Prime example of CFery from previous home owner... Aibu?

[mummabubs]

Two years I've been on MN and this is both my first AIBU and my first CF post! So...

We bought our house 5 years ago. It was previously owned jointly by three male colleagues (let's call them Tom, Dick and Harry). To give a bit of background context there were lots of small niggles shortly after we exchanged- when we moved in it turned out the 3 guys had left a crap load of furniture/broken equipment in the house that they no longer wanted and the garden was littered with hundreds of cigarette ends (no exaggeration). The loft was even left full of their stuff. "Tom" hasn't been any bother to us to give him an iota of credit. For the first 2 years "Dick" caused us no end of trouble as we had weekly letters and calls from debt collection agencies threatening to send bailiffs as he owed a lot of people a lot of money and naturally hadn't left any forwarding addresses. Knew my rights re:bailiffs so wasn't worried but it was frankly a pain in the arse to deal with. Damn you Dick.

The AIBU relates to what I think is cheeky fuckery on Harry's part. Harry randomly turned up on our doorstep three months after we'd moved in to say he'd come to collect his stuff from the loft. My inclination was to tell him we'd got rid of it all to teach a valuable lesson but my DH instantly said "no worries" and went and got the stuff for him from the loft. (He's a good egg). In year two of living here we got a lot of clearly NHS mail for Harry from our local hospital marked Private and Urgent. I didn't open any of the mail but could see the department number from the envelope window so called the hospital just to let them know Harry doesn't live here anymore so they might need to call him instead. Problem solved.

Fast forward 3 years and tonight my DH and I got home from a long trip to find a note put through our door "Hi, it's Harry here. I used to own your house. I'm expecting an important appointment letter from my GP and they have my registered address as here so can you let me know when it arrives. My number is XXXX. Thanks, Harry". I sent a reply saying that I'd look out for it but it was probably wise to check as I'd told the hospital before he didn't live here so it might not be sent here. Also said it might be a good idea to update his GP surgery with his new address. Got a reply a few minutes later saying "no it'll definitely come to you. I haven't told them I've moved as I can get appointments really quickly in that surgery and you can let me know when letters arrive".

So- basically he's refusing to register with a surgery in his own area so he can keep using up appointments here... and also expects me to look out for his mail and act as his secretary. I'm sorry but what the actual fuck?! It's been 5 years, just change your sodding GP surgery!! I've a good mind to get the letter and then tell him it's here but also call the surgery that stamps the envelope to tell them he's not living here anymore. AIBU to do that? Or should I just message him to say I'll let him know this once but I'm not doing it again? Or is that fact I've just endured a 3 hour car trip with a screaming toddler meaning I'm being overly harsh?

When you get the letter, take it to the surgery. Tell them he no longer lives there and no matter letters are to be sent to your address. Call Family health services and see if they will recall his notes from the surgery. That'll force him to sign up to another GP surgery.

People can only take the piss out of you as far as you let them. Why are you indulging this crap? If you have his new current address; call the surgery and let them know.
If you don’t, still call the surgery and tell them he hasn’t lived there for three years and give them the contact number he gave you.

Nope - I'd return to sender (say your husband did it as you didn't pass message on). If it was urgent, the surgery would contact him directly. He is a CF idiot and I'd block his number or heaven knows what else he is putting at your address! Id have had enough at debt collectors and stuff stored in my loft! Total puss take.

Piss take!

I like the Return to Sender option as well, but I would probably do what you said you would - take the letter, let him know and ALSO ring the GP surgery to tell them that he doesn't live there any more and you don't want his mail being sent there. And then let Harry know that is the last time you will do him any such favours and you will be returning any further mail for him to sender. Then block him.

Meh. I’d do it for this one letter. To be fair, he hasn’t had an appointment in three years so it’s not like he’s overstretching local resources. But yeah, it’s pretty off.

To be fair, he hasn’t had an appointment in three years - we don't know that, he may have had a load of appointments but this is the only one that has required a letter to be sent by his GP. OP, I don't know why you said you will look out for the letter as it relates to his health - he obviously isn't bothered about his own health if he is allowing letters to be misaddressed to you!

That sounds like a whole bunch of not your problem.

Text him saying "No" and bin any post that isn't addressed to you/your household.

Hell no! If it comes, RTS it and let the surgery know.

He's taken the fucking piss for long enough. If it's so urgent, the surgery will ring him when you tell them.

I like @CalmdownJanet's message. Tell him to jog on.

I'd look out for this one letter for him.

But I would also text him back to say - this is the only time I will do this. From this point on I will be informing the surgery that you are not resident at this address. You need to register with a new GP. You cannot use our address, you do not live here.

Absolutely pre CFery. What a git.

I would tell him you’re not taking responsibility for this and any letters will be returned to sender. Then he can arrange to get the letter delivered to the correct address before it’s sent.

Even after 11 years I still get post for the old tenants. I'm fed up of sending mail back no-one takes any notice, they still carry on sending letters.
Finally stopped they bank mail coming by going into the bank with 6 letters they sent.
Debt collector letters are the main thing we get though.
If i was you I would take the letter to the gp surgery when it comes and tell them you have no idea who he is.

Text back "haha, fuck off."

I would do it for this letter in case it is genuinely important but make it clear that I would not be doing it again and that any further mail would be returned to the sender.

If it were genuinely important, he would have sorted his address out by now.

You've told him you don't want to deal with his mail, now just write NOT AT THIS ADDRESS and put them back in the post. Most people pay to have their letters redirected to avoid missing important letters when they move, but getting one 5 years after you move is pushing it a bit.

I'm at a loss to understand what sort of appointment the GP needs to write to him about that can't be sorted out by him ringing them up and arranging over the phone.

Harry needs to grow up.

If you pass on the letter this time you will just be encouraging him for next time. If its that important he is more than able of contacting the doctor and giving him his new address.

Return to sender, phone surgery, tell them he hasn't lived there in 5 years and block his phone number, pass on his solicitors address. Could also tell postman/royal mail.

Just imagine what the hell he could do to your credit history if he is still listed as living at that address.

Beware OP, the CFerry runs and runs. Our previous owner is STILL giving our address after 17 years. Last year I received a letter from the police in his new area about a crime he’d reported and used MY address for them- shady as hell. I called them and reported this but still got more so they obviously did nothing.

We’ve also had speeding tickets from France several times so I guess he has cars registered here too.

Ironically he’s the CEO of a risk company. So plenty to lose you’d think.

Clamp down hard and pretend to misunderstand this CF. Dick needs to learn the rules. If you do not own an address you cannot use it for your convenience any more. Ring the surgery and tell them since he’s too busy.

I would say 'Hell no honey!' Call your GP and ask when the appointment is and try to start adulting!

Don't "just do it this time", you'd be setting a precedent for future CFuckery. When it comes, take it straight to the surgery which stamps it, and tell them the issue and what was asked of you, pass on his number and leave it with them. Solves all problems with one hit.

No you shouldn't let anyone register as living at your address as he could use that excuse to escape paying council tax. I would wait for the letter then ring them up to tell them he no longer lives at your address.

Our house’s previous owners left stuff in the loft. Six months after we’d moved in they asked for their Christmas decorations and seemed very surprised we hadn’t kept them.

Don't bin the letters

Put "Return to sender not known at this address" on it

Eventually they get returned to sender. Then financial institutions e.g. banks, insurers and health care providers e.g. GPs, dentists, hospitals stop sending the letters. Debt collectors don't as they think it's another trick.

Wot @burritofan suggests

Mark anything that arrives 'return to sender' no longer at this address since 2014

Oh, but that 'urgent' letter may never arrive, so you could agree to keep looking out for it

Harry deserves some kind of extreme CF accolade .. Please don't continue to enable him

You are way too nice! Tell him you’ve moved and it’s his job to sort out his life!

Definitely do not enable him. Who knows what else he could use your address for. Personally I would take the letter to the surgery, I would tell them he doesn’t live there and hasn’t for over five years. Then I would give them his mobile number and let the surgery handle the rest.