T-mobile charging me bills which are not mine

1986mike

Hi guys,

I have been an active reader of these forums over the past few years, but I have never needed to post until now, it is a last resort for me really as I am quite desperate.

A few months ago a package arrived at my door, however I was not home and my younger brother accepted the package, it was addressed to my home but had a different name. We get this quite a lot where neighbours mistake the house number when placing the order and the package here but is given to the neighbours when possible.

About 30 mins later a guy wearing PJs and slippers knocked on the door asking if a phone was delivered here, my brother quite happily gave him the package but asked him to inform the company of the mistake in the address.

But ever since then T-mobile bills keep coming to my home, I have put these all back in the post with a return to sender and a message on the envelope saying that no person with this name lives here. However the latest letter is a warning of an outstanding amount (£51) saying the case will be put forward to a debt collection agency.

I have tried to talk to the people at T-mobile and they refuse to speak to me unless I can confirm with them some details of the guy who holds the contract with them (DOB etc) which is ridiculous.

What should I do? I realize this isnt the right place to post this but over the years I have figured people on here are very knowledgeable with money and how to deal with these companies, so if anyone can help me at all I would appreciate it.

arcon5

Firstly, the account is not in your name so they are not chasing you personally for the debt, they are chasing somebody else who they believe to be at your house. Thats one worry out the way, it can't effect your credit rating.

However, the parcel was delivered to your address and since it was not unsolicited goods you have a duty of care to the parcel and must reasonably allow them to arrange recovery of that parcel. Which is where you fall foul as you gave it away.

Do you know who the person was or their address or any other details at all?

vax2002

Why are you opening other peoples mail ?
Place the letters back in the box unopened with :
return to Sender Persons Unknown - no contract

PS I think you need to sit your younger Brother down for a bit of a chat, it is a very very tall story....Think he might just know this "mystery person" somehow.

If He plays dumb, just remind him that if he has signed for a parcel that has gone missing, he is responsible and if it is a phone of several hundred pounds, it wont be long before they come looking for who signed for it.

1986mike

arcon5 wrote: »

Firstly, the account is not in your name so they are not chasing you personally for the debt, they are chasing somebody else who they believe to be at your house. Thats one worry out the way, it can't effect your credit rating.

However, the parcel was delivered to your address and since it was not unsolicited goods you have a duty of care to the parcel and must reasonably allow them to arrange recovery of that parcel. Which is where you fall foul as you gave it away.

Do you know who the person was or their address or any other details at all?

I don't know the person but my brother assumed he lived close by as he was wearing PJs and slippers, all I know is the name it was delivered to, but no one by this name has ever lived here and like I said its not the first time a neighbours package had arrived at my house and I did not think much of it at the time...

1986mike

vax2002 wrote: »

Why are you opening other peoples mail ?
Place the letters back in the box unopened with :
return to Sender Persons Unknown - no contract

PS I think you need to sit your younger Brother down for a bit of a chat, it is a very very tall story....Think he might just know this "mystery person" somehow.

If He plays dumb, just remind him that if he has signed for a parcel that has gone missing, he is responsible and if it is a phone of several hundred pounds, it wont be long before they come looking for who signed for it.

I sent back all the letters as you suggested (to no avail) except for this latest one as it had a warning notice on it, it also explicitly states that they will send a debt collection agency after me for the money so I am worried they will come to this address. Also I have spent the last few months asking him about the guy, he assures me he didn't know him and gave it to him in good faith, he says it is an honest mistake anyone can do and that I should not blame him for signing for the parcel and giving it to the guy.

shaun_from_Africa

Don't worry about opening the letters as you are not breaking any law by doing this.
It is only illegal if you open mail addressed to someone else if you are doing it without reasonable excuse or with the intention of causing loss to the intended recipient.

arcon5

Debt collectors have no more powers than T-Mobile themselves btw. If they come to your house they have no power to sieze your goods, enter your property ect. Just tell them to go away and call the police if they don't. They make their letters sound like they have more powers than they actually do: "we will visit your premises to enforce and collect this debt".

1986mike

Okay but how do I go about fixing the situation with T-mobile? What can I do to stop these letters from coming?

arcon5

1986mike wrote: »

Okay but how do I go about fixing the situation with T-mobile? What can I do to stop these letters from coming?

Write them a letter and send by registered post saying the account holder does not live at your address.

They are unlikely to stop though! But your not the intended recipient so no need to worry there.

I'm not sure what would happen/what they can do though about the phone though.

agrinnall

So the OP's brother is saying that a guy he doesn't know came to the door in PJs and slippers asking for a package - how did he know to come to your door? If you don't know who he is then surely he isn't an immediate neighbour. Is your brother trying to claim that this guy went some distance from his home knocking on random doors without even bothering to get dressed? I think you should get the thumbscrews out and find out which of your brother's mates he gave the phone to, get it back and return it to T-mobile.

bod1467

Could easily have been someone waiting nearby in a car for the delivery. This is not a new scam.