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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Neighbour keeps opening my post?

69 replies

pollysproggle · 01/07/2018 16:20

I lived in a rented house for a year then the landlord wanted us out. Unforeseen circumstances which meant they needed to live there.
We were in a bit of a fix but fortunately for us the house two doors down became available to rent so we moved in there. Leaving a big gap between the time we left and they needed to move in.

The old house was let out again, I'm assuming short term to bridge the gap between them moving back in.

Obviously when you move there's a lot of things that need your updated change of address and all the main things, bills etc are changed over.
Things that hadn't been, Tesco clubcard, pets at home card- things like that.
When new tenants moved in I introduced myself, it's a very friendly and neighbourly street and said sorry if any post comes for me I'm just two doors down now if you wouldn't mind popping it in or I can collect it.
Giving mine and DP's name so she knows it's ours.
As all these forgotten things arrive I change the addresses over as I go.
New tenant was very nice about it and did Pop things through my letter box so she knows who they're for but I started to notice that letters had been opened.

They're not important things, mostly junk mail but opened none the less.
My pets at home parcel was missing the mini bag of cat treats too.
I didn't say anything because they're not there for long and the mail isn't that important but thought it was odd.

Recently I went back on to amazon prime after cancelling 6 months ago. Ordered something on my phone app (a small toy) and just clicked the 'buy now' not thinking about the address change.
Got a text yesterday saying when it would be delivered and was in- wasn't until I got the text saying it had been delivered did I realised it was to the old address. These texts are pretty much automatic as soon as it arrives.
Instantly went and knocked but no one answered so I thought it was delivered through the letterbox and no one was home. more fool me for not checking the address, I'd have to wait.
No one came by with it, fine. Knocked myself around midday and they were home. Took a good 5 mins of hunting (by them) for this parcel that arrived yesterday.
They then appear with it, opened. The toy box is handed to me with the packaging separately with some excuse about them not knowing my name so didn't know who it was for then closed the door.
Also if it makes any difference, far too large a box to go through the letterbox so someone must have taken it in.

They said they had more letters for me 'somewhere' but will bring them round later.
Once they've checked the contents no doubt.
AIBU thinking these neighbours are taking the piss rifling through my mail and opening my package?

OP posts:
kitkatsky · 01/07/2018 16:22

I'd pay for Royal Mail redirection so you don't need to worry

Fishface77 · 01/07/2018 16:22

They are but I’d be pissed of if I was still getting your post to be honest.
Change your address. Do a redirection.

Handsoffmyusername · 01/07/2018 16:23

YABU for not getting your post redirected. The new tenants obviously don't want to give you your post, so just suck it up and pay the fee to the post office for redirections.

Oddcat · 01/07/2018 16:24

They shouldn't be opening your mail , junk or otherwise ! Can you do a redirect thing with the post office ?

Stressedout10 · 01/07/2018 16:24

Yes it's also a crime report them to the police

ThisIsntMeHonestGuv · 01/07/2018 16:25

YABU not to redirect your mail.

They are also unreasonable, but you can change that fairly easily.

pollysproggle · 01/07/2018 16:29

I completely get that it's annoying to receive others post, I've always rented and it seems part in parcel with doing so. We get mail for other people all the time but don't open them.

I forgot to mention this is only in a space of 6 weeks and as we are only two doors away thought it wouldn't be a massive problem but will use the redirect service now for sure.

Why open my parcel? It's not like the contents will shed any more light on the owner of it. They knew it was mine

OP posts:
Merryoldgoat · 01/07/2018 16:29

This is all easily solved by getting a redirect from Royal Mail and sorting your Amazon address book.

Yes, they shouldn’t open it but it’s easy to fix with no nonsense.

Singlenotsingle · 01/07/2018 16:29

It is a criminal offence to open someone else's mail

CluedoAddict · 01/07/2018 16:30

You should have been more careful and changed your address. I would be pissed off to still be getting your post.

Handsoffmyusername · 01/07/2018 16:31

Have you considered that they're sick of dealing with your post, so they're deliberately opening it to annoy you, so that you'll eventually get annoyed and pay for post redirection? Maybe that's their message.

unfortunateevents · 01/07/2018 16:31

The easy solution to this was to pay for mail redirection when you moved. How much stuff did you forget about that they had to redeliver? It's been years since I moved but I certainly don't check the name on everything that comes through my door, particularly if it looks like junk mail or if it's something like Boots Advantage points or Tesco Clubcard where I am signed up anyway. It would only be e.g. when I realised that Pets at Home are suddenly sending me dog offers when I only have a cat that I might notice the name difference. How would you have managed to get this mail if the house had remained empty?

strawberrypenguin · 01/07/2018 16:32

You should have paid to have your mail redirected. I know it's another expense but it is your responsibility.

Your neighbours are weird for opening it though

Sammyham88 · 01/07/2018 16:38

It's not right them opening post meant for you but it is their house and they might not be checking the name on the front first if it looks like junk mail.

Although, It's kinda rude that you're only changing things as they arrive, once or twice is fine but sounds like this has happened more than that, do you think they really want to have to drop your mail off or you disturbing them to collect it.

You don't want them "rifling" through your mail? Then finally take the responsibility that you should of done in the first place and get your mail redirected.

pollysproggle · 01/07/2018 16:38

Yes fair enough I agree I should have, wasn't trying to avoid the cost just didn't think about it. Moving house is stressful even if you're only moving two doors away.

The landlords relative lives around the corner and they were dropping my mail to me when it was unoccupied.

I don't think they've been inundated with my mail to the point it would cause a problem for them and most is changed now so I'm interested to see what else they have.
They have put through about 10 items in 6 weeks- they're hardly drowning in envelopes!

OP posts:
kaitlinktm · 01/07/2018 16:40

I used to get fed up redirecting other people's post for free when I had paid good money to have my own redirected. Eventually when I was still getting letters after a few months, I wrote to them and said that after a certain date, I wouldn't redirect any more. Oddly enough it stopped coming after that.

pollysproggle · 01/07/2018 16:43

As for the inconvenience, we've been round there on two occasions to help them with things as we lived there, working the washing machine and a tap problem- being neighbourly!
It's not tit for tat I know.

Getting on to the redirection service now!

OP posts:
TorviBrightspear · 01/07/2018 16:44

It is a criminal offence to open someone else's mail

No it isn't. It's only an offence if you are intentionally depriving them of their mail. If you are opening it to find a forwarding address, for example, you aren't breaking the law.

TheQueef · 01/07/2018 16:45

Just redirect.

I'm an Amazon night buyer so often get surprise parcels Blush if I see the smile I just open it.

Iamagreyhoundhearmeroar · 01/07/2018 16:45

Yes, you are being very unreasonable to assume they wouldn’t mind taking in your post for 6 weeks, just because they’re only two doors down. What’s that got to do with it?!

mosessupposes · 01/07/2018 16:46

You're lucky they aren't binning it after so long.

whiskybysidedoor · 01/07/2018 16:48

YABU.

You should have paid for a redirect like 99% of people do. Going round there and asking them to be your personal secretary was a bit CF to be honest.

I have an old occupier who can’t grasp that I don’t want to be their secretary either. Lazy cheap arses. It’s very very annoying.

happypoobum · 01/07/2018 16:49

I agree you should have just paid for Royal Mail redirection.

I have always just binned post that came for a former occupant, or returned to sender, "Not at this address"

Littleredboat · 01/07/2018 16:49

I think they’re trying to piss you off to make you sort it out.

They shouldn’t, of course, but...
..... just sort it out.

pollysproggle · 01/07/2018 16:50

That's a bit harsh- they said they didn't mind. They see me nearly everyday. There's only one house in between so hardly a trek.

Do people just sit there festering with anger and malice because a neighbours letter arrived?

OP posts:
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