Lazy people CBA with mail redirect

fluffnutter

shaun_from_Africa wrote: »

Getting a mail redirection set up after moving out isn't that easy to do.
The payment required for this service must be paid by credit or debit card and the card used needs to be registered at the old address so if the ex-resident has changed their card details to the new address then they can't set up a redirect.

Which makes perfect sense from a security perspective.

Bogof_Babe

If your house has a front garden, put a cardboard box by the gate and make one phone call to tell the ex-residents that any post addressed to them will be put in the box, and they can pick it up from there. If it gets rained on, tough. They'll soon get the message.

I agree that there is no reason the new occupants should have to cart armloads of mail to the post box, which could be half a mile away, and not everyone drives.

mozzy10

shaun_from_Africa wrote: »

Getting a mail redirection set up after moving out isn't that easy to do.
The payment required for this service must be paid by credit or debit card and the card used needs to be registered at the old address so if the ex-resident has changed their card details to the new address then they can't set up a redirect.

Then they need to contact whoever is sending them mail and give them their new address.

RuthnJasper

Herbalus wrote: »

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

Not over-sensitive IMO; perfectly reasonable. I had a good three-years'-plus-worth of post for the former resident of my house. Did 'return to sender' on all save obviously junk mail. It did stop in the end.



Good luck OP. x

DKLS

I had the previous owner at the door this week asking for mail including his degree certificate and hospital appointments. I told him I return then to sender and he should take the effort to inform his contacts of his whereabouts.

Due to moving every two years and this being a common issue, I had a stamp made up at staples when they had an offer on. Quick stamp with that and its a minor task to drop in the postbox the next time I am passing.

Eejay

Complaining about someone who was probably hoping to save a bit of money on forums dedicated to saving money...

You could have just called them and said no.

no1catman

Even doing mail redirection is no guarantee - I've had many calls with change of address:
"when did you move?"
" Oh, about a year ago"
"Did you arrange mail redirection?"
"Only for three months"
Doh


Surely, once you get mail redirected to you with the old address that's the clue to contact them and change !
(To coin a phrase I hate - it ain't rocket science!)

Herbalus

Eejay wrote: »

Complaining about someone who was probably hoping to save a bit of money on forums dedicated to saving money...

Money saving is about getting a good deal, not getting strangers to do things for you because you don't want to pay for it.

And for the previous occupants it's hardly secure. What if I'm a con artist or a fraudster? My point is, they don't know me so how can they trust me with their post?

A few of their latest letters have the return address of Fidelity Investments. I have no idea what they're about, but if I were so inclined I could have a shot at getting password and login reminders sent to my address. If I had investments, I certainly wouldn't want to leave that type of security issue in the hands of people I don't know.

Pennywise

gwapenut wrote: »

Some people need to look out for themselves rather than being carried through life by others.

100% agree. I've had loads of clients who've got themselves into all kinds of trouble when they've moved and not told everyone. In particular, HMRC aren't psychic, yet never seems to be on anyone's list when it's time to move. As the average person is unlikely to get anything from HMRC too often, it's unlikely to get picked up by a 3-6 month mail redirection. Time and time again, this leads to HMRC letters being ignored or returned to sender, so HMRC don't know a current address of the taxpayer (or even worse, the business) meaning late filing or late payment penalties mount up to crazy amounts.

People seem to think that "someone else" will tell HMRC when they move! Why would they think that?

It's the same with driving licences and vehicle registration documents - DVLA aren't pyschic either!

People really do need to take responsibility for themselves and not really on other people. Yes, it's partly laziness!

Pennywise

shaun_from_Africa wrote: »

Getting a mail redirection set up after moving out isn't that easy to do.

Why would you do it after you've moved? Surely you'd do it just before so that you'd know it applied to all your post. If you did it afterwards, some post would still go to the old address as it takes a few days to set up anyway. Do it the same day as you change address for your credit cards etc and the jobs sorted isn't it?