How do they know?

custardy

Mr_Singleton wrote: »

Just been having a deeper dive into Redirections on my commute to work and am flabbergasted to see that it's possible to have one for FIVE years. So you move into your house and yet the former owner can masquerade with banks, credit card companies, school admission offices etc etc as if they are still living at your address. Seems like a fraudsters charter. Obviously Royal Mail plays all sides for profit.... shocking really!

Nope. It is 4 years

The maximum Redirection term is four years,
including any extensions. This is reduced to
6 months for a Redirection where the old
address is a PO Box.

Why do you say fraudsters? What fraud do you see them using the redirection for?

Mr_Singleton

Yes, you’re right it’s 4 years.... I erroneously linked 48 months to 5 years d’oh!

O.K let’s turn this round. People pay for redirections because they value the mail. For a transition period of say 3 months, maybe 6 then fair enough, a redirection is a good service, even I’ve used it BUT....

1) For what reasonable reason would a person not be able to contact a sender to notify them of an address change for a whole 4 years? Remember this person is so desperate for this mail they are paying over £265? for it to be redirected for 4 years.

2) would you be happy after 3.5 years in your new house to find that the previous owner was applying for bank loans etc under the pretence that they were living at your address?

Mr_Singleton

Uxb1 wrote: »

It used to be two years max.....must have changed recently.
I've used it for two years for an deceased relative to ensure that anything that was posted to them at their address came instead to me as executor.

It was changed no doubt for financial reasons what with Royal Mail being a public company and all.

Not an expert but the limit for claims on a deceased estate is what? ....6 months? Why get a 2 year redirection?

Besides was surprised that RM do redirections for the deceased.

custardy

Mr_Singleton wrote: »

It was changed no doubt for financial reasons what with Royal Mail being a public company and all.

Not an expert but the limit for claims on a deceased estate is what? ....6 months? Why get a 2 year redirection?

Besides was surprised that RM do redirections for the deceased.

What do you think should happen with mail when people die?
Eg I have a friend of a friend who has just had their brother commit suicide in the marital home.
Wife doesn't want to set foot in the house but of course there are things to sort out,mail/packages arriving and no local family.
So a redirection answers some of these issues.

custardy

Mr_Singleton wrote: »

Yes, you’re right it’s 4 years.... I erroneously linked 48 months to 5 years d’oh!

O.K let’s turn this round. People pay for redirections because they value the mail. For a transition period of say 3 months, maybe 6 then fair enough, a redirection is a good service, even I’ve used it BUT....

1) For what reasonable reason would a person not be able to contact a sender to notify them of an address change for a whole 4 years? Remember this person is so desperate for this mail they are paying over £265? for it to be redirected for 4 years.

2) would you be happy after 3.5 years in your new house to find that the previous owner was applying for bank loans etc under the pretence that they were living at your address?

For many reasons. Travelling/moving with work whilst letting out your home is the most common IME for long term redirections.

You understand credit ratings go with the person?

Mr_Singleton

custardy wrote: »

For many reasons. Travelling/moving with work whilst letting out your home is the most common IME for long term redirections.

You understand credit ratings go with the person?

The quite obvious question is where is the mail being redirected. Why can’t they give that address to the sender(s) especially as it’s going to be 4 years.

Yes in theory it is with the person but I’ve read as I’m sure you have of people being harassed for other people’s debts. What address will the finance company/bank have if there’s a default? Would you want your wife/husband/elderly parents having to deal with a doorstep bailiff?

So again would you be happy to have the previous owner of your house take out loans etc using your your address 3.5 years after they’d sold it and moved on?

custardy

Mr_Singleton wrote: »

The quite obvious question is where is the mail being redirected. Why can’t they give that address to the sender(s) especially as it’s going to be 4 years.
Give what address? They could be moving around with a central address,further redirection (yes people run multiple redirections),using a family address but not wanting to 'move' their finances etc over.
Yes in theory it is with the person but I’ve read as I’m sure you have of people being harassed for other people’s debts. What address will the finance company/bank have if there’s a default? Would you want your wife/husband/elderly parents having to deal with a doorstep bailiff?

So again would you be happy to have the previous owner of your house take out loans etc using your your address 3.5 years after they’d sold it and moved on?

Well the redirection would mean the people wouldn't be 'harrassed' in your scenario
Do you really think scammers use a 3.5 year redirection to take out a loan with a traceable redirection?

Mr_Singleton

Your not answering the fundamental question which is why if this mail is so important to them that they would rather pay £100's to redirect it for years rather than tell the bank, credit card companies etc they've moved.

When a company instructs bailiffs they're going to use the address on file.

Again would you be happy if a precious owner was taking out loans etc based on your address after they'd sold up and moved out 3.5 years ago?

suki1964

I have a friend who has moved to two different continents and 6 different countries in the past 5 years and has still not settled. Indeed his children have been born in three different continents.

His home address is still here, down the road

custardy

Mr_Singleton wrote: »

Your not answering the fundamental question which is why if this mail is so important to them that they would rather pay £100's to redirect it for years rather than tell the bank, credit card companies etc they've moved.

When a company instructs bailiffs they're going to use the address on file.

Again would you be happy if a precious owner was taking out loans etc based on your address after they'd sold up and moved out 3.5 years ago?

You mean previous owner?
Why would I care? How many folks you think are paying for 3.5 years of redirections to commit fraud?

You are thinking far too small on this. People migrate, travel, jump about for many reasons.

I have a mate who has bounced around Asia for near a decade.
His old UK address is still his mailing address.
He has friend living there still.
He teaches English and runs storage/Web hosting for income.