Hello, need help with a debt collection notice addressed to a previous tenant

[Tarkeal]

Hi. We bought a house about a year ago. We still receive post for people who used to live here. The house used to be rented - per room. We know own the house (via a mortgage). We do not keep the post that arrives for other people, but put it in a post box with 'return to sender, not at this address' written on the front of the envelope.
Yesterday a had delivered letter was left in our porch from Marston Holdings, about a debit of £425 owed to HMCTS London SE & C by someone who used to live here.
We phoned the number in the letter and explained that the debt wasn't ours and that we know own the property. The lady said that we needed to email her a copy of our council tax bill to prove that we are the residents of the property and not the person who owes the debit.
So I have questions.
1) How do we know if this is a genuine debt?
2) Should we email this lady a copy of our council tax bill?
3) The letter sates 'remove notice' and states that 'a further call will be made, without notice to take control of goods and potentially remove for sale by public auction.

Some of the letter like the reference number, names and contact details are hand written which makes me this this might not be genuine.

Please help! Thanks.

[ploddertom]

Marstons work on behalf of HMCTS for unpaid Magistrates Court Fines. By all means provide what they need, they may still turn up as this is something they come across on a daily basis and you'd be surprised at the number trying to pull the wool over their eyes. As to the hand written parts then this will be correct. Bailiffs work between 6am & 9pm 7 days per week with few exceptions. It may be they will call and want to have a look inside to satisfy themselves you are telling the truth and this is sometimes where the problems start because they may try to coerce you to pay the fine, they may say they are going to remove goods but what they forget is that only the goods of the actual debtor can be removed etc. The downside of course is that the Warrant they hold also contains the power to force entry if the believe the debtor is avoiding them.

To be on the safe side you should also notify the Court this was sent from.

[Tarkeal]

Hi Ploddertom.
Thanks for your reply. We will email the lady from Marstons the council tax bill she requested.
You mentioned notifying the court. What would be the best way to do this? I found an email address for them, so could cc them on the email to the Marstons lady?

[ploddertom]

I would think calling the Court by phone would be the best idea initially but would certainly mention in your email to Marstons you are doing so. If you do ring the Court then ask they suspend all enforcement while it is being looked into. The chances are this may well have come through the London Compliance & Collection Service phone 01633 645112.