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Do I have the right to open any mail which comes to my home?
Comments
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I knew I'd seen something posted recently about this issue before ...glider3560 wrote: »The Postal Services Act 2000 says: Quote:
84 Interfering with the mail: general
(1) A person commits an offence if, without reasonable excuse, he—
(a) intentionally delays or opens a postal packet in the course of its transmission by post, or
(b) intentionally opens a mail-bag.
(2) Subsections (2) to (5) of section 83 apply to subsection (1) above as they apply to subsection (1) of that section.
(3) A person commits an offence if, intending to act to a person’s detriment and without reasonable excuse, he opens a postal packet which he knows or reasonably suspects has been incorrectly delivered to him.
(4) Subsections (2) and (3) of section 83 (so far as they relate to the opening of postal packets) apply to subsection (3) above as they apply to subsection (1) of that section.
(5) A person who commits an offence under subsection (1) or (3) shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months or to both.
So it is only illegal if you intend to act to a person’s detriment and without reasonable excuse0 -
Swan is right. I think people get confused because US law is stricter about such things and they see people getting into trouble for interfering with the mail on TV shows.
In the UK, if something is delivered to your door and you 'accidentally' open it without reading the front, it's totally fine.
Properties do NOT have a credit history. These are based on people's names, although they record address history. You will only have a problem if you had linked financial products with your ex at any point.0 -
It will not show on your credit score.
BUT if he is not paying and did not change the address with them getting rid off the debt collection agencies can take forever.0 -
Why don't you send it back with written in big letters on the front 'Not at this address'? Your ex 'might' have 'forgot' to change address on some things...Spring into Spring 2015 - 0.7/12lb0
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Why don't you send it back with written in big letters on the front 'Not at this address'? Your ex 'might' have 'forgot' to change address on some things...
out of interest would debt collection companies really take notice of this? I could imagine any person with debt would do this just to throw the collectors off the scent"a workman, even of the lowest and poorest order, if he is frugal and industrious, may enjoy a greater share of the necessaries and conveniences of life than it is possible for any savage to acquire."0 -
If they send a second letter, I would phone them and explain that the person moved out 8 months ago.Spring into Spring 2015 - 0.7/12lb0
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Simply write on it, ' return to sender,opened in error - not at this address since *insert date he moved out*', re-seal it and pop it back in the box.
Oh tell him that f he doesn't want people knowing his dealings, he should make better provision for his paperwork to be delievered correctly.It aint over til I've done singing....0 -
No, absolutely not, send it back to where it came from and write not at this address on it.make the most of it, we are only here for the weekend.
and we will never, ever return.0 -
SS - they would take it with a pinch of salt. If there is a serious amount of debt and yours is the only known address they have they won't be taking off their file! (I used to work for a dept that sometimes employed private firms to find people - even if someone insisted the debtor was no longer there, there would still be a note of the address on the paper file with a note explaining that next to it!)0
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I might also suggest (for your own peace of mind) that you take a photocopy of the c tax bill the month after he moved out which will list a) the names at the property and b) show that (if you are) now receiving a single persons 25% discount. Keep that copy near to hand just in case your ex is due a visit from the bailiffs. Don't mean to sound harsh but I had this problem with the previous tenants at our house and it's a nightmare. However, once they see that the person is no longer registered there, it helps a lot to get them to beggar off.It aint over til I've done singing....0
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