To think my neighbour threw away my post

[AnneNonimous]

And not know what to do about it now?

I live in a house converted into flats and currently it's just me and a couple who live in the flat below me. All our post comes through the same letterbox and we put it all on a shelf in the hall. We get a lot of stuff for people who used to live here and occasionally the downstairs couple will throw the extra post that's been sitting there away.

On Tuesday I was expecting a letter from my DP who is away. When I went down in the afternoon there was no post for me and all the post had gone so I know they must have thrown the rest away. I know when he sent it and his letters are never late, and I still haven't received it so I'm thinking they must have (accidentally I hope) thrown it away.

I have no proof but it seems like quite a coincidence doesn't it? They haven't been very friendly since I moved in 6 months ago so I do feel nervous about approaching them. Not sure what to do as if I'm wrong it would be embarrassing but I don't want DPs letters to keep getting thrown away!!

Just ask politely if they have thrown post away recently and say you were a bit disappointed as you were expecting one from your partner as he is away.
Hopefully it is a one off or maybe they havent at all and it could be missing or lost.
Was it not a bank holiday on Monday?

Do they know what your full name is? If they don't know your surname, they may have assumed the letter was for a previous occupant.

Maybe you could talk to them and say something along the lines of "I was expecting a letter from DP on Tuesday and it's still not here - is there any chance that you've picked it up by mistake? It would be addressed to AnneNonimous"

That way you're highlighting the missing letter without it sounding like you're accusing them of throwing it away, so you're less likely to cause yourself embarrassment if it really is lost in the post IYSWIM.

Also, if they know your surname, they'll be less likely to throw away any of your post accidentally, and if they realise they may have accidentally thrown away your DP's letter, they will hopefully be a bit more careful the next time they're getting rid of extra post.

Put a letter box out side with your number on ie 12a or 13b, or top flat etc

When I went down in the afternoon there was no post for me and all the post had gone so I know they must have thrown the rest away

Sweeping statement there, unless you saw an array of post in the first place, which dictates the question why you didn't pick yours up.

Perhaps the postman didn't have anything to deliver that day?

holly I meant the rest as in the post that ha been building up on the shelf

Could I ask re the 'post that has been building up'. Do you do any of the getting rid of/redirecting etc? Maybe they're getting fed up of being the only ones who do and were correspondingly careless?

Throwing old residents' post away creates more work, in the long run, so they are idiots, as well as bad neighbours!

Are you able to redirect any post to work?

Or could you get a landlord/freeholder to lean on them to behave?

How long do you expect post for ex residents to sit there?

They may well have decided to return to sender a bulk wad of post.

But sensibly - put your own post tray/letter box out and you can pick up your own mail.

I still get mail shots for FIL and MiL who have been dead 18 and 15 years respectively.

I would think it fair game after 2 weeks to 'return to sender' any mail, thereafter 6 months to bin ex residents mail - Im sure someone will be along to quote me the Telecommunications Act, but in reality, how long would you stack up a fire hazard in the hall?

but again, you live in close proximity, all you need to do is knock on their door, introduce your self "Hello! I'm Anne, I've noticed you have been so neighbourly in keeping the hall way so tidy, so I've taken a leaf out of your book and I've put a tray out for my mail, if you see any for me, would you be angels and pop it in there for me to pickup, and I'll do the same for you if you go on holiday" (much enthusing)