Unpaid fuel dilemma

[SpeedBash]

Hoping someone on here can give some advice/guidance.

I have a house which I've been letting out for several years now.

Earlier today, I popped over to collect the mail and return/dispose of any junk mail.

One letter, which the current tenants had opened was addressed to someone whose name I/they did not recognise.

Upon reading the letter, it transpires it's from a local Esso garage looking for payment for fuel which the named individual had taken but not paid for. From the letter, the person had filled up his van with £80 of diesel, 'realised' he couldn't pay for it and left his details with the garage with a promise to return the next day and settle the outstanding amount.

Obviously, he has failed to return to pay for the fuel and the garage is understandably chasing up the debt.

I've checked my records and can confirm that I have never had a tenant with the name the letter is addressed to.

Ordinarily, the letter would go back 'return to sender' or in the bin but it has the drivers van registration number as verified by CCTV/DVLA and drivers license number as simply verified on there.

This is making me think that either:

1) The details have not actually been verified by the garage but they have just stated this on the letter to add some authority
or
2) The details have been verified and there is someone using a false driving license and potentially log book with my rented houses address

If it is 2), then I'm obviously concerned and would like to investigate this and rectify if possible but part of me is concerned with getting sucked into this.

The letter ends with the threat of the matter either being referred to the police or to the Esso leagl team for recompense if the debt is not settled by last Wednesday!

Other than this, I've never had any such issues before with the house/tenants who have always been found via a very good local estate agent.

Any suggestions on how I should proceed?

[PaulB81]

Take the initiative and speak to the police directly yourself (non emergency obviously).

Then A) it will be on record that you have investigated and can provie its nothing to do with you B) If the Reg is genuine the police can track down the guy in question

I think this at least covers your bases.

[edo]

I'd contact Esso and explain.

[kpb]

Could it be a scam?

[SpeedBash]

edo said:

I'd contact Esso and explain.

TBH, Esso's debt is not my concern.

My concern is potentially having someone using my houses address as theirs.

kpb said:

Could it be a scam?

To what end?

Get me to pay - that ain't going to happen. lol.

[Flintstone]

kpb said:

Could it be a scam?

Want to think that through?

[timskipper]

PaulB81 said:

Take the initiative and speak to the police directly yourself (non emergency obviously).

Then A) it will be on record that you have investigated and can provie its nothing to do with you B) If the Reg is genuine the police can track down the guy in question

I think this at least covers your bases.

C) You'll get done for opening post that doesn't belong to you. (I've always believed that that is illegal, but not actually sure).

[SpeedBash]

timskipper said:

C) You'll get done for opening post that doesn't belong to you. (I've always believed that that is illegal, but not actually sure).

I believe it is illegal but my tenants opened it.

It had a return address on the back of the envelope and I would have popped it back in the post as 'return to sender'.

[Deva Link]

SpeedBash said:

TBH, Esso's debt is not my concern.

My concern is potentially having someone using my houses address as theirs.

I wouldn't worry about it. No-one you could approach (Police, DVLA etc) will give a toss unless / until something serious happens.

[SpeedBash]

Deva Link said:

I wouldn't worry about it. No-one you could approach (Police, DVLA etc) will give a toss unless / until something serious happens.

Beginning to think the same.

Is there any way I can check the address a vehicle is registered to?

[marshalla]

SpeedBash said:

I believe it is illegal but my tenants opened it.

Once it has been delivered to the correct address, it is only illegal if you intend to do something to the detriment of the named recipient and you have no reasonable excuse for opening it.

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2000/26/sectio...

[Deva Link]

SpeedBash said:

Is there any way I can check the address a vehicle is registered to?

I don't suppose DVLA will give you the RK's address, but they might confirm that it's not your address.

[Variomatic]

SpeedBash said:

Beginning to think the same.

Is there any way I can check the address a vehicle is registered to?

Probably not as things stand. Which is a good reason for speaking to the Esso station concerned.

Granted, their debt isn't your concern but they do have valid reason for tracing the registration. That will be their next step anyway in dealing with the debt that is their concern. Followed by possible police visits to your property and endless debt collectors letters / eventual bailiff visits if someone's registered their van to your property.

Contact them now and explain the situation (mail to someone who's never lived there etc) and ask them to keep you informed. They'll probably appreciate the (minimal) effort and it might save you and your tenants a load of hassle in the future.

[streaky]

SpeedBash said:

Deva Link said:

I wouldn't worry about it. No-one you could approach (Police, DVLA etc) will give a toss unless / until something serious happens.

Beginning to think the same.

Is there any way I can check the address a vehicle is registered to?

Why trouble yourself?

Report it to the police (that will give you a CRN which you can quote if there is any follow-up).

Notify the garage and Esso in writing by recorded delivery.

Make a copy of the original and return the original with the opened envelope to the originator with the appropriate comments.

Instruct tenants to keep unopened for your attention any further correspondence received addressed to the individual or other unknown person. You should then either return it unopened to the sender - marked "Not known at this address" - or open it and proceed as appropriate, or in general as above in any new instance.

Streaky