Receiving incorrectly addressed mail

cpria7

Over the past 3 weeks I have been receiving mail addressed to somebody else. I have lived in this property since it was built so there was no previous occupants.

When the first letter arrived I opened by mistake (I live alone so never check who the mail is addressed to), the first letter was from the Job Centre confirming a change of address. I contacted the number on the letter explaining that there was some sort of mistake but the person I spoke to appeared to be more interested in telling me that it is a criminal ooffenseto open somebody elses mail.

A week later I received another letter addressed to this person, again I opened it without checking, this time it was relating to a claim for benefits. Once again I contacted the number and had a similar conversation.

Over the past 2 weeks, I have received 5 more letters for this person. I have not opened these ones but from the envelope it is clear some of them are the water board and the TV license.

Having received so much mail from a verivarietysources in such a short time has now got me worried. The name on the mail is not one I recognise so I don't think it belongs to one of my neighbours.

Has anybody experienced similar or can somebody advise where I go from here?

By using my address can somebody be trying to commit some type of fraud?

comeandgo

You write on the envelope not know at this address and pop them back in a mail box - they will be delivered back to the originator.

arcon5

Is somebody committing fraud? Maybe, maybe not. Hard to say without knowing the contents of the letters. Either way, if they are not addressed to you personally, just your address, then you have nothing to worry about.

Write 'RTS not at address' and post them.

dancingfairy

I don't believe opening someone's mail is illegal in that sense. Opening it with the intention of tampering with it/stopping it getting to its destionation I believe is.
There is no fraud against you (as they are using a different name). If there is any fraud involved it will be against the benefits people/council and other companies.
I'd check the electoral role for start off tocheck they are not registered at youraddress.
You can check your credit files as well if you're at all worried (but really it's nothing to do with you).
You may want to write to the council/phone the councils fraud hotline and let them know there is a problem (maybe keep a copy ofthe letter sent/note who you speak to) but there shouldn't be any comeback onyou anyway.
Just return to sender everything.
df
Edit: are new properties beingbuilt? are you at 79 and someone has got someone's address down as 79 and not 97 orsomething? or is it something silly such as you live at regents court and the other person lives at regal court and it's been misheard/misspelt or something? If it is something like this then maybe you can go around and speak to them in person and try and sort out the issue?

cpria7

dancingfairy wrote: »

I don't believe opening someone's mail is illegal in that sense. Opening it with the intention of tampering with it/stopping it getting to its destionation I believe is.
There is no fraud against you (as they are using a different name). If there is any fraud involved it will be against the benefits people/council and other companies.
I'd check the electoral role for start off tocheck they are not registered at youraddress.
You can check your credit files as well if you're at all worried (but really it's nothing to do with you).
You may want to write to the council/phone the councils fraud hotline and let them know there is a problem (maybe keep a copy ofthe letter sent/note who you speak to) but there shouldn't be any comeback onyou anyway.
Just return to sender everything.
df
Edit: are new properties beingbuilt? are you at 79 and someone has got someone's address down as 79 and not 97 orsomething? or is it something silly such as you live at regents court and the other person lives at regal court and it's been misheard/misspelt or something? If it is something like this then maybe you can go around and speak to them in person and try and sort out the issue?

Thanks for the reply, The last of the new houses got built around 5 years ago. Its only a small estate and I live at number 6, the estate name is pretty unusual so there is nothing similar in the town. I will have a look at the electorol roll and see what comes up.

ValHaller

In your position, I would open everything for this person, regardless.

Once it falls on your mat, it is no longer in the course of transmission and as long as you don't intend to use the information to the detriment of the addressee, you are fine.

ThumbRemote

Write 'addressee deceased' on the letter and send it back. Much more likely to stop the mail than just returning it.

forgotmyname

I am the same, Lived here from the day they were built. I open all mail delivered with my door number on it.

Good job as i got a letter in someone elses name switching my gas and electricity supplier.

Open the letters, As long as your not depriving the named person of anything you have no issues.

tinkerbell28

So many people say it is illegal to open someone else's mail. Not in this sense it isn't.

I likewise have had the gas/electric thing at a previous address. Ended up going to the ombudsman and I won and got compensation.

Had bailiffs at one address as the last occupants did a moonlight flit. So I opened all their mail and told EVERY account they were not here.

arcon5

ThumbRemote wrote: »

Write 'addressee deceased' on the letter and send it back. Much more likely to stop the mail than just returning it.

Highly unlikely. They will want proof, or will at least check public records of deaths.