Ex partner using my address

Loops74

My estranged husband is using my address for mobile phone contracts etc , I keep receiving debt letters addressed to him but at my address what can I do ? 

[Deleted User]

Just return the letters to sender, addressee gone away.

epm-84

Did he used to live at the address and does he have a new address?  If so the first thing to do is to tell him to update the address and to pass what you have already received on to him.  If you've done that and you're still getting them then return them to sender unopened with a message of "addressee gone away."

If he never lived at the address then return the letters to the sender unopened, with a message of "addressee does not live at this address."

Do not under any circumstances open a debt letter not addressed to you as apart from it being illegal to do so, it means the company who the debt is owed to will presume the letter has been delivered to your husband and it it isn't then settled it may mean bailiffs turn up at your house.

Loops74

Thank you for your reply.
Yes he used to live here but moved out 2 yrs ago .
i have given him the letters and asked him but still receiving them ! Just worried that people will be knocking on my door and it will affect my credit rating also.

[Deleted User]

Only individuals have credit files, not addresses.  It won't impact you unless you're financially associated.

It's not illegal to open the letters, but it's easier to simply return unopened at this stage.

MovingForwards

Just write "moved out 2 years ago, return to sender' on any post which arrives.

Don't put yourself out by taking a special walk to the post box to do it.

If he can't be bothered to update the addresses, why should you hand them over to him.

epm-84

Deleted_User said:

It's not illegal to open the letters, but it's easier to simply return unopened at this stage.

The Postal Services Act 2000 states it's offence to open mail not addressed to you.  There are some exceptions but wanting to know what your ex-husband is up to isn't one of them!  

D3xt3r5L4b

epm-84 said:

Deleted_User said:

It's not illegal to open the letters, but it's easier to simply return unopened at this stage.

The Postal Services Act 2000 states it's offence to open mail not addressed to you or to delay it from getting to it's intended recipient.  There are some exceptions but wanting to know what your ex-husband is up to isn't one of them!

Only if you intend to do any “wrong doings” with the contents. 

epm-84

D3xt3r5L4b said:

epm-84 said:

Deleted_User said:

It's not illegal to open the letters, but it's easier to simply return unopened at this stage.

The Postal Services Act 2000 states it's offence to open mail not addressed to you or to delay it from getting to it's intended recipient.  There are some exceptions but wanting to know what your ex-husband is up to isn't one of them!

Only if you intend to do any “wrong doings” with the contents. 

Just reading the mail not addressed to you counts as a 'wrong doing', especially if it's financial information like a debt notice and if it's someone you're in a relationship with then the new laws preventing controlling and coercive behaviour might be relevant if you're reading your partner's mail without their permission.

Opening a letter addressed to Mr A Smith when you're Mrs A Smith and then realising it's not for you would likely be seen as an accident, not an offence.

[Deleted User]

It's only an offence if you intend it to the detriment of the other party. 

It's a long standing urban myth that it's always a criminal offence, which pops up here on a regular basis..

The OP would not be doing it to find out what her ex is up to but to see if she needs to take action before any visits to her home, for example.

Loops74

I have young children and am not interested in what he is up to but worried about the impact this could potentially have on our home address , bailiffs etc .
surely it’s an offence to take out a contract in someone’s address , even if lived their previously otherwise we could all get contracts at previous addresses we have lived at !