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Original poster

Receiving letters to my address from a bank for a stranger

42 replies

CatsRidingRollercoasters · 28/08/2017 16:55

We keep receiving letters from Lloyd's Bank addressed to someone who doesn't live here. We bought the house almost a decade ago and he's not the previous owner who was here for longer than that.

We returned the first few letters to sender and eventually rang the bank when they kept coming. They promised to update their system and said we wouldn't receive any more. They wouldn't discuss it any further because for confidentiality reasons.

2 months on and another letter has come. I'm quite worried. What possible legitimate reason could there be for someone having what seems to be a current account registered to my address?

Also annoyed because the bank clearly didn't deal with it after all.

My address is shown correctly, including the postcode. I have no idea who this person is.

Has anyone else had this? Best to go into the branch or better to write to them do you think? Thanks all.

OP posts:
FallingOrbit · 28/08/2017 17:01

Yeah, been here 6 years and previous tenants racked up a shitload of debt. Every time a letter would come threatening bailiffs etc I'd ring them and say "Good - get your wanker bailiff round here ASAP and watch what fucking happens" - then it would stop for a while. Often a long while. But eventually if they can't trace the addressee they just try again. It's a bit odd after 10 years for this to be your first one for that person though.

Get to Lloyds and demand the manager, tell him what's going on. Take ID with you etc (especially if you don't bank with Lloyds your self) and instruct (do not ask) the manager that either it stops with immediate effect or you will take further action.

Buxtonstill · 28/08/2017 17:02

I'd open it.

BreconBeBuggered · 28/08/2017 17:03

Have you opened it up to see what it says? If you're not intending to profit from it or deprive the intended recipient of anything, which you aren't, I don't see any harm in putting yourself in the picture to see what's going on. It's what I've done any time post has come to my address for someone I don't know, because return to sender in my experience doesn't work. If need be I've contacted the sender afterwards.

olderandnowiser · 28/08/2017 17:04

I keep typing a long answer and it keeps getting lost. Yes it happened to me, it was identity theft, go to bank and make a fuss.

Petalflowers · 28/08/2017 17:04

His there a road with a similar name in the area. Ie. orchard road and Orchard park road?

Have you checked your credit rating? Not sure if it's done on the name and the/or the address.

Definantly go into the bank and speak to the manager and ask,for written confirmation that it has stopped.

Original poster
CatsRidingRollercoasters · 28/08/2017 17:05

Yes - the letters started coming 2 or 3 years ago. Really weird, especially as we've never banked with Lloyd's so it's not like they could have somehow mixed up our details.

OP posts:
mummmy2017 · 28/08/2017 17:06

I know your not allowed too, but don't you want to open the letter to find out why they keep sending you mail?

Orangebird69 · 28/08/2017 17:06

No advice but my dbro used to receive post at his address when he first moved into his house. It was rather odd as his house was brand new - he bought off plan before building even started or houses were numbered. Confused

pigsDOfly · 28/08/2017 17:06

I had something similar in a house I bought off plan, so definitely no one had lived there before me. It was a long time ago so I've forgotten the details but if I remember correctly it was someone buying something on credit and trying to get the credit at my address.

I spoke to the company and eventually the letters stopped so no idea how it was resolved. Sorry non of that's very helpful.

Have you actually opened the letter to see what it says, you can always claim you did it in error,

I wouldn't bother going into the branch as they can't do much with it.

I'd ring the bank again and ask to speak to the department that deals with fraud in case it's someone trying to use your address to get credit; doesn't matter if that's not the case but you need them to take it seriously. It doesn't sound like it's a case of updating their records if the person has never lived there.

Original poster
CatsRidingRollercoasters · 28/08/2017 17:08

I've opened the last 2. They've both been circular type letters relating to changes to overdraft charges, things like that. I'm guessing that he gets his statements online, as we do, as nothing comes as regularly as that.

Will go into the branch (which is a massive pita because they recently closed my local Lloyd's branch).

If you bank with Lloyd's and are missing some post - be aware! They might just be sending it to a complete stranger.

OP posts:
Original poster
CatsRidingRollercoasters · 28/08/2017 17:09

There are a couple of roads with similar names around here, but it's the fact that the postcode is correct for this address which worries me.

OP posts:
MadisonAvenue · 28/08/2017 17:09

We've been getting letters to our address from HMRC for someone who doesn't and has never lived here. It's a new build, we're the first occupants and we've been here for nearly 7 years and it was just wasteland before that. It's not an error with the house number either as we know all of our neighbours and it's none of them.

I even did an online search for the person as the name was unusual and absolutely nothing came back!

HMRC initially told me to return the letters, then I had to open one (they were regarding self assessment) and when they didn't stop I had to open one and give them all of the details so that they could investigate. A month passed and another arrived so I called HMRC again, and they again took details and said they'd investigate. We haven't received one since but it's so strange.

LivingInMidnight · 28/08/2017 17:11

Natwest once changed my address on their systems. Would have been great if I'd actually moved! No idea where they sent my statements or the card they sent before I realised something was wrong. Could be something like that? Although I'd hope I'd notice faster than that.

missymayhemsmum · 28/08/2017 17:11

There are two possibilities. Either it is an innocent typo and there is someone with a very similar address wondering where their bank statements are going, or there is someone fraudulently using your address to secure credit. Either way they could potentially show up on a credit report as living at your address
Is there an obvious alternative address eg terrace instead of road, or one digit different in the number? If you have the name you could try 192.com to try and track them down.
Or just go in to the Lloyds branch and try to convince them they have the wrong information, which may be difficult.

FallingOrbit · 28/08/2017 17:13

They've both been circular type letters relating to changes to overdraft charges, things like that

In light of that, I do bank with Lloyds and I had one too (in my name of course) so it could just be a genuine cock-up. But I'd still check it out in case it's something more sinister (not ID theft as it's not in your name but credit fraud etc) - I wouldn't worry too much just yet - but don't take no shit and make sure you get it sorted.

TheBatteringLord · 28/08/2017 17:16

@FallingOrbit - "Get to the branch and demand the manager..." Lol! Good luck with that.

MadisonAvenue · 28/08/2017 17:19

Living Barclays did that with us recently. They reverted back to using our former address and sent cheque books and my husband's nephew card there even though we changed the address in the branch when we moved (which at the time was 6 years previously) and had sent cards, books and statements to our new address since then.

JeremyCorbynsBeard · 28/08/2017 17:19

Our mail often goes to a similar address in a village 7 miles away. I think some companies input the start of the address then just select the first option. We had NHS letters, DVLC letters and even the AA go to the wrong address. We had no idea it was happening until the very cross owner brought all the letters round, demanding to know why were sending them there! So it could be the same thing for you.

JeremyCorbynsBeard · 28/08/2017 17:19

Our mail often goes to a similar address in a village 7 miles away. I think some companies input the start of the address then just select the first option. We had NHS letters, DVLC letters and even the AA go to the wrong address. We had no idea it was happening until the very cross owner brought all the letters round, demanding to know why were sending them there! So it could be the same thing for you.

ChuffMuffin · 28/08/2017 17:20

I'd open the letter, and take it to the bank with ID showing your name and address, and tell them you're concerned about money laundering as the person named on the letter does not and has never lived there. I'm sure if you mention money laundering they'll soon listen.

thatdearoctopus · 28/08/2017 17:24

Every now and again, Lloyds texts me about an account I don't own. I've phoned them about it, and they say they must have my number down for someone else. They say they'll rectify it, but then it happens again.

ZippyCameBack · 28/08/2017 17:26

I think the link between the list of account holders and the mailing list is sometimes not properly maintained. We stopped getting statements for my MIL's bank account shortly after her death, but 25 years later we still get mailing list-type mail for her. So it's possible that even after more than 20 years, it is just someone who hasn't been properly removed from a list. We don't get these letters all the time, but in spurts every few years.

fleshmarketclose · 28/08/2017 17:36

We get circular style letters from Lloyds regarding an account that was closed some fifteen years ago now so they could be for the person who lived their prior to the person who lived in your home before you.

confused123456 · 28/08/2017 17:38

We constantly get post for various old tenants. We return them to sender (we don't know who they all are or where they live now, so couldn't forward them ourselves). Sometimes we get loads from the same place to the same person. I open them to see who they are, and contact the relevant place. I then destroy the letters.

PNGirl · 28/08/2017 18:11

I had TV License letters for someone else at my address - we bought it new and already have a license in our name. When they started coming from a debt collection agency I opened them and had to phone 3 times to clear the error. They have still never explained this.