one person goes bankrupt, or takes on any other type of insolvency solution such as a DRO, IVA or trust deed, the other becomes solely liable for any remaining balance.

Both your credit score and that of the other person named on the agreement will be affected by any reduced payment on a joint debt. If one person goes bankrupt, or takes on any other type of insolvency solution such as a DRO, IVA or trust deed, the other becomes solely liable for any remaining balance.

When a person dies, their debts will be settled from their estate (the money and assets they left behind). If their estate is not enough to clear the debts, the remainder will usually be written off.

If you’re administering the person’s estate, you are NOT liable for their debts, unless you don't administer the estate properly, such as by making distributions to beneficiaries before settling the debts.

The only other exception to this is if any of the debts were in joint names with you and the deceased person. Sending a copy of the person’s death certificate to the creditor may be enough to end further contact.