I HAD A MORTGATE 7 YEARS AGO IN JOINT NAMES WITH A NOW EX-PARTNER, I MOVED OUT OF THE HOUSE 5 YEARS AGO AND NOTIFIED THE LENDER THAT I HAD MOVED OUT & GAVE THEM MY NEW ADDRESS - MY PARTNER AGREED TO PAY FOR THE MORTGATE. 6 MONTHS AFTER MOVING OUT I HAD LETTERS FROM THE LENDER INFORMING ME THAT THE MORTGAGE HAD NOT BEEN PAID FOR 2 MONTHS AND THEN PAID THE BALANCE AND HAVE NOT HEARD ANYTHING IN THE LAST 4 YEARS. LAST WEEK I RECEIVED A LETTER FROM A FIRM OF SOLICITORS IN LEEDS, SAYING THAT I OWE #13,000 AND COULD I CONTACT THEM REGARDING THIS. I TELEPHONED ASKING THEM WHAT THIS WAS FOR & THEY TOLD BY THE HOUSE HAD BEEN REPOSSESSED, I TOLD THEM I HADN'T RECEIVED ANY NOTIFICATION OF THIS FROM THE BANK, THEY DIDN'T SEEM BOTHERED AT ALL, I TOLD THEM I WOULD SEEK LEGAL ADVICE & REPLY TO THEM IN WRITING. MY QUESTION IS CAN THE BANK REPOSSESS THE HOUSE WITHOUT ANY NOTIFICATION TO ME A JOINT OWNER (WHEN THEY HAD MY ADDRESS) AND WHAT DO YOU SUGGEST MY NEXT COURSE OF ACTION COULD BE, I HAVE BEEN ADVISED TO WRITE TO THEM AND ASK FOR THE DEBT TO BE WIPPED FROM MY NAME GIVING THE CIRCUMSTANCES AS EXPLANED EARLIER.

-- Joanne Newbury (joanne@nottsng5.fsnet.co.uk), July 16, 2000