To put this post in the bin?

[Moominsummermadness]

Have been receiving post for someone else, but with our address on it. Wrote 'not known at this address' on the front of the letters (there were two of them), and put them back in the post box. They were re-delivered the next day, so I put them back in the post box. Once again, the postman re-delivered them. So I got fed up, shredded them, and filed them in the recycling bin.

This morning, some post arrived for the people who lived here before us. Again, I've written 'Not known at this address', and put ready to take to the post box. DH thinks I should just bin it, as it'll only come back again. AIBU putting someone else's post in the bin?

[FlaminNoraImPregnantPanda]

I thought it was a crime to destroy someone else's mail.

[Mrsjay]

if you are passing the post office hand them in or just keep putting them back in the post box, I have been hear 20 yrs and i get a bank statement and also the odd christmas card for the man who lived here and tbh I dont even think he is still alive

[LadyMaryChristmas]

You can't shread them or throw them!! (It's illegal, IIRC. If they are debt collection letters then you could end up with people at your door demanding money.) Scribble out the address, write that they don't live there and send them back. The sorting machine will only see the postcode on the front, so it will think that they are going to the address on the front unless you cover it over.

[Mrsjay]

here* obviously

[MikeLitoris]

I have started doing this. We have lived here two years and get post with about 5 different names on.

Im sick of sending it all back. They dont pay any attention.

Its probably not the correct thing to do but I really dont care!

[MrsKwazii]

Did you scribble over the address before you reposted them? Think post is sorted electronically these days so it'll just keep boomeranging back if you don't. I think you're BU to a point, but you can only do so much I suppose.

[MrsHoarder]

YY cross the existing addresses out first.

I dump obvious junk mail, but return actual letters.

[Moominsummermadness]

I'll cross out the address this time then- I don't know what else to do! It's a total pita.

[ValentineWiggins]

It is not illegal to open post that has been correctly delivered to your home - it is illegal to open post for a different address if its accidentally been delivered to you.

I open everything now, call anyone important and tell them the person doesn't live here and I have no address/never heard of them then bin it!

[Mrsjay]

It is a PITA to keep doing it but score out the address and stick it back in, or hand it back in to a post office , my mum gets letters for an address in the next town but they have the same street name, all the time she has been sending letters back for yrs

[crazyhatlady]

Yanbu, I've been in my house for 3 years and get mail for at least 4 or 5 different people. Tbh I got sick of constantly reposting and they now go straight in the bin. If people cant be bothered informing the relevant companies that they've moved quite frankly that's their problem. I moved several times in quick succession before this house and always set up mail redirection for 3 months to give me time to inform everyone. If people want to ensure they get their mail it's not difficult.

[blisterpack]

YANBU. I've started binning them too. Fed up of sending things back when it never stops. I don't open them, just bin them.

[hiviolet]

If there's no return address on the envelope (I.e. birthday / Christmas cards) I bin them, because what's the point of marking it return to sender? It's the job of the previous addressee to let family know that they've moved, after all!

Oh, but I check there's no cash inside first