As I progress further into retirement I have more time for nuisance phone calls.

Making the phone calls, not receiving them.

A good target is debt collection companies. Quite a few letters threatening court action are sent to my address but, thankfully, not bearing my name.

I had to deal recently with the case of Mr Yuang Lu, apparently living with me, and being pursued for £28.07. I advised the young man on the other end of the phone that this call was being recorded for training and quality purposes. Then I asked for his help in establishing where in my house Yuang Lu might be living. I had checked the bedrooms, wardrobes, cupboards, everywhere... but no sign of him.

In 20 years living at the address, there has been no Yuang Lu as resident, visitor, friend, or dining companion. The young man replied that his company's trace department had made inquiries and must have found a good reason for sending the letter.

Could I speak to the trace department about the nature and results of their inquiries? The young man's voice betrayed a hint of disbelief at this request: "I can't just pass you through to our trace department, sir. You can certainly write to us."

I said I had no time to write a letter. (It's better spent putting debt collection staff through their paces.)

The young man went into reassuring mode: "We wrote to your address but not to you. We wrote to Mr Yuang Lu. It has no significance against your property or you credit rating." I asked how he would feel if he got such a letter at his own address? He said he gets quite a few from other debt collectors. Involving Yuang Lu? No.

He tried further re-assurance: "I can't emphasise enough how generic these letters are. Hundreds of thousands are sent out. Our company alone sends 10,000 a day."

Trouble is it doesn't say generic on the letters. It says final notice in big red letters. There may be anxious people who would settle a small debt that isn't theirs.

To be helpful I requested the trace department send a description of Yuang Lu and I'll keep an eye out for him. And a Miss Xin Zhou who, according to a letter received the other day, lives in my house and owes somebody £19.28.