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Original poster

Old house owners being a pain

271 replies

Moaningturtle · 13/01/2022 09:59

We completed on our house in mid November. It started in the day of completion when she was still in the house 3 hours after completing moving stuff out, and then left a load of stuff in the garden to come and collect another time. It was annoying, especially as the clutter in the garden made our moving in harder, but it we were accommodating and polite.

Then the packages started arriving all the way up to Xmas, including a few which we missed delivery of that weren’t named so we had to go to the collection office to get packages that turned out were not for us! This got a bit more annoying. Then her partner (who wasn’t even joint owner) messaged me informing me that UPS will be delivering a very important package that day and could I make sure I sign for it!! On that occasion I told him no, I was sleeping and can’t get up to answer deliveries (I work nights). It happened to come while I was awake though so I dutifully took it to a requested neighbours house.

Then he messaged me asking me to contact Virgin Media and take over his contract!! I said no thank you very much, we have our own broadband sorted. He seemed a bit miffed as I assume he now has to pay for the remainder of the contract.

All a bit annoying but we put up with it. But the latest instalment is that we’ve had Virgin media knocking on our door demanding we give back their equipment. Now, they did leave a router plugged into the wall which I assumed they didn’t want as why would they leave it in a house they had sold? So I put it straight in the garage….I think? It’s possible it went to the recycling centre with other electronics we were getting rid of. If it is in the garage it’s way way way back there behind all the stuff we haven’t yet unpacked/general garage crap. And now the previous owner is WhatsApp-ing me about finding it for her as I assume she’ll be charged.

I know it all seems like small stuff and I should probably just do it, but I work at night then sleep for 4 hours before picking the kids up from school and the whole clubs/dinner/homework/bath time/ bed time routine. Then I’m back at work!

At what point can I stop being obliging and just block them from my phone? Or am I being petty here?!

OP posts:
SeasonFinale · 14/01/2022 17:59

@Moaningturtle

Is there anyway that virgin can come after me for the equipment, as technically I do possibly have it, somewhere?!
No the contract was with the previous owners. The previous owners failed to keep it.
ivegotdreadfulpmttoday · 14/01/2022 18:05

I'd be worried that they were going to pull a stunt regarding all those parcels. Saying they never got them for example. Keep all texts regarding the parcels.

KeepingAnOpenMind · 14/01/2022 18:23

Ugh. Just block the cheeky fuckers!

KeepingAnOpenMind · 14/01/2022 18:25

@ivegotdreadfulpmttoday You’re being ridiculous. Don’t feed into OP’s anxiety, it’s mean.

cherish123 · 14/01/2022 18:31

I can understand mail coming to your address (if they have not got a redirection). However, surely a parcel is ordered as a one off. Why are so many coming to you?

Usernametaken100 · 14/01/2022 18:43

Love all the 'block them' and get lawyered up type comments. Why does OP need to go to the extremes and just ruin relations? Months from now OP might actually want to ask the previous owners about the history of the house or something like 'where us the stopcock buried' yet most of you want to go down in burning bridges. OP has been very nice to some disorganised people and she can still be reasonably helpful and preserve her own boundaries without going full Lord of The Rings. Cut off your nose and all that.

SavBbunny · 14/01/2022 18:48

I had a landlord who had all his mail delivered to us, & internet shopping. Told his bank he was still living there and insured his cars at our address as it was cheaper than his new one. Dodgy and nasty bastard. Two years it went on for. Refuse everything.

RobotValkyrie · 14/01/2022 18:50

@Usernametaken100

Love all the 'block them' and get lawyered up type comments. Why does OP need to go to the extremes and just ruin relations? Months from now OP might actually want to ask the previous owners about the history of the house or something like 'where us the stopcock buried' yet most of you want to go down in burning bridges. OP has been very nice to some disorganised people and she can still be reasonably helpful and preserve her own boundaries without going full Lord of The Rings. Cut off your nose and all that.
I had a landlady a bit like these previous house owners. We tried to be "helpful", and the nonsensical demands just got worse and worse and worse, up to the point where the council, their banks, and bailiffs got involved. Never again.

Tell the cheeky fuckers to fuck off, OP. There's no way these disorganised people would be of any help if you had any questions about the house or whatever. Some people are a net drain.

Jaxxy · 14/01/2022 18:54

With others block them, tell her you have never seen the router /virgin stuff and don’t accept their parcels. You have already gone above and beyond, they are CFs….

Mollymoostoo · 14/01/2022 18:55

@Moaningturtle

Is there anyway that virgin can come after me for the equipment, as technically I do possibly have it, somewhere?!
No. You do not have a contract with them, the previous owner does.
belowaverage · 14/01/2022 19:00

@cherish123, we started getting loads of parcels for previous owner over a few weeks nearly a year after moving. Turns out they were gifts and party supplies for their 21 year old child and hadn't changed their delivery address on amazon or ebay and they came automatically until they noticed they were missing.
They were such a""eholes that they contacted our neighbour to ask for them, unfortunately we had sent them back the following week

Flufftc · 14/01/2022 19:02

Wow you are being way too nice and accommodating….any post from now on write in capital letters NO LONGER AT THIS ADDRESS and post return to sender….any parcels addressed to the previous owner again NO LONGER LIVES AT THUS ADDRESS please return to sender and as for virgin media NOT your responsibility! If they turn up again make it clear you don’t have the router and the previous owners have moved out and you don’t have a forwarding address…I would quite happily provide their phone number though..as for the previous owners I would send a strongly worded email advising them that you will no longer be accepting mail or parcels and they need to speak to the post office to have all mail redirected if they are not prepared to give you their forwarding address (if they give you the address, which I doubt, you can pass it on to virgin and every one else chasing them!) and will be blocking any further contact by phone message etc from now on…such cheeky fuckery from these people and absolutely not your responsibility in any way!!

fetchacloth · 14/01/2022 19:02

The CFery of the previous occupants beggar belief OP 😒. No way would I put up with this.
So, I would do the following immediately:
Block all contact with them.
All mail, parcels whatever, instruct to return to sender. On no account accept delivery of any more parcels.
Tell Virgin Media to pursue the contract holder as it isn't you. If they get pushy tell them they are trespassing because that's the truth.

Next thing to do is breathe 😃 and pour yourself a nice large glass of wine and forget all about this. Enjoy your new own home😉

fetchacloth · 14/01/2022 19:05

@ivegotdreadfulpmttoday

I'd be worried that they were going to pull a stunt regarding all those parcels. Saying they never got them for example. Keep all texts regarding the parcels.
Really? No way! Just don't accept delivery of them in the first place. The OP shouldn't have to take ownership of other peoples' issues.
IncompleteSenten · 14/01/2022 19:14

At this point I'd be saying this is not my problem to solve. I don't have your equipment or any obligation to virgin
Or you. Do not contact me again.

You've been nicer and more accommodating than anyone could reasonably expect. It's ok to end that.

sueelleker · 14/01/2022 19:21

@ElephantOfRisk

Aside from any one off genuine errors, such as ordering something which defaulted to a previous address and finding it's already been despatched then agree with everyone, they are taking the pee.

Why would they leave stuff in the house when it no longer belongs to them? I have the same issue with people putting unsolicited catalogues through the door and then ringing to get them back days later and being annoyed that you binned it. If you want to keep it don't put it through the door.

I'd stick a temporary note on your door saying you will not accept and mail or parcels for X and X to hopefully resolve the mail/parcels issue.

I wish you luck with the note-I've got THREE stickers on my door warning people that it opens outwards. They still leave parcels on the step in front of it! Sorry but how do they even have your number? We've never swapped numbers with people we've bought/sold with Could be a land-line. We took over the number when we bought our house.
Mandyjack · 14/01/2022 19:23

Message and say please do not contact me again and say I will no longer accept packages of any sort then block them. Worst thing to do is to give a buyer or seller your number. Tell them to contact your solicitor with any issues. Refuse any further deliveries and send back any letters marked no longer at this address

Mandyjack · 14/01/2022 19:24

They had the contract with them not you and as such were responsible for returning it

HidingFromDD · 14/01/2022 19:29

they are CFs. If you go to post office to collect a parcel and it's not yours, you just leave it there, not your problem.
Wrt assertiveness, the best piece of advice I received was 'do you want 10 mins of discomfort or a lifetime of resentment'. Puts it into perspective

Madamum18 · 14/01/2022 19:34

The rare few times I’ve shown assertiveness have all been in a bit of a blind rage, I end up shaking afterwards but ultimately feel much better as I’ve stood my ground!

Well in a blind rage it wont actually be "assertiveness" and highlights a misunderstanding about actual "assertiveness" is in practice. That last remark is meant kindly btw. I suggest you read "A Woman in Your Own Right" by Anne Dickson. Really really good!! And very helpful Flowers

BTW - they are absolutely taking the p*!!

Lucycantdance · 14/01/2022 19:39

I’m just here for the updates 😂

RebeccasoldercousinSusie · 14/01/2022 19:41

Personally I would message and say you do not have it and leave it at that.
Wouldn’t be accepting any more parcels for them. They need to redirect their mail

StaryEyes1978 · 14/01/2022 20:04

@Moaningturtle

Is there anyway that virgin can come after me for the equipment, as technically I do possibly have it, somewhere?!
Nope. The contract is their responsibility. I would just tell previous owner that you binned anything that was left in the house (as you assumed they didn't want it). It's not your problem.
GirlOfTudor · 14/01/2022 20:31

Why are you still answering their calls/texts? You're being used as a free mail direction service.
Also, why do they have your phone number? I assume you bought your house through an estate agent, so why were they given your personal contact details?

Flufftc · 14/01/2022 20:39

@fetchacloth

The CFery of the previous occupants beggar belief OP 😒. No way would I put up with this. So, I would do the following immediately: Block all contact with them. All mail, parcels whatever, instruct to return to sender. On no account accept delivery of any more parcels. Tell Virgin Media to pursue the contract holder as it isn't you. If they get pushy tell them they are trespassing because that's the truth.

Next thing to do is breathe 😃 and pour yourself a nice large glass of wine and forget all about this. Enjoy your new own home😉

Yes this 👆👆…most definitely pour yourself a large glass of wine and enjoy your new home!…Happy new home 🥂🍾 cheers x