[L_O_Z]

Basically I moved in to this house over 18 months ago. The old women in her 8-0's moved out and did not leave a forwarding address. I have heard through the grape vine that she has passed away but either way I have no contact details for her (the son was the house owner and sold to my landlord and he two never left a forwarding address). I've never met either but I'm told the son is rude and quite nasty at times.

For the first 6 months I was forwarding all her (and the sons) post to the Solicitor who I'm told is owed money by them and has instructed my landlord (who has instructed me) to put all their post back in a post-box with "Return To Sender". I did this for approximately another 6 months (totalling 1 year) and still the post continues to come. For another 6 months (totalling 1 year 6 months) I put all their post back in a post-box with the added "Not Known at this address" or "Moved over a year ago".

It has now been 18 months and I am still receiving all her and her sons post:

HMRC
The Pension Service
Various Legal Companies
Home Insurance
Contents Insurance
Charity Letters
Church Letters
Various Clothing Shops Statements
Various Casino Letters
Various Food Stores she's shopped online with
Car Insurance renewal
Various junk mail, advertising, promotions, bingo etc
Christmas Cards
Birthday Cards
Easter Cards...

The list is endless, she and her son receive approximately 4 letters a day which I have to process and take the time to write on the envelopes and make a trip to the post office.

So today for the first time in over 18 months I opened one of the letters and contacted the company. I gave them the policy number on the letter and as soon as they asked me security questions (which I could not answer) I explained why I was calling. I was told that they couldn't talk to me (of course) and I simply explained I wanted them to stop sending post as I have no forwarding address and I've sent all of the letters back but that seems to have made no difference. The person on the phone told me I could not cancel the policy and that I would continue to receive post for her from their company (even though she does not live here) as no company can cancel a policy unless it is done by the policy holder. I have told them my address and her policy number, given the date of the letter and read the letter back to the person on the phone. This made no difference so I told them to check the Property Register thing which was updated when I moved in (removing previous tenant and adding me). I'm told I will continue to receive post and there is nothing I can do...

What can I do and am I legally allowed to open this mail? I was on the phone for 30 mins on an 0845 number so that's probably going to cost me...

 

[Silver]

It is yes. I get the same with my shop. I bought the business out 10mths ago, and we get letters here in the same trading name as what we trade now. ADT have been sending me threat letters (I say me, as it has the same trading name..) even though I have told them several times the old owners have left and have passed on their details. ADT wont stop sending me letters because I cant answer questions from the old account :/ Stupid huh?

I wonder if there is some way you could go to the post office and get their mail redirected, though where I'm not sure.

As for the 0870 number, go on saynoto0870.com and see if there is an alternative number/s for the ones you are contacting.

Frankly, if it was me... after this length of time... I'd just chuck them in the bin.

 

[L_O_Z]

Thanks, that was the other question, can I just bin them? Lol


You'd think there'd be a system in place for this sort of thing as it must happen a lot...

I will try the Say No to 08 numbers, I was using that for HMRC and various other companies, but they soon became wise to it and worked round it... Must admit I'd forgotten all about that website so if I do call up other companies I will use that thanks

 

[cokecan]

similar boat here too. Have been receiving mail for 2 seperate previous tennats of my flat now for the last 2 years though admittedly it's getting less common as we always write "Not known at this address" on the letter and drop it back in the post box. I figure most of these companies are slowely getting the message but even still, it's annoying. Especially when the postie posts back the same letter I've put back in the mail with the returning address on and my address crossed out!

 

[L_O_Z]

Two years... This seems like a big flaw in the system.

 

[Silver]

This might help...

http://www.adviceguide.org.uk/wales/consumer_w/consumer_post_e/consumer_problems_with_post_e/consumer_problems_with_post_delivery_e/youre_receiving_someone_elses_mail.htm

 

[raiden]

Just open it. Mite get a gift voucher one day. Not that I open up wrong post lol

 

[Silver]

And cash every year in those birthday cards. You could have got enough over the period to get a service

 

[m3stig]

 

[SplitPersonality]

Unwanted post used to mount up at my last house in the hallway between the flats. After living there for 6 years I knew who lived there and who didn't obviously.

So once every few months, black bag.... problem solved.

I can't believe the lengths you've been to, you have done above and beyond. I wouldn't open, just bin. The law covers opening others post, not redirecting it to the dump.

 

[Frankie32]

Yes same here. Two years now and I'm still getting post from the previous owner and the one before that who lived there 10 years ago

To make things word the person I bought this house from only lives round the corner and pops by all the time to pic up post.
Things like car tax renewal
She came by the other day for this and I told her I sent it back to sender and she looked annoyed
I told her its been 2 years don't you think it's time you changed your address

I asked the postman and he said contact the post office as there is something they can do to filter this

I haven't got round to it yet as I have just been binning everything lol

Hope this helps

 

[cokecan]

Yes same here. Two years now and I'm still getting post from the previous owner and the one before that who lived there 10 years ago

To make things word the person I bought this house from only lives round the corner and pops by all the time to pic up post.
Things like car tax renewal
She came by the other day for this and I told her I sent it back to sender and she looked annoyed
I told her its been 2 years don't you think it's time you changed your address

I asked the postman and he said contact the post office as there is something they can do to filter this

I haven't got round to it yet as I have just been binning everything lol

Hope this helps

Kudos on sending her car tax renewal back to the sender. She has some cheek still popping round 2 years later to collect mail like that which should have had her address updated long ago. Hopefully it will have prompted her to sort it out

 

[Silver]

Feel free to pass on all christmas/birthday cards to me

 

[L_O_Z]

Lol, was quite hard binning her cards as there's no return address

 

[L_O_Z]

Thanks guys will speak to PO, see what they say (never thought about it before)