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Jo C.
Jo C., Barrister
Category: Law
Satisfied Customers: 71140
Experience:  Over 5 years in practice
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I am getting letters from a debt collection company saying

Customer Question

I am getting letters from a debt collection company saying my son and his exflat mate owe £1000 for energy bills. I am opening my sons mail as he is in Australia. They say if I don't agree to some sort of settlement by 30th May they will send a debt collector to the house or seek a county court judgement. I want to tell them to get lost, but my wife is terrified the bailiffs will come round. Also what happens when my son returns would I have to inform them. He stayed with us for afew weeks prior to going to Australia, but generally has had his own place.
Submitted: 3 years ago.
Category: Law
Jo C.
Expert:  Jo C. replied 3 years ago.
Hi.

Thank you for your question. My name is Jo and I will try to help with this.

What would you like to know about this?
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Customer: replied 3 years ago.

What action can they take against me when my son does not live at my address. Can they make me divulge his address when he returns to UK.
Expert:  Jo C. replied 3 years ago.
Did you guarantee the tenancy?
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Customer: replied 3 years ago.


No
Expert:  Jo C. replied 3 years ago.
Thank you.

The short answer is that you are not liable at all. This is not your debt and you did not guarantee it.

The only reason that you may have bailiffs round is that they could sue your son and seek CCJ against him which they could then enforce by going to your address. Even if they do that however they can still only take goods owned by your son and nobody else and if you refuse to let them in then they cannot gain access

The only issue there will be that it will rack up the order that will ultimately have to be paid by your son.

You are not liable and you don't have to disclose his details.

Can I clarify anything for you?

Jo
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