Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Original poster

I've opened someone else's mail and it's serious....

170 replies

Pepperwand · 23/10/2019 13:31

Just after a bit of advice. A letter came through the door today, right address but the name wasn't us our the previous owners of the house. It was however, sort of similar to my maiden name but a male. So for example if my name was Michelle Henderson this was for Malcolm Hutchinson (just a made up example).

I occasionally enter an alias name if I'm signing myself up to something to avoid junk mail so thought it could be something I'd called myself to a random company in the past and opened the letter.

It is a serious letter detailing a fine in relation to "Sex offenders register failure to comply with notification requirements". It mentions bailiffs/enforcement if this isn't paid.

Obviously this is really bad and now I have the name of the person. I don't want to get in shit for opening such a letter but I don't want bailiffs turning up at my door thinking he lives here!

Do I call them and fess up? Do I put it back in the post marked as wrong address? Help!

OP posts:
BertrandRussell · 23/10/2019 13:33

Ring the number on the letter and explain.

cauliflowersqueeze · 23/10/2019 13:34

Yes ring and explain.

Kaddm · 23/10/2019 13:35

Agree ring and explain the name is similar to your maiden name.

HappyHammy · 23/10/2019 13:35

you know you shouldn't have opened it and once you knew it wasn't for you shouldn't have continued reading it, but you have so I return it to sender with not known at this address. it sounds a very odd letter to be getting from the bailiffs.

Lllot5 · 23/10/2019 13:35

Normally I’d say just ignore any letters but in this instance ring them and explain.

CigarsofthePharoahs · 23/10/2019 13:35

Yes, what Bertrand said!
I've just opened a letter addressed to a previous occupants. We moved here in 2012 so it's been a while. They've had a debt passed on to a collection agency so I'm going to call them.
I expect we'll still get letters through. We still get the odd letter from the DVLA for them.

OhMyGodTheyKilledKenny · 23/10/2019 13:36

Definitely ring and explain.

It may be a genuine mistake that it was wrongly addressed or it may be that this person has given your address.

Either way someone out there who is on the sex offenders register is already in breach of their conditions and it needs to be addressed.

ilovetofu · 23/10/2019 13:36

Sellotape / glue it shut and put back in post with " not known at this address" written on the front.

EL8888 · 23/10/2019 13:36

Yeah l also vote letting the senders know what happened. I’m guessing this individual is meant to declare where they are living but have moved and not done that

raffle · 23/10/2019 13:38

The previous owner failed to tell the authorities that oversee the sex offenders register that they’ve moved?

Yes you should contact them.

raffle · 23/10/2019 13:39

Bailiff though? I would never have imagined that a bailiff would be used for such a breach

BertrandRussell · 23/10/2019 13:40

Don’t do the “not known at this address” thing. That won’t stop you getting bailiffs/whatever at your door.

Awwlookatmybabyspider · 23/10/2019 13:40

Okay don’t panic.
Just pop in back in the envelope.
Put it in another envelope along with a quick official note saying.
“ The person named on this letter does not live at this address. I have lived here since ........ My name is ........... Sorry I opened it by mistake..”
Send it back to the sender address by recorded delivery.
Or does it say which Bailiffs they are perhaps you could google and call them

Disfordarkchocolate · 23/10/2019 13:42

It sounds like a scam, is this the normal procedure?

InsertFunnyUsername · 23/10/2019 13:42

Contact them and explain it had your address on it. I've opened up my neighbours letter before and had the awkwardness of delivering it to her opened Blush Serves me right not checking before I tear open a letter.

LizzieBananas · 23/10/2019 13:43

“Not known at this address” does work with bailiffs.

You don’t say if you rent or own but if you rent, do keep the agent/landlord in the loop.

Aderyn19 · 23/10/2019 13:44

I'd ring them and just say you opened it by mistake. If you are on the electoral roll the bailiffs would be checking that and should know that this person doesn't live there. Every year you should get a form from the council where you declare who lives at your address. Check with the council that this man isn't still listed.

Aquamarine1029 · 23/10/2019 13:44

Just call them and say you opened the envelope without even looking at the name. I do that all the time.

Passthecherrycoke · 23/10/2019 13:46

There is no need to panic it’s fine to open letters like this. It’s only illegal if you have ie fraudulent intent in doing so

Call and tell them, although I agree bailiffs is a bonkers response to not signing up to the SO register

Awwlookatmybabyspider · 23/10/2019 13:46

I’m also querying. What have Bailiffs got to do with Nonces/Predators

WomensRightsAreContraversial · 23/10/2019 13:47

Google the letter contents, see if it comes up as a known scam

tigger001 · 23/10/2019 13:50

Check for any scams through Google and if none, ring the company.

I am however struggling to see how an unpaid fine would result in the bailiff letter stating he was a paedophile

Dyrne · 23/10/2019 13:51

Put it back in the post and mark ‘not known at this address’. If you do call them I’d have a google first to make sure it’s legitimate and not some sort of scam.

slipperywhensparticus · 23/10/2019 13:51

I had to ring the police when my ex husband was being summoned by them and he hadnt changed his address I told them I hadnt paid attention to the front as he hadnt lived there for over four years

Jojobythesea · 23/10/2019 13:51

@ilovetofu 👈🏼 this is what I would do too