Do I have the right to open any mail which comes to my home?

starsandmoon

I had this problem in my house I bought last year. It had been a buy to let previously and I was haunted by debt letter for the last 3 tenants. I did the return to sender and no longer at this address and it didnt work so I opened a couple and rang the companies concerned to tell them. One was very snotty and said I had to prove I wasnt Mrs such and such. I didnt see why I should so told them to contact my local authority council tax to see who is registered at the property and I havnt heard off them since. Not sure if they did this due to data protection but it seemed to work. I didnt want bailiffs knocking or any hassle.

One of the debts was due to my local authority overpaying housing benefit and the person concerned had not repayed it and left. Had more trouble with them than anyone.

System

When I was a student we got a hand-posted letter through the postbox to someone called "Stacey"- none of us were called that but because it had no address we opened it because it didn't feel like a birthday card or anything. When we opened it we found a wad of cash (£300) and a letter saying "be more careful next time, mum XX!" We asked all our neighbours if they were called Stacey but had no luck tracking them down, and Mum never reappeared! We kept it for 3 months until deciding they weren't coming back and then used it for our Christmas night out and to buy eachother presents!! It felt weird but what else could we do!

I don't know, I think if I was in your situation I probably would've and pretended the name was covered up! I know it's illegal but well, I think we all have a bit of a nebb at the non-junk mail, right?

onlyroz

cupcakerachi wrote: »

When I was a student we got a hand-posted letter through the postbox to someone called "Stacey"- none of us were called that but because it had no address we opened it because it didn't feel like a birthday card or anything. When we opened it we found a wad of cash (£300) and a letter saying "be more careful next time, mum XX!" We asked all our neighbours if they were called Stacey but had no luck tracking them down, and Mum never reappeared! We kept it for 3 months until deciding they weren't coming back and then used it for our Christmas night out and to buy eachother presents!! It felt weird but what else could we do!

I don't know, I think if I was in your situation I probably would've and pretended the name was covered up! I know it's illegal but well, I think we all have a bit of a nebb at the non-junk mail, right?

You would have thought that "mum" would know Stacey's address... :rotfl:

onlyroz

Shortly after I had my daughter, I kept getting sent cards and bouquets of flowers addressed to some other new mum in the town. I asked the health visitor if she knew who these flowers were meant to be for, but she didn't know either...

custardy

onlyroz wrote: »

Shortly after I had my daughter, I kept getting sent cards and bouquets of flowers addressed to some other new mum in the town. I asked the health visitor if she knew who these flowers were meant to be for, but she didn't know either...

probably a thread somewhere from a new mum who had all her cards and flowers stolen by Royal Mail

Swan_2

cupcakerachi wrote: »

I don't know, I think if I was in your situation I probably would've and pretended the name was covered up! I know it's illegal but well, I think we all have a bit of a nebb at the non-junk mail, right?

there would have been no need to pretend, it's not illegal to open someone else's mail that's been delivered to your house, it's what your intentions are that matter

Originally Posted by glider3560
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 excuse

julie2710

When my ex left just over 2 years ago now I started receiving letters from credit card companies that he had given my address - I stayed in the house. My solicitor told me to open them, photocopy them and contact the companies to tekk them when he had left. I would hope that my solictor hadn't informed me to break the law? He did say that most people thought it was illegal to do this but it isn't!

I would definitely get on the phone to them! I still get the odd letter and in fact today I received one for ex's company from HMRC threatening baliffs! You can guess who I'll be on the phone to on Monday!:mad:

Horasio

I had a letter that only showed the address and the name was not visible. Upon opening it, I saw the name was not mine. I sealed it up and wrote 'opened in error' putting it back in the envelope, writing the name on the outside of the envelope and putting it back in without the name showing the way I found it.

Another was a letter half opened by postal damage/got wet. It was something that would directly affect me and it was interesting to read.

If a previous owner/tenant gets mail, I write return to sender on the back. After a year, it is usually junk and I open it.

custardy

CCStar wrote: »

I had a letter that only showed the address and the name was not visible. Upon opening it, I saw the name was not mine. I sealed it up and wrote 'opened in error' putting it back in the envelope, writing the name on the outside of the envelope and putting it back in without the name showing the way I found it.

Another was a letter half opened by postal damage/got wet. It was something that would directly affect me and it was interesting to read.

If a previous owner/tenant gets mail, I write return to sender on the back. After a year, it is usually junk and I open it.

but if it showed your address?