Can I open someone else's post?

kjmtidea

Last week we received a letter for someone who doesn't live here, I put it to one side, asked around my road and my landlord but no one has heard of this person.

Today we have received another one, neither letters have a return address. My OH opened it, I told him not to because I am pretty sure that it is illegal?! He is sure that we are allowed to.

Anyway, the letter is from a solicitors asking for more information about a road accident, it dates back to 2002. The outstanding debt is over £90k :eek:. What should I do now? I kind of want to phone the solicitors and let them know that person no longer lives here but I really don't want to get into trouble for my OH opening the letter in the first place .
Any advice would be great thank you.

LMCD

Just get a new envelope and write the solicitors address on it saying that you have occupied the house since blah blah and they will deal with it...

KiKi

Legally you are not allowed to open someone else's post.

Just cross out the front and put "Not known at this address, Return To Sender."

KiKi

Flyboy152

According to the Postal Services Act 2000, it is illegal to open mail that is not addressed to you, unless you can show reasonable excuse. I don't think that as it had someone else's name on it, it could deemed as reasonable excuse.

kjmtidea

KiKi wrote: »

Legally you are not allowed to open someone else's post.

Just cross out the front and put "Not known at this address, Return To Sender."

KiKi

I thought you could only do that if there was a return address?

Ilovecubbage

Most definately open them as before you know it you`ll have the baillifs knocking on your door and they don`t care what name you have!

wornoutmumoftwo

I always open mail sent to me if it isn't previous owners, usually a debt letter for someone, I ring the company to let them know they don't live here and that's usually the end of it.

daveyjp

We started getting letters for someone we didn't know. We returned them all. After they kept arriving we opened one and it was from a bank threatening foreclosure of a mortgage for a house next door but one.

On calling the bank to put a stop to the letters they acknowledged the letters had been returned but had done nothing about it! No wonder this bank is now owned by us.

So open it, write back explaining this matter has nothing to do with you and any further letters will be considered harrassment.

kjmtidea

Thank you everyone i'll stop stressing about it now lol.

jonty1970

You can't get into trouble in this case. You obviouisly can't open anyone else's mail if they live there or you know the person (like a neighbours mail goes to your house by mistake)

You have a right to know if debt collectors might turn up at your door.

clairec79

If you write not at this address and stck it back in the post it goes to some office of Royal Mail (in Northern Ireland I believe) who will open them and try and find the sender to return them