My Poor Mum Again

[Skippy]

After my dad died my mum took in a couple of lodgers to make ends meet. One of them moved in his friend without her knowledge or permission (she only found out he was there when she saw him leaving one day) and left owing her money. She keeps getting letters from debt collection agencies for the friend - another one arrived on Saturday. Each time she gets one she rings the DCA concerned and lets them know that he doesn't live at that address but obviously it's worrying for her. Is there anything she can do, other than deal with each letter as it arrives. She has no idea where he is and he never officially lived at her address.

Thanks in advance for any advice!

[chris.g]

Oh skippy, how awful for your mam, bet you wish you could get your hands on the uninvited lodger!
Is the original lodger still with her? If so they might know where the other has gone and she might be able to get a forwarding address to give to the agencies.
She could just send them back, unopened with 'not at this address' but that doesn't always work. Maybe one of the experts have a better idea.
Sorry I couldn't have been anymore help.

[Skippy]

She stopped taking in lodgers after one (and not the same one!) disappeared for a few days and it turns out he'd been arrested! Another one started seeing Dave's ex, which was a bit embarrassing!

She has no idea where the lodger is - he left owing her a couple of months rent. She only found out he was going after she found out about the friend staying and I insisted that she went into the room - it was filthy and whatever he'd been smoking wasn't tobacco!

That was the reason she did the equity release - I didn't want her taking in lodgers any more, and it was the only way she could stay in her house.

Sorry for rambling on, I'm absolutely fuming about this - she's got enough to worry about at the moment without the worry of debt collections agencies.

[chris.g]

There are some very nasty people about who take advantage. It makes you wonder how they have been brought up and the horrible experiences they must have had to turn them that way!
I'm not suprised your fuming, it's only natural.
Let's hope someone can come up with a solution and get those letters stopped.

[lily]

Hi

When I moved here I had this from the previous tenants, I just didnt open the post (its illegal anyway). I sent all the letters back as not known. A couple of people did turn up at the door after a couple of months and I explained, it stopped after around 10 months.

[emma_t]

Oh no Skippy, your poor mum is really having a tough time lately.[:(]

She must be so kind and trusting and she ends up getting taken advantage of - makes me mad[:(!] I would be furious if that was my mum, but she is very soft so when she gets older will need keeping an eye on from nasty people willing to take advantage of kindness!

Did she get the trading standards issue sorted yet from working in the shop?

My 83 year old great aunt got burgled last week - she has nothing to take and luckiy they realised this and only took a small amount of cash an did not mess the whole house up. The worst thing is she now feels unsafe and vulnerable in her home which makes my blood boil. Do these people realise the after effects of thier actions?

Give your mum a cuddle from me and best wishes to you at a worrying time xx

[emma_t]

Hi Skippy

I hope you and your mum are feeling a bit better today, I bet you are still fumming though!
Emma x

[Skippy]

My mum rang the DCA and they have taken her address off their database so we've got to wait and see what happens, a bit like Trading Standards really!

She is feeling much happier though - she has an aviary in the garden and is going to take 10 budgies from the charity where we got Handsome Harry. She loves her birds and it's cheered her up to think she's getting some more. They were found in a room in a really bad state, with dead and dying birds on the floor so they need some TLC. As they were indoors she's got to wait until the weather warms up, but she's got something to look forward to.

Thankfully she's given up her job, so that's something less to worry about. The stress was really getting to her so I think she's done the right thing.

Emma, I'm so sorry to hear about your aunt. I hope she's ok. I really hate the thought of people doing that to anyone, let alone elderly people. Give her a hug from me x

[emma_t]

Glad to hear she has given up the job, it really wasn't safe for her at her time of life. It can be such a dangerous job with the type of people around these days.
Years ago I used to work in a petrol station when I was at college and was held up at gun point (it all happens in my life[:0][:0]) It was a very surreal experience and I would not wish it on anyone and it was no job for a girl on her own unti 11pm and locking up on my own. I had to leave as was too scared after that and my parents banned me from going back anyhow!!

I am sure having the birds to care for will give her plenty to do and chear her up.[:)]

My great aun is not too bad now, coping really well and the house is all secured up again, if I could get my hands on the people who did it I would not be responsible for my actions!!

Take care
Emma x

[lily]

Skippy Emma

I hope your mum is feeling better soon Skip and they dont take too long to sort it all out, the not knowing must be very hard for her. We have birds too, cockatiels outside, its really lovely watcing them, should help her relax and keep her busy.

I really hope your aunty is Ok Emma, my Aunty is vunerable too, she gave me 20 pound note thinkking it was a fiver, they are vunerable. But the people who do this unfortunately dont care, they just looking for their next fix and they dont realise one day they will get it all back.

Take care both, lets hope there are angels looking after all of our vunerable angels who mean no harm to anyone at all.