Previous Tenant's Maid's Debt ...

We recently moved into a new apartment and have received two letters with no name on the envelope, only our address. We opened the letters thinking they were for us, but it seems that the previous tenant's maid has skipped the country with an outstanding debt! She has moved with her employers to another country. I would imagine, as there was no name on the envelope, that the loan company were hoping the letters would be opened by her employers. The first letter, I put back in the post box and wrote on the envelope that there was no known person at this address. There is no address on the letter so I can't return it to them to explain the situation. The letter received today said that if payment wasn't made immediately, they would be calling in person to the apartment for collection of the debt. My concern is that they will call and assume that I am the employer and demand the payment. Does anyone know what to do in this situation? I'm really angry and concerned that I've been left in this situation through no fault of my own. I don't see why I should have to get involved with some loan company when it's nothing to do with me. Should I just sit back and wait for them to call or is there something I can do?

Thanks for the reply. I received yet another letter today and I managed to find a telephone number for the loan company and have called them to explain the situation, although I didn't really want to get involved at all as it's nothing to do with me. They told me to disregard the letter, but I'm still not convinced that they don't believe I'm not the employer of the domestic helper with the debt. If they do call and persist I will contact the police.

Don't disregard the mail.


Better to talk to management of the loan company. Inform them both verbally and in black and white that you just moved in and that the said helper is not there anymore. Try to fax them or by registered post a copy of your request (and it woulb be better if you could provide them with a copy of your tenancy agreement, as this will prove that you just moved in).


That way you have made your part in informing the company. If they persist after that, then you can report it to the police, complete with the accompanying documents.

Thanks for the advice but quite frankly, the more I think about it, the angrier I feel that I have been put in this situation. I don't see why I should waste my time on something that is really none of my business. I have my tenancy agreement which proves when I took over the property, so if anyone does call I can show them the proof and if they still persist I will not hesitate to call the police.