Why am I getting bills at my new address that belong to my ex-boyfriend?

Question

Three years ago, I made a great decision and decided to ditch my scum-of-the-earth ex-boyfriend that ruined my life. We lived together for only 6 months. Now that I have done a great job getting my life back together, got my credit back up to par and moved all the way to the other side of the country...

I just got 5 collection bills in the mail addressed to him. I haven't talked to him in 3 years, he doesn't know I moved - let alone my new address!!! - and furthermore I've lived at one other place in between him and my current address!

Is it possible or likely that he may have my social security number and used it at these places? I just checked my credit report and none of these accounts are on my credit report at all... so that's good news.

I thought I had this loser out of my life a long time ago!!!
What the &#$%!!!!

I wrote "return to sender - not at this address!" on the envelopes and put them back in the mail box.

Anybody have any insight? And what can I do to once-and-for-all make it known to the world that I DO NOT associate with this excuse of a human life once and for all?

Answer 1

It's a trivial exercise to link people to an address. When you and your X lived together, you both had the same address. These bill collectors assume you know where he is or that he is living with you at your current address.



That is all.

Answer 2

Collectors will use any information to try to collect.



Chances are that if you lived with him, you and he will be tied together through that address. Not only on your actual credit reports, but on places like Lexis Nexis, etc.



If that address is still reporting on your credit reports, send a dispute to have it removed.



Other than that, continue to do what you have already done, place the return to sender, not at this address on the letters and put them in the mail box.

Answer 3

Take a deep breath and relax. You are getting this because the collection agencies did a skip trace. You changed your address and the post office forwarded your mail. The skip trace found that address change and just sent the letters.



Keep marking them return to sender, not at this address. Eventually they will stop.