Should i be worried?

chris_spackman

I have had letters sent to my door for 3 different people. One owes a credit company over £7 grand,someone else owes £200 + on electricity and another owes nearly £4 grand on a credit card. The post was opened by mistake and they are all letters saying that the accounts have now been closed and we are acting on behalf of the company you owe. It appears from the wording that the debt collectors have just been passed the accounts to chase. I have been here a year and the people who lived here before us are not the people who owe the money. The flat is owned by my girlfriends dad and he took it on nearly 3 years ago and it isn't him. Should i be worried that someone is doing things they shouldn't be? The letters have been opened by mistake as when i pick up the mail i just put it on the lounge table so i am not opening with any intent. I will now check the name before i open it!

chuckles1066

chris_spackman wrote: »

I have had letters sent to my door for 3 different people. One owes a credit company over £7 grand,someone else owes £200 + on electricity and another owes nearly £4 grand on a credit card. The post was opened by mistake and they are all letters saying that the accounts have now been closed and we are acting on behalf of the company you owe. It appears from the wording that the debt collectors have just been passed the accounts to chase. I have been here a year and the people who lived here before us are not the people who owe the money. The flat is owned by my girlfriends dad and he took it on nearly 3 years ago and it isn't him. Should i be worried that someone is doing things they shouldn't be?

I'd be more worried that opening someone else's mail, by mistake or otherwise, is a prosecutable offence.

Stupid I know but that's the law of the land for you. :mad:

Blacksheep1979

ignore it for now - any more just write not known at this address on them and stick it back in the mailbox.

poppyolivia

chuckles1066 wrote: »

I'd be more worried that opening someone else's mail, by mistake or otherwise, is a prosecutable offence.

Stupid I know but that's the law of the land for you. :mad:

Maybe so but when I was getting letters from the Bank of Scotland for someone else..they looked important I was told by the bank (when I phoned) TO OPEN them..they were debts from the previous lass that lived here. Had the bailifffs at the door wanting to see my passport etc..so I OPEN everything that comes through my door now, with my name or not!:D

When I phoned the debt company that was after the money they got on to me for opening them but I told them to get a grip and the bloke actually said 'ok':rotfl: and carried on telling me what to do next.

Most places would be ok about it I reckon.

poppyolivia

Blacksheep1979 wrote: »

ignore it for now - any more just write not known at this address on them and stick it back in the mailbox.

Just saw this.....I did it for months, didn't make any difference still got more letters and the big boys at the door!

sillyvixen

surely it cant be illegal to open unsolicited threatening letters sent to a person who no longer (or has never) resides at your residence. these letters themselves may not be intrusive and impact on you, but recieving bayliffs at your door for A N Others debts is. sending back letters 'not known at this address does not work to such companies, infact i am still ringing this company every time they send a letter to mr pearson (whomever he may be - i am the second owner of the house since he was a tennant over 4 years ago), the letters still come, i have shown id and proof that i purchased the proprety 18 months ago (to said baylifs) - they agree the debts back to a time before the vendors live here - still they send letters. i have always phoned them on my mobile - utilising free mins - but recentaly have started recieving phone calls on my home phone (ex directory) asking if i am mrs pearson i state i am not (as i am not) they refuse to say who they are (number witheld) i am sure they are the collection agency. too much of a coincidence that its the same name as the letters - it was a new number when we moved in how did they get it!! if i ask whos asking i still dont get an answer as i wont confirm or deny it. this is also a intrusion as it happens 2 or 3 time on weekday evening. i am dealing with my debts why should i have to face the unpleasent fallout from the debts of others. recieving baylifs in the middle of the day when i was doing my frount garden along with several neighbours was more than humillitating - especially as i have no idea of who mr pearson is...curtains twitched for weeks.

journ

I get other peoples mail all the time but with me it has my full address put the person has never lived at my address , I just write on the envelope and return it

vikingaero

I'm fairly sure that it isn't a criminal offence to open mail that isn't addressed to you personally but delivered to your address. Maybe one of the posties on here could clarify. I think the distinction is if you deliberately intercept the mail for pecuniary advantage - ie you steal someones envelope containing a new cheque book or credit card or if you interfere with mail in transit.

advent1122

From http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts2000/ukpga_20000026_en_8#pt5-pb1-l1g84
Interfering with the mail: general
(1) A person commits an offence if, without reasonable excuse, he—
(a) intentionally delays or opens a postal packet in the course of its transmission by post, or
(b) intentionally opens a mail-bag.
(2) Subsections (2) to (5) of section 83 apply to subsection (1) above as they apply to subsection (1) of that section.
(3) A person commits an offence if, intending to act to a person’s detriment and without reasonable excuse, he opens a postal packet which he knows or reasonably suspects has been incorrectly delivered to him.
(4) Subsections (2) and (3) of section 83 (so far as they relate to the opening of postal packets) apply to subsection (3) above as they apply to subsection (1) of that section.
(5) A person who commits an offence under subsection (1) or (3) shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months or to both.

pulliptears

chuckles1066 wrote: »

I'd be more worried that opening someone else's mail, by mistake or otherwise, is a prosecutable offence.

Stupid I know but that's the law of the land for you. :mad:

So would you suggest OP ignores it until a nice big bailiff turns up on the doorstep? because thats what happened to us and I had a heck of a time trying to prove I wasn't the debtor!

OP, from experience I'd suggest you give the companies involved a quick call, tell them the post was opened by mistake with a pile of your own but you are obviously very worried. They should take your address of then and there. Keep returning letters as "Not known at the address" as well.

It took about 2 years and lots of phone calls and returned letters before they got the message that the woman didn't live here anymore.

mrcow

Does your girlfriends Dad know who any of these people are if he's had the place for three years? If so, then see if he can give you contact details and pass them on to the companies in question.