To stop forwarding post?

[BabCNesbitt]

We moved into a rented house in August, and in the first week we had a couple of official-looking letters for the previous tenants. I held on to them, intending to get the forwarding address from the landlady, but a few days later the old tenant came to the door to pick up the post and give us their new address (in a different city). I said I'd forward on anything that came for them.

I guess I expected that after a month or so, they'd have updated their new addresses, but these letters are still coming weekly for them, and I'm still dutifully scribbling "please forward" on the envelopes with the new address. AIBU to decide that enough is enough? Should I write something else on the envelopes or just start returning to sender?

[BabCNesbitt]

(Sorry, this is a really dull question! )

[ilovepowerhoop]

write 'not known at this address, return to sender' and stick them in a post box

[HappyAgainOneDay]

It looks as if the previous tenants couldn't afford be bothered to arrange for redirection. I'd give up forwarding and start to

Return to sender, address unknown.
No such number, no such zone.

[hellsbellsmelons]

I'd write a note on the back of one of the letters you send back saying that they need to get their post redirected as this is the last time you will be sending post on.
Then as PPs have said.
'No longer at this address, return to sender'

[Andrewofgg]

Print a sheet of labels at the office and just stick them on? How much trouble can that be?

[MonanaGellar]

If they wanted letters forwarding they should have paid for it. Not your job. One month, maybe out of kindness but no more than tbat.

[Aberchips]

I'm in a similar situation & getting a bit fed up of it too. The couple who lived there before got their post redirected but they had their kids (grown up) living back with them temporarily before they moved out & we keep getting their post too - by the looks of it the daughter has a big Next Driectory habit......

[Andrewofgg]

When I was about 13 we moved into a flat whose last (deceased) occupant had been into the Shakespearean Authorship question, and we could not get off their mailing lists. Not that I minded, it was fascinating to see how angry the Oxfordians, the Baconians, and the Stratfordians got with each other!

[Noodledoodledoo]

A month you are lucky. We bought our house a year ago and still get post for previous owners. Not just junk best one yet was car tax renewals after 10 months! They redirected for a month after moving.

I phoned estate agent and said they need to sort it and from that point everything would be binned (junk) or returned to sender anything official looking. Still get some but it has reduced.

[HappyAgainOneDay]

I still get a catalogue addressed to my ex. It's useful He moved out 21 years ago. I've never posted it on.

[championnibbler]

This happened to me. I returned any post that came in the door to the sender. They got the message and now I never get any mail for previous occupants.

[effinandjeffin]

It's probably not what's happening in this case, but can I just point out that redirection doesn't always work? We paid for it when moving, but it was extremely hit and miss. Also, when I phoned up Royal Mail to complain, they said that they can't redirect anything to do with the DVLA. Not sure how true that is though.

[AcrossthePond55]

You have to pay for forwarding? You don't just put in an order with the post office?

Anyway, I'd send the former occupant a letter saying that as of a certain date (2 weeks?) any mail received will be returned to sender. That will give them a chance to straighten it out. I'd rather err on the side of politeness and assume it 'slipped their minds'.

[icanhaveadarksideifyouwantmeto]

we have lived here for 10 years. I STILL get post for the previous owner.

some i open by mistake- becuase i just pick up the pile and open them without looking who its addressed to.

in the early days i used to feel forward, then rts/not known at this address etc, but then theyd get mixed up and id open them, i would invariably feel incredibly bad and phone the company but that hasnt made a difference either.

now i think...fuckem....if it were important mail they would have changed it by now.

[ItsAllGoingToBeFine]

You have to pay for forwarding. They are not allowed to forward some things eg jury citations / polling cards etc.

[SaucyMare]

i have been here 14 years, still get christmas cards. honestly do you never update your christmas card lists people.

In reply to one poster, we don't have labels at work we can print ourselves. not being anything to do with admin.

[AbbieHoffmansAfro]

My relative had this because the previous owners sold up and did a moonlight flit owning lots of people lots of money. One of them turned up ages after asking for post and was told it had been returned.

[cozietoesie]

I've always regarded post asmy responsibility. I pay for a redirect (usually six months or a year to be safe) and anything else the new occupants are free to junk. If you deal properly with utility companies etc, you shouldn't get anything useful by post after that sort of time.

Looks as if you're dealing with either cheapskates or lazybones.

[OwlCapone]

I once had a lorry arrive at my door with a large delivery of bricks for the previous owner. :)

[BabCNesbitt]

Ha! At least it's only been letters so far!

Andrewofgg, I don't work in an office, and DH is in a new job - don't want him to be done for nicking office supplies before the first few months are out!

Thanks for all the replies - will add a note telling them (politely) to sort it out as I'm not sending any more on!

[taxi4ballet]

We still get a Christmas card delivered here addressed to previous residents and we've been here 28 years!!!

[chocoshopoholic]

Also if you're in a TNT delivery area, these aren't picked up by a Royal Mail redirection

[FreeWee]

7 years at our address and still post for the previous owners (although to be fair it's clearly junk). I'm friends now with the previous owner through both being mums so I let her know I've binned her junk mail!

[AuntieMaggie]

I know a few people who have had problems with having their mail redirected including the previous owners of our house - this could be what's happening here so I would just return to sender