AIBU to think this intimidating house buying letter should be reported to police?

I don’t think you live next door to one! My current HMO neighbours are appalling and are taking over the street. Currently four motor bikes, two electric bikes, one white van , two “security” vehicles, and a mysterious BMW that comes and goes. The amount of rubbish they produce is phenomenal and they have taking to cuckooing bags of rubbish in other peoples bins. The only positive is that the landlady , currently raking in thousands, is in for a nasty shock when she sees what they have done to the house, the garden and her furniture. I really hope I am there on the day.

The previous tenants were fine btw, a really nice family, but she gave them notice so that she could fill the house to the rafters with her current tenants. And yes, I have contacted the local council, and my local councillors.

Any mileage in calling age concern for some advice

Name they would get from electoral register . I’d make sure someone was there on Thursday in case they showed up and told them to fuck off also gim it on a phone.
I’ve had these and ignored it . Someone wanting a property but not willing to go through proper channels or pay full price.
mid your friend did want to sell hopefully they will go through a proper estate agency and lawyer . Not some we buy any house asshole

Fuck me, you’re persistent! 🙄

Yeah ok, you know lots of things about the police. Happy now? Because it is too fucking hot to argue about something that didn’t even happen in the end.

I'd do this for a neighbour. Additionally several years ago I had a weird episode with a random caller offering to do DIY for me and tried to enter the house. He was definitely strange, might have been high and when i said no and shut the door, he stole my wireless doorbell push...it was amazing the distance it would still operate over!!

Anyway I posted on local SM to warn others and got several messages back asking if I was ok and did I need someone with me which I thought very kind. Several other people posted that he had appeared at their doors and due to this "tracking" the local police were able to pick him up. Obvs i never heard the end of the story.

You must know people with tons of spare time
I could do this to help out a neighbour but I don't have 'tons of spare time', I just work at home and would do it in lieu of a lunch break. I'm sure I'm not the only one.

Phone the Police - no option.

Everyone suggesting having someone at the house? You must know people with tons of spare time...you know there is an option of just don't answer the effing door! People go away after 3 mins if you ignore them.

Well at least you're honest in this instance, but what did you expect the police to do?

Did you mean to be so rude?

Yup

Did you mean to be so rude?

Trading Standards in this instance would most likely do the much loved Mumsnet 'log it for information', because realistically in this instance that's all they could do. We have no idea of the prevalence of these letters but an analyst working for Trading Standards could use the information to build the intelligence picture. It might be a trend or a series or simply a one off.

The remit of Trading Standards is broader than many people think. This is part of their role. Why wouldn't this letter fall any under of this?

'Trading Standards use the information you give them to investigate unfair trading and illegal business activity, like rogue traders and scams.'

Source - https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/get-more-help/report-to-trading-standards/

What do you think the police would do?

I dont have a 'passing association' with police, we work very closely with them as our multi agency and stakeholder partners in statutory front line services.

Im not involved of course in the allocation of PCSOs in the community but know enough about it to know that they are highly unlikely to do what you present. You can report things like that and should do of course, but the idea that they'll allocate a PCSO to spring out on the doorstep is somewhat fantastical. We often cant even get officers or PCSO's out to do welfare checks where we KNOW that someone is actually at risk.

Of course every area is different, perhaps there is a very lucky force area where they have resources for such things and this may be one of them, its possible of course, but not likely. Thats my professional experience.

have you not RTFT? The only identification on the letter was a surname and Mr. The OP said the surname was not an unusual one. What would Trading Standards do?

Did 'the police' actually say that or did a random person on Mumsnet say their other half was in the job and they said to report it?
There is no 'the police'. And what is policy in for example Devon and Cornwall may be dramatically different to what West Mids would say.
Personally I think the OP would have been better off reporting it to Trading Standards for their information, not action.
It's all by the by anyway as the author of the letter didn't show up.

The person I was quoting seems to be doubling down on their advice.

Another response showed a message encouraging elderly people to report this to the police as its an illegal practice. I tell you its a scary world out there when common sense leaves the room.

Good job there are others out there to balance it out.

If you check another responder. The police have said they should be contacted in cases like these.

I wasn’t talking to OP.

As in I was not telling OP to ignore her neighbours. Which is why I said I would ignore the letter “it” not “them”.

I would ignore the letter were I in receipt of such a letter.

It’s fine you find that approach absurd. We don’t have to agree.

yup and even the most switched on and toughest of us can have our times of stress or weakness.

Actually thank you for highlighting that. Vulnerability is all ages.

this. If there weren't people of all ages with vulnerabilities, there would be no romance scams, no drive cleaner or roof scams, no investment or "you may be entitled to claims/refunds/compensation" scams.

Ok. And what if this person then showed up on their doorstep?

And yes i am well aware that you were talking to the op. The way this works is. You will reply and then others will give their opinion on your reply.

As someone that works with the elderly. And knowing how vulnerable to those that prey on them for just beingelderly are. I find your reasoning absurd.

And please do think about the ramifications of your advice.

Its also within the realm of possibility that you don’t know how vulnerable the elderly can be to cold callers on the landlines they insist on having or the front door of the home they live in. In which case look it up on the internet.

There is a whole world of information out there.

I am not talking about OP.

I am talking about being in receipt of a letter saying my home is too large and I should sell it.

I would ignore it. Why would I waste my time doing anything other than ignoring it.

And yes if a loved one received such a letter I would tell then to ignore it.

The date has been and gone. All the info is in the updates by OP.

Just put on nite on the door on Thursday
I’m not interested in selling and I will not be answering the door

i really can’t see this is a police matter

Oh. I hope the person is fine, and that nothing untowarsds happened. Still, the bit about the photocopies is important.