Should I open it?

cherie1122

I received several bills from O2 addressed to somebody unknown to us at this address (we've lived here for 30 years)

I opened them all and wrote to O2 to tell them the person didn't live here. The guy dealing with my letter told me I needed to go and get a crime number from the police. I ended up writing to the Chief Executive of O2 in sheer frustration. His office put an end to all the bills arriving here. Not once did anybody suggest it was illegal for me to open the letters. I've been the victim of ID theft in the past so I wanted to deal with it quickly before bailiffs came knocking on the door.

I would always open mail addressed to an unknown person at our address!

amersall

fengirl wrote: »

It is unlawful to open post addressed to someone else. You should have continued to return the letters unopened and they would eventually stop. How is this company going to beleive that you are not the addressee just by receiving a random email? By opening the letter, you are signalling to them that you are the addressee.

its not unlawful i had to open mail for a previous owner and telephoned the company involved then they stopped sending them!

viktory

fengirl wrote: »

It is unlawful to open post addressed to someone else. You should have continued to return the letters unopened and they would eventually stop. How is this company going to beleive that you are not the addressee just by receiving a random email? By opening the letter, you are signalling to them that you are the addressee.

What rubbish. The people that used to live at my house run up a shed load of debts before legging it. I opened each and every demand received before calling the companies and advising that the addressee had moved and giving them their new address.

All the companies were pleased and grateful for the information. In fact, the most recent was Westcot on Friday.

Returning to sender is the classic trick of someone trying to wriggle out of paying for something.

Lil2002

I know at work we get letters returned as 'not at this address', & it can take months before they find their way back to me. Don't know where the delay is, but, I have seen them take up to three months.

At home, when I get stuff for previous occupants, I stick them back in the post, but if I have several from one place, I google the return address and phone them up. I'm taking no chances with bailiffs coming round for someone elses debt, thank you. (Yes, I know they can't touch my stuff, but I'd rather not have a doorstep encounter :eek:)

hayley11

I have also opened lots of letters addressed to the previous tenant, one recently where he had got a loan from a pawn broker type place using MY address. I rang them and told them he hadn't lived here for over a year at least. I have also rung lots of other companies telling them he has moved on.

I'll open any letter that comes to my house addressed to somebody else, in case they are using my address to gain credit or something, like the previous tenant did.

ETA - I did have a baliff come round to my house for the previous tenant but they just took my name and went away, they haven't been back.

missm29

I'd open it and if i was questioned i'd say my toddler got to the post before me.

hayley11

missm29 wrote: »

I'd open it and if i was questioned i'd say my toddler got to the post before me.

There's no need to lie about it though, you'd be within your rights to open it

RobertoMoir

don1too wrote: »

Hi everybody,

I have just received a letter addressed to someone who does not live at my address & I do not know.

In fact this is the 3rd or 4th letter I have rec'd addressed to this person. In the past, I have marked the envelope 'Not Known at this Address, Return to Sender' and re-posted them.

Then ignore them and get on with your life.

advent1122

fengirl wrote: »

It is unlawful to open post addressed to someone else.

So that is why the prisons are overcrowded....opening someone elses readers digest application.