It appears some fools (read old local gov) in an old country (UK) I lived in are looking for me in order to know some details about who lived at my place during that time.
They are threatening that if I do not reply within a given time frame "recovery action will be taken". My question is, seeing that the only detail they have of me is my email address but not where I have moved to since, what happens if as a result of my busy timetable I forget to reply to them.
There are obviously some reasons why I do not wish to reply:
-Paper work of communicating with people across the transatlantic. It is already a suicidal mission when I am over there to get people to print out a page, so imagine when you are 3500+ miles away.
-Hassle and time wasted
-Exams and term papers due imminently.
-This is the first I hear of this whole thing (despite them saying the contrary). I have moved out of the place for almost a year now.
-I have a feeling they want me to reply to get more out of me and that I will not see the end of this shit. I am moving back there in a few months anyways so could always sort that out then.
Can they rely on an email like that as a legal measure? Who is to prove I have ever read their email?
Moderators: richierich, ua900, PanAm_DC10, hOMSaR
RE: UK Legal Implications Of Emails
Email is not a reliable delivery medium - simple as that.
RE: UK Legal Implications Of Emails
If you reply that will tell then where to take the recovery action. Ignore the e-mail and the trail will grow colder. If the government wants to find you, they will.
RE: UK Legal Implications Of Emails
I suspect it is a scam of some sort.
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- northstardc4m
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RE: UK Legal Implications Of Emails
DO NOT reply to them.
"Recovery Action" sounds awfully like they mis-placed some paperwork and now they want to pin the blame on you and make you pay for it. They don't know where you are so they are sunk. If it isn't an total scam in the 1st place anyways.
If they have a legal leg to stand on they wouldn't be using email.
"Recovery Action" sounds awfully like they mis-placed some paperwork and now they want to pin the blame on you and make you pay for it. They don't know where you are so they are sunk. If it isn't an total scam in the 1st place anyways.
If they have a legal leg to stand on they wouldn't be using email.
RE: UK Legal Implications Of Emails
| Quoting Runway23 (Thread starter): Can they rely on an email like that as a legal measure? Who is to prove I have ever read their email? |
No and no.
Leave it alone.
| Quoting 767Lover (Reply 3): |
| Quoting NorthStarDC4M (Reply 4): |
| Quoting Pope (Reply 2): |
| Quoting Moo (Reply 1): |
Nuf said.
RE: UK Legal Implications Of Emails
| Quoting NorthStarDC4M (Reply 4): DO NOT reply to them. "Recovery Action" sounds awfully like they mis-placed some paperwork and now they want to pin the blame on you and make you pay for it. They don't know where you are so they are sunk. If it isn't an total scam in the 1st place anyways. If they have a legal leg to stand on they wouldn't be using email. |
Sounds about right.
The email is authentic because they do have the correct address details and dates I lived there (which I and the landlord had provided them with).
We shall see how long it takes their dogs to find me
(I suspect they couldn't even find me if I was standing right infront of them with my ID out).RE: UK Legal Implications Of Emails
Simple question: How did the old local gov get hold of your email address if you did not provide it to them? What is the address they have given you for reply? AFAIK a legal notice served by email is invalid in England and Wales, so it sounds as though someone is phising. I would advise you to permantely delete the message from you computer and forget about it.
RE: UK Legal Implications Of Emails
Quite funny. I was in xxxxxxxx the other month and walked past your old place quite by accident. I pointed it out to xxxxxxx and xxxxxxx but they weren't all that bothered! Quite funny when me and Will stayed there a few years ago.
Anywho, good luck.
Anywho, good luck.
RE: UK Legal Implications Of Emails
I'm at a slight loss why the local government official wishes to contact you. It would appear they are trying to recover council tax arrears. If you now reside in Canada, I would forget the matter as the cost of recovery (for the local government) is probably more than the recoverable amount, so the 'debt' if there is one, is unlikely to be pursued.
RE: UK Legal Implications Of Emails
| Quoting G-CIVP (Reply 9): I'm at a slight loss why the local government official wishes to contact you. It would appear they are trying to recover council tax arrears. If you now reside in Canada, I would forget the matter as the cost of recovery (for the local government) is probably more than the recoverable amount, so the 'debt' if there is one, is unlikely to be pursued. |
I don't know what debt they really want. I'm a student (and was back then) so obviously I do not pay council tax. They are fully aware of this fact (sent papers from uni in my first year, second year they seemed satisfied with me just telling them to verify their paper work).
I suspect they have actually lost that letter or believe I dropped out at one point through the year (hello pick up the phone and call my uni).
Whilst I reside in Canada right now, I will be living back in the same city again come September. Of course, I'm expecting them to try to recover whatever they believe I owe them at that point. Of course, they will have fun trying to recover 0GBP and prove they sent email(s) out [I've received only one email and not many as the purport].
| Quoting BCAL (Reply 7): Simple question: How did the old local gov get hold of your email address if you did not provide it to them? What is the address they have given you for reply? AFAIK a legal notice served by email is invalid in England and Wales, so it sounds as though someone is phising. I would advise you to permantely delete the message from you computer and forget about it. |
I had sent all my details to them when I moved property within the city the previous summer. It took them 9 months to get to me and even then they didn't really seem bothered to do anything to verify what I told them
Like I said, the detail they have included there is stuff that would only be known by myself, the landlord or the city (specific address, and correct dates I lived there).
RE: UK Legal Implications Of Emails
| Quoting Runway23 (Reply 10): I will be living back in the same city again come September. |
If that's the case the case then you're probably best getting it sorted out, particularly if it's nothing that you've done wrong. Legally there's nothing they can do to you in Canada, but once you get back to the UK and re-register then they might be able to.