reveived gas bill, but she doesn't even have a gas supply!

vuvuzela

Wywth wrote: »

Just send them straight back, unopened.

Cross through the address and mark the envelope "Not known at this address"

Pop them back in a post box next time you are passing one. No stamp required.

Simples! :cool:

Another one advocating burying their head in the sand and ignoring the obvious fact that the energy company won't just forget about it. Not a clever option.

southcoastrgi

Fire_Fox wrote: »

Not that simple.
"Under the Postal Services Act 2000:

“A person commits an offence if he, without reasonable excuse, intentionally delays or opens a postal packet in the course of its transmission by post, or intentionally opens a mail bag.”

“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.”."
http://www.findlaw.co.uk/law/criminal/other_crime_and_justice_topics/500355.html

that's exactly what MM said, cross out the address write not known at this address & put them back in the post box

vuvuzela

southcoastrgi wrote: »

that's exactly what MM said, cross out the address write not known at this address & put them back in the post box

It is not at all what mm said. It is only illegal to do so if you fulfill both conditions of not having a reason to open the mail, and you intend to use the contents to the detriment of the addressee.
The op has a reason to open the mail that has been correctly addressed to their property and is using the contents to stop potential court action. Not at all illegal and a sensible course of action. Hiding from it is not sensible.

Fire_Fox

southcoastrgi wrote: »

that's exactly what MM said

Sorry but Macman did not, I even emboldened for clarity! The law is worded to protect from theft and identify fraud and the like, not from honest citizens who don't want their flat broken into and energy cut off due to a mistake.

macman

vuvuzela wrote: »

No she isn't.
They won't spend any effort trying to trace anyone else, it will just be progressed to legal matters. Dealing with it now is by far the best option.

And how exactly is the court going to serve papers addressed to 'Mr B Builder' to a 'Mrs SomeOtherName'?
The same applies to any credit report made-it will go against the departed account holder, not against the OP's friend.
I would suggest that it was legal to open the first bill to ascertain the contents. Any further bills should now be returned unopened.

undaunted

If the poster didn't open the post & the supplier sought a warrant of entry without notifying the Court the last occupier is now claimed to have left do you think they'd bother checking the occupier or just rubber stamp the warrant application?

My guess is the latter & therefore writing advising of your occupancy, lack of meter and inviting them to come & find it if they maintain it's there is definitely the way I'd go.

spacey2012

undaunted wrote: »

If the poster didn't open the post & the supplier sought a warrant of entry without notifying the Court the last occupier is now claimed to have left do you think they'd bother checking the occupier or just rubber stamp the warrant application?

My guess is the latter & therefore writing advising of your occupancy, lack of meter and inviting them to come & find it if they maintain it's there is definitely the way I'd go.

And what would they do with this warrant ? change the invisible gas meter to an invisible token meter.
:rotfl:

undaunted

spacey2012 wrote: »

And what would they do with this warrant ? change the invisible gas meter to an invisible token meter.
:rotfl:

:rotfl:Hmm, having re read the opening post I can see what you mean. I guess it all depends whether a meter was genuinely there & read or not & if so whose.

Fire_Fox

spacey2012 wrote: »

And what would they do with this warrant ? change the invisible gas meter to an invisible token meter.
:rotfl:

Break in and search for the invisible meter perhaps? I wouldn't want bailiffs or engineers poking around my flat, looking in cupboards and under the sink when I was away on business, nor would I want to come home to the locks changed or my front door damaged. Would you?

chanz4

They will break in and either turn it off at the riser if no meter attached or find a meter and fit a pre-pay