Letter addressed to sister

Phlox

Apologies if this is in the wrong part of the forum.


Hi, total noob here.

I have received a letter with the address PO Box 300 Northampton NN1 2TX with the word defendant clearly visible inside the window.

It is addressed to my sister who lives in Australia and has done for 15 years. She has a property in the UK which until it was up for sale some time ago, was rented out. When the property went on the market she entrusted a friend to deal with it who must have put my address as a forwarding address for her water bill, but only the water bill. Now as I'm a good sister I paid I think 3 bills then by the time the fourth arrived I had got a bit annoyed as I'm on disability benefits and can ill afford her bills let alone my own! Plus my sister and I had one of our many and frequent falling out [IMG]http://!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.org/forum/images/smilies/icon_rolleyes.gif[/IMG]
I therefore phoned the water board and told them the above to which they said they would remove my details and address from their system.

This is the only bill I have received for my sister at my address so I can only assume this letter is related to this. I read else where on here just now that the envelope should not be returned to sender, is this correct? I think the post I read related to a husband who got the letter addressed to his wife but I'm unsure whether they are still together or not but suspect that if my sister has never lived at my address it shouldn't be a factor and I should just return to sender.

I just want to clarify that I won't get in any trouble for having paid the previous bills, assuming this is related to the water bill and also that I won't be doing something illegal or otherwise by returning to sender.

I hope I am making sense! MTIA.

Sorry, I meant to add will my address be now hit as a bad debtor as I'm only renting and the landlord is my brother so same surname all around and to make it even worse, my sister in law has the same first and last name as my sister and is also my landlady. I would hate for either of them to get a bad credit hit for this address due to my not taking the appropriate action.

fermi

You won't get in trouble. You are not liable for her debts, no matter what you may have done with other bills.

That PO Box no. suggests to me that it could well be court papers for a CCJ. Water companies do that fairly regularly.

If it should be a CCJ it would be against her in her name. So should not have any impact on you, even if at your address. If anyone tried to collect on it you would just show them your CT bill or similar to prove you are you and not her.

Phlox

Thank you so much Fermi. So is it ok for me to just return to sender?

PasturesNew

I'd open it, then phone them .... I'd have to know what was in there so I could sleep at night.

CKhalvashi

PasturesNew wrote: »

I'd open it, then phone them .... I'd have to know what was in there so I could sleep at night.

There's nothing illegal in doing this.

It may be worth providing them with a forwarding address in Aus, so they can contact her there.

Phlox

PasturesNew wrote: »

I'd open it, then phone them .... I'd have to know what was in there so I could sleep at night.

Phew, I'm glad someone understands how I feel about this! Not being nosey but she is my sister for starters, even if we have had a barney, but also because I don't feel it's right if it is with regards to the water board as I had told them she didn't live here, never has done, and for the record neither has my brother or sister in law!

CKhalvashi wrote: »

There's nothing illegal in doing this.

It may be worth providing them with a forwarding address in Aus, so they can contact her there.

That is also good to know, thanks.

GingerBob_3

As a matter of principle, if someone turns up on your doorstep demanding to know who you are, simply tell them you are not who they are looking for and then require them to leave. Do not provide them with evidence as to who you are. You are under no obligation whatsoever to do so.