Lazy people CBA with mail redirect

Herbalus

I bought a house just before Christmas, and nearly everyday I get home from work to find another letter for the previous occupants. I haven't opened any, so I've got no idea if it's important or not (there was a fairly hefty A5 envelope from American Express - probably T+Cs), but I don't understand why they haven't set up redirection?

They left a note with their new address, and asked us to call them if any post arrives so they can come and pick it up (they live about 4 miles from us now), but I don't quite know why they've decided to trust us (strangers) to be responsible with their post. Royal mail redirection is there for a reason, and I don't want to have to deal with their post and phone them to pick it up. So they sit gathering dust until they call.

I know I can return them to sender, but, if I'm honest, that's a trip to the postbox that I can't be bothered to make (I'm normally quite active, but if they can't be bothered to sort their post out, I can't be bothered to do it for them). I don't feel responsible if they miss out on something important - I actually feel a little insulted that they left a note in the house on moving in day asking us to deal with their post.

When I leave a house, I always leave a note to say that I've set RM redirection up, but if anything slips through the net, please forward it on. I don't see why they couldn't have done that?

So go, as is vent board custom, tell me I'm being over-sensitive

vikingaero

You have a paper recycling bin? Job done.

166million

Just bin it, you're not their postman

peter_the_piper

Write "Not known at this address" and give to postie.

fluffnutter

Whilst I don't think you need to worry too much about getting their post to them, they might not wish to use the RM redirect service. Firstly it costs, which isn't a great excuse but might be an issue for some, but more importantly, when you sign up to this service, you agree to marketing mail being delivered to you, both direct and indirect.

As someone who's spent some time and effort removing themselves from marketing lists, there's no way I'd sign up with a service that means I'll start getting loads of spam mail again. I'm not being 'lazy'; it's a deliberate decision to avoid paying for a service that will have an adverse effect on my life.

Personally I see no hardship in simply readdressing it and dropping it into a post box when passing. I wouldn't make a deliberate trip but most people pass a post box at least a few times a week. Up to you though. As you have their address, why not write and say you're not going to redirect their mail, nor phone them and that they need to make different arrangements? In fact, why didn't you say this in the first place?

swingaloo

I think a lot is down to cost. I have friends who have just moved, her mother lives with them and she also has a son from a previous marriage. Its cost over £100 to redirect for the 3 of them.


Ive moved 3 times in ten years and just think its an occupational hazard. I cant see a problem just keeping mail at one side for a period of time to be helpful.


I still get mail for the people who lived in our current home 8 years ago, its changed hands 3 times in that period and Ive no idea where the people are so I just put' not at this address' and put it back in the postbox.

bod1467

I've had mail at my home addressed to other people too. Seems strange though - I live in a new-build property (part of an estate) and am the only ever owner (other than the building company).

JulieElizabeth

when I moved I had a very thorough list of who to contact with change of address details, most of which you can do online

Employer
bank
doctor
dentist
tesco/sains/boots/ikea/subway etc loyalty cards
electoral office
TV Licence
Rates office
Etc

You don't need redirection

aileth

It's not your responsibility to ensure an ex-owner's mail gets to them! It's theirs!

Paully232000

For whatever reason they have decided not to redirect.
If it was me I would keep it to one side for a 2 months, and after that redirect it for possibly another month, and after that everything would go in the bin.
I wouldn't be calling them, it is up to them to do that if they want their post.

The thing that would annoy me the most would be the note, if they didn't speak to you about it first. This in itself would make me inclined to not even do the above.

We got post for a while after we moved in, and i put 'not known' for a couple of months and then anything else got shredded. It stopped after 3 or 4 months and now we just get the odd junk mail. .

Herbalus

Paully232000 wrote: »

The thing that would annoy me the most would be the note, if they didn't speak to you about it first. This in itself would make me inclined to not even do the above.

It's this. The presumption that I'm ok with taking care of their post without even asking.

I use mail redirection as a matter of courtesy for the people who are moving in (and I've seen the house they're moving to - they can afford £35 for six months redirection).

Oh, and the wife won't let me put it in the bin. Apparently it's "mean" and because it's not my property I don't have the right to bin it.