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Original poster

Could this be some kind of fraud? Or just a mistake?

14 replies

birminghampicnic · 14/04/2023 14:53

I’ve lived at my address for 19 years. We knew the previous tenants so know their names .

For the last 2 years we’ve been getting multiple letters from the LA for a person we’ve never heard of in regards to a care home place for a relative of theirs I assume . Initially I put not known here and returned but they kept coming so I opened them and emailed the LA but no response. I called social services who said they’d log it but still more letters detailing financial assessments etc.

How do I stop this ? Is it just a mistake and won’t do any harm or could it actually be some kind of fraud ?

OP posts:
SunnySaturdayMorning · 14/04/2023 15:31

Just chuck them in the bin and forget about it.

user40816 · 14/04/2023 15:37

I'd be more concerned about admitting in an email that I'd been opening and reading confidential post addressed to someone else to be honest.

Softoprider · 14/04/2023 15:38

Oh rubbish your head @user40816

Kedece2410 · 14/04/2023 15:39

user40816 · 14/04/2023 15:37

I'd be more concerned about admitting in an email that I'd been opening and reading confidential post addressed to someone else to be honest.

There's nothing wrong with opening mail which is coming to your house addressed to someone who doesn't live there.

The OP has done absolutely nothing wrong in opening it

DoTrollsShitInTheThreads · 14/04/2023 15:41

Just keep returning the letters, stating Not At This Address.
For some bizarre reason, we received post for the Upstairs Flat at ours, from the LA. We lived in a detached house, and had for quite a few years.

Iudncuewbccgrcb · 14/04/2023 15:42

user40816 · 14/04/2023 15:37

I'd be more concerned about admitting in an email that I'd been opening and reading confidential post addressed to someone else to be honest.

Why? It's not illegal to open post if you have a reasonable excuse to do so.

The OP explains that despite returning them they kept coming so she opened then so she had a better chance of contacting who was sending them.

It's a massive data protection issue for the local authority and they should have dealt with it by now and they haven't.

Floralnomad · 14/04/2023 15:43

user40816 · 14/04/2023 15:37

I'd be more concerned about admitting in an email that I'd been opening and reading confidential post addressed to someone else to be honest.

Don’t be so stupid .
@birminghampicnic I would actually ring them up and get it sorted

user40816 · 14/04/2023 15:45

Softoprider · 14/04/2023 15:38

Oh rubbish your head @user40816

Except it's law and there's no reasonable reason that OP needs to be opening it. They've sent some back; either keep sending it back or chuck it in the bin. But of course that's more unreasonable than jumping to the conclusion there's something fraudulent worth worrying about going on.

Iudncuewbccgrcb · 14/04/2023 15:58

user40816 · 14/04/2023 15:45

Except it's law and there's no reasonable reason that OP needs to be opening it. They've sent some back; either keep sending it back or chuck it in the bin. But of course that's more unreasonable than jumping to the conclusion there's something fraudulent worth worrying about going on.

Show quote history

I would say attempting to rule out that your address isn't being used by someone fraudulently is a perfectly acceptable reason to open official looking post from the council for someone who doesn't live at that address.

especially if sending it back hasn't worked. And it won't work because it will just go back to the post room at the council and probably won't be passed on to the right people in adult social care, which is the department who have made the error/ been given incorrect information.

the law about opening mail exists as a means of having sanctions available for people who open post looking for cash/ banking information etc with the intention of committing crime. There is enough leeway in the law to prevent it criminalising Good Samaritans attempting to do the right thing.

MrsBunnyEars · 14/04/2023 16:03

Why do people like @user40816 spout bollocks they clearly know nothing about?

It’s not illegal to open other people’s post. It is illegal to do so if you intend to use the info for illegitimate ends, which is the opposite of OP is doing.

OP - I’ve had something similar. I tried everything you have (returning, phoning, emailing….) but letters came for at least a year. I gave up eventually.

walspen · 14/04/2023 16:05

MrsBunnyEars · 14/04/2023 16:03

Why do people like @user40816 spout bollocks they clearly know nothing about?

It’s not illegal to open other people’s post. It is illegal to do so if you intend to use the info for illegitimate ends, which is the opposite of OP is doing.

OP - I’ve had something similar. I tried everything you have (returning, phoning, emailing….) but letters came for at least a year. I gave up eventually.

It makes them feel superior and important

Floralnomad · 14/04/2023 16:05

It’s probably people like @user40816 that use other peoples addresses for their utility bills so they can claim they never receive the bills and don’t pay . ( which is what my address was being used for ) .

Original poster
birminghampicnic · 14/04/2023 16:48

I sent back about six and it didn’t stop and the envelopes were quite thick with a lot of paperwork so I opened them as was actually worried about my address being used for fraud. I’ve called again today so hopefully it’s finally sorted out as I’ve called and emailed before and it didnt stop

OP posts:
WelshNerd · 14/04/2023 17:06

Ask for the details of the data protection officer at the council and make a complaint directly to them.

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