AIBU to stop dealing with former owners mail?

[mistydaytoday]

We bought our house 18 months ago. The former owner has a range of different business activities that used this address - different company names etc. I also get his ton of junk mail.

For a couple of months after he moved out he'd pitch up at the house randomly to collect a pile of mail. He won't give us a forwarding address although we've asked a few times. Instead he has asked us to send him a text message, and he'll pop by and collect it, commenting once, 'This works quite well'. (We had the bailiffs pitch once looking for him so we think there might be some reason why he's not giving us his new address!)

It doesn't work for me: I don't like the former owner constantly at my house, commenting on changes I've made to the place etc. I don't want to have a discussion about it either.

Thing is, a flurry even more mail is coming now, including mail from HMRC and companies house and other important looking envelopes.

I've recently given his mail back to the Postie who is very apologetic by the amount and has said the mail will be returned to the senders address on the envelope. DH has even contacted a couple of companies by phone and asked them to remove our address from this guy's record.

But I know the former owner is probably waiting for us to text him that mail is waiting for him at our house again. And that he expects to pop by and have a nosey and get his mail.

I've really had enough, but AIBU? 

Also, if I am NBU, what do I do with the mail that doesn't have a return address on it?

[IdaJones]

Text him and tell him future mail will be returned to sender marked "No longer at this address." Then do that.

[Rosa]

no you are not at all . He should have advised the PO to forward all mail .
I would say to him that you are sorry but you are not accepting any more mail. Either he takes care of it or you will wrote on it NOT KNOWN AT THIS ADDRESS and give it back to the postman or re post. Even if it doesn't have a return address. I would say that all the junk mail is getting recycled.18 months on its taking the piss.

[DaggerEyes]

Open it. It's not illegal, only if you then try to commit fraud. He might be taking loans out against the property. I open every bit of mail from the last owners here.

[KingJoffreyLikesJaffaCakes]

Our previous owner still has post sent here after two years.

DWP letters, insurance letters, hospital letters...

It all goes in the bin. I've asked him to sort it, I've redirected it, I've returned to sender. Nothing works. I gave up.

[IdaJones]

Or "Return to sender. Address unknown."

[DisappointedOne]

We still get bits and pieces for the previous owners - we've been here 12 years. I just bin them now.

[DisappointedOne]

Get more calls for the previous owners of our phone number - also had for 12 years.

[IdaJones]

Oh and Yanbu. You've been a lot more accommodating than I'd have been.

[icklekid]

You need to let previous owner know you will reposting with return to sender on so the don't expect you to collect it. One text and that's it. You could even block them after if you think they will be difficult about it.

[ProfGrammaticus]

Text him and get him to collect this lot, but say in the text that anything from now will be returned to sender. If no address then bin it. Not your problem if he's trying to hide from his creditors, why should you help him?

[CocktailQueen]

After 8 years here, the previous owner of our hose came round and told me off for not delivering all his mail to his new address! (only round the corner). Had been doing this sporadically for 8 years. After he came round, I have returned every bit of it - not known at this address - back into the postbox.

OP, do the same! This guy sounds very dodgy. Do you think it might be worth opening the next bit of official-looking mail that arrives in case he is trying to commit fraud?!

[Ifailed]

Not at all, if he can't be arsed to arrange for it to be sent to the correct address and expects you to deal with it, he's either an arrogant tosser or up to no good. Tell him it'll be going in the bin unopened from now on.

[lamiashiro]

Cheeky git! Mark it all 'not known at this address' and put it back in the postbox. If he complains, tell him 18 months is more than long enough for him to change his address and you are not his PO box.

[Peaceandloveeveryone]

I would return to sender, I would never open mail addressed to someone else though as previous poster does.

[londonrach]

Return to sender! No need to do anything else.

[Peaceandloveeveryone]

This site says that it is illegal

[AveEldon]

Write 'not known' and return to sender
If you are concerned that he still has his businesses registered to your address you could call or email Companies House

[Andrewofgg]

Text him saying he can do one more collection - tell him when suits you - and after that it will be put back in the post marked GONE AWAY - NO FORWARDING ADDRESS.

When he calls hand it to him over the chain in the door, and don't talk to him.

[stiffstink]

If you know which solicitors dealt with the sale you could forward it on to them - but package it all up in one big envelope and don't put a stamp on it.

We're still getting post from Aviva for the previous owner 6 years on so I'm saving the mail for 6 months then posting it to him with no stamp. Hopefully having to go to the sorting office to pay will make him get in touch with Aviva!

[MrsJayy]

I think this was a family with young adults in it at least 3 I get mail for 5 different people some of it looks important I just return to sender or not at this address neatly a year of owning the house its still coming through the door. I would have nothing else to do with previous owner and either bin it or put it back in the post box

[Damselindestress]

He should have paid for a redirect. I'd tell him by text that since it's been 18 months and he hasn't made arrangements for his mail you will be marking everything return to sender so he should let anywhere he needs to hear from know his new address. He can't continue to use your address for correspondence.

He's taking the piss "This works quite well"! Cheeky fucker! I would also be concerned that he is up to something dodgy, especially since you've had bailiffs round after him.

[murmuration]

Not sure, peace? It says "intending to act to a person's detriment" and "without reasonable excuse" - surely the fact that someone else is deliberately getting their post delivered to your address is reasonable excuse?

[Peaceandloveeveryone]

No, it gives the example of being unable to contact the owner of the mail and having tried to, if you get a bank card etc, it would be reasonable to open the letter to get the bank address to return the card and inform them. Not to have a good old nosey and root through every letter that comes in.

[Seeyounearertime]

I wouldn't have dealt with it for long. After a month or so i'd scribble,
"RTS: ADDRESSEE NO LONGER AT THIS ADDRESS" and pop back in the post box.

[PiecesOfCake]

I scrawl 'no longer at this address' and pop back in the post box.

We get a few random ones but they kept on coming especially from the DVLA so I opened one of them and it was a speeding fine. I wrote a bit of an essay to the DVLA on the next return envelope with highlighters and big capitals and we haven't had any more.