for not wanting my address used?

[MrsDe]

My SIL is lovely and I get on very well with her. She doesn't have a permanant address for reasons I won't go into and so has difficulty in receiving mail.

For a while MIL has been redirecting SIL's mail to our address as we live closer to her. Not overly happy about it but I keep out of it and DH passes the mail on when we see her. Anyway, this morning a letter arrived at our address to SIL from HMRC - clearly addressed to her at our address. I've just opened it as assumed it was for me and it relates to her self-assessment. Am I being unreasonable in not wanting SIL to use our address with HMRC? I don't think I am but other opinions welcome!!

Yabu, it won't affect you...what are you worried about?

I wouldn't be happy about this either, especially if this was HMRC!! It's all very well putting a redirect on post (£54 for a year through the post office) but NOT giving her details as yours.

I wouldn't want this either. If she has poor credit it can be "attached" to the address and could affect you adversely if you're applying for a loan.

MrsWinnibago - council tax (more than 2 adults in a house 'officially') and also bills/debtors if they turn up at your door.

Mrwinnibago - I was wondering there would be any implication that she was resident at our address if she used it with HMRC I suppose. She doesn't live here and I wasn't asked if she could use our address.

Shushpenfold - could that happen if she's only used it for HMRC purposes? Is council tax dependent on the number of adults living at the house?

Ask her to make it c/o then people will know she does not live there and just uses your address.

Council tax is a set rate.

You can get reductions if you meet the criteria.

It will not go up because more than 2 adults live there.

thanks MaxPepsi, that's helpful.

Tripecity - yes I'm tempted but wonder if that's petty reall. A number of years ago I said to MIL that I didn't want to have the post re-directed to me and it stopped. It started back up again about 6 months ago (again, without being asked) and I've left it happen - on the basis that my DH takes responsibility for it and it goes in a drawer either until she collects or DH can be bothered to give it to her.

I guess I'm just a bit miffed that this is now progressed to my address being used. Boundaries keep being pushed - give an inch and there goes a mile!

"If she has poor credit it can be "attached" to the address and could affect you adversely if you're applying for a loan."

Sorry but this is not correct. Credit-files are attached to named individuals and not addresses. Even if a current occupant or a previous one was a bankrupt it would have no effect on anyone else. Having debt-collectors on the doorstep looking for someone who doesn't live there is irksome and a hassle but nothing else if you have proof of identity when they show up.

If a family member needed to use my home address for correspondence with HMRC (or any other organisation) I really wouldn't be reading anything sinister into it other than the five seconds it would take to set the mail aside for collection.

Bitter - would you have wanted to be told beforehand though? Or actually asked?

But if the SIL has the last name as DH, then it could get confusing if there were any future issues with debts, etc.

I think if I'd been asked, then I'd be ok with it, but her just doing it - no, that's not on.

YANBU, if you ever need any kind of.means tested benefit they will think she lives there.

I wouldn't like it as not been asked. If more than 2 adults at the address has no effect and certainly doesn't effect credit rating. Abit cheeky to do without asking....

Ok thanks all. Will ask DH to speak with her I think and say she needs to speak to us before using our address for anything.

Your SIL also needs to be clear with people that this is a postal address and not where she lives. I think using c/o will probably convey that, but in any situation where it matters she should be honest and clear.

Otherwise, you might look implicated in her dishonesty. Depends what she is like, but if there were any chance of bailiffs pursuing her you would not want to be put in the position of standing on the doorstep explaining she doesn't live there and they can't take any of the house contents.

She could get her post sent 'Poste Restante' to the post office of her choice. It's a free service.

Thanks grandad, didn't know about that. Will check it out.

Silly string - that's bollocks. Addresses aren't involved with credit histories. It's the individual. Been that way for at least 20 years. Please be aware of the facts before telling people such hysterical inaccurate codswallop.

"Bitter - would you have wanted to be told beforehand though? Or actually asked?"

Yes, of course I would. It's only common courtesy, after all. But it wouldn't have any direct effect on me by doing it, so I'd be slightly miffed at being taken for granted, but no more than that.

Bitter, think that's it...I feel a bit miffed and taken for granted that she didn't ask first.