Previous owner still using our address for banking

Grumpy_chap

Just pop everything back in the post marked "not known at this address"

Rob5342

Grumpy_chap said:

Just pop everything back in the post marked "not known at this address"

Agreed. At some point their debit cards will expire and they won't be able to get new ones without an updated address. 

OutdoorQueen

You can also register previous occupants with the Mailing Preference Service 
https://www.mpsonline.org.uk/consumer/register

Although I expect it won’t make a massive difference, it’s another bit of the jigsaw to indicate they don’t live at your address any more…..and doesn’t cost anything.  

Have you put yourself in the Electoral Role?   This also shows organisations the previous occupants don’t live at the address.  

When the returned letters are received back, several checks will then be made…..eventually, and different databases checked to confirm they no longer live there.   

subjecttocontract

I normally set a time limit on returning letters to sender if there are lots of them. Usually 4 weeks max then I 'file' them in the waste bin.

HobgoblinBT

If you really are annoyed and wish them to sort this out soon then you could always try the nuclear option.  Bank “gone away” process can be a bit slow to block a bank account. This method might prove quicker.

Use their bank details from their bank statements to call their telephone banking service and fail the security. Three times should be sufficient for their telephone and possibly mobile phone access to be blocked.  This might prompt them to update their details including their address.  

It might also make them realise that not updating their address does not protect their data.

steven141

HobgoblinBT said:

If you really are annoyed and wish them to sort this out soon then you could always try the nuclear option.  Bank “gone away” process can be a bit slow to block a bank account. This method might prove quicker.

Use their bank details from their bank statements to call their telephone banking service and fail the security. Three times should be sufficient for their telephone and possibly mobile phone access to be blocked.  This might prompt them to update their details including their address.  

It might also make them realise that not updating their address does not protect their data.

I'm sure it is illegal to open mail that isn't addressed to you. It's best to return anything as 'gone away' in the post box.

Desmond_Hume

If it’s of any interest, I have lived in my current home for 10 years. For the entire duration, Santander have continued to send mail addressed to someone else.  

I’ve returned to sender. I’ve called Santander. I’ve even taken the letters to a branch. 

I now shred them and forget about it. I’ve done all I can.

GTR_King

When I move into my flat 2022 I got odd bits of mail for old tenants then one day someone knocked on my door (lived in a flat near me about 7-8 months after I moved in) was lady holding a baby who said do you have any post for ***** (old tenant) as I work with her! I politely told her to never come again as all post was returned to sender she didn’t see happy but never came again yay 🥳 still get odd Xmas card but all good so far!

just keep Returning the letters back to sender it will soon stop 

eskbanker

steven141 said:

I'm sure it is illegal to open mail that isn't addressed to you.

Contrary to urban myth, there's nothing illegal or even unlawful about opening correspondence addressed to, and delivered to, your address.

boingy

Desmond_Hume said:

If it’s of any interest, I have lived in my current home for 10 years. For the entire duration, Santander have continued to send mail addressed to someone else.  

I’ve returned to sender. I’ve called Santander. I’ve even taken the letters to a branch. 

I now shred them and forget about it. I’ve done all I can.

We still get the odd bit of mail for someone who moved out 17 years ago. I did plenty of "return to sender" stuff in the early years but there were a couple of official looking ones that kept coming - one annually and the other quarterly. In the end I opened one of each and phoned the companies, They were both insurance companies. They thanked me and dealt with the problem on the spot. This was only about 6 years ago but I bet they wouldn't do that now!

All that remains is about half a dozen personally-addressed junk mails per year. They go in the bin and I find myself wondering what proportion of those company's mail shots are missing their target due to using a database that is about two decades out of date!