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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Do I keep the voucher

149 replies

skipperjonce · 10/12/2020 15:28

We’ve lived in our current house for nearly 2 years. Very rarely we receive mail for the previous owner. As I don’t have a forwarding address I normally return to sender.

Last week we received a Christmas card for her containing a £20 m & s voucher. I opened it as it felt bulky and there was no return address on the envelope. The card was from Uncle and Aunty whoever and again no return address, just the voucher and a short message.

So AIBU to keep the voucher and spend it. It’s already paid for after all?

OP posts:
ivfbeenbusy · 10/12/2020 15:31

Well it's illegal to open other people's mail

And illegal to steal

So of course you're bloody unreasonable- is this post a joke??????

twolip · 10/12/2020 15:31

I would but you'll be vilified for even opening the envelope on here!
Keep hold of it until after Xmas in case they contact you about it then treat yourself to some goodies.

ivfbeenbusy · 10/12/2020 15:31

And if it's only been 2 years just approach the estate agent that sold the house and see if they can make contact to forward the mail on to

changedmynameforChristmas · 10/12/2020 15:32

@skipperjonce

We’ve lived in our current house for nearly 2 years. Very rarely we receive mail for the previous owner. As I don’t have a forwarding address I normally return to sender.

Last week we received a Christmas card for her containing a £20 m & s voucher. I opened it as it felt bulky and there was no return address on the envelope. The card was from Uncle and Aunty whoever and again no return address, just the voucher and a short message.

So AIBU to keep the voucher and spend it. It’s already paid for after all?

No way of knowing who it came from and no way of forwarding or returning it? Spend it or it's a waste. Or donate it ?
ilovesooty · 10/12/2020 15:34

When I received an item of value through the post intended for a previous owner I asked the estate agent to contact the sellers. However they were selling on behalf of residents who'd died.

Have they moved locally? Could you post on your local Facebook page?

Gardeniaofdelights · 10/12/2020 15:37

I would make some effort to send it on - ask on a local fb group if anyone knows a forwarding address, or ask their solicitor? But if you can’t locate them I don’t see the harm in spending it so it’s not wasted.

Original poster
skipperjonce · 10/12/2020 15:39

@ivfbeenbusy

Well it's illegal to open other people's mail

And illegal to steal

So of course you're bloody unreasonable- is this post a joke??????

So if post came addressed to your house with no return address what would you suggest? Just bin it without opening?

Some people on here just crack me up 😂

OP posts:
katy1213 · 10/12/2020 15:39

I'd spend it. Not much you can do without an address - and why should M&S benefit?
I wouldn't go to any trouble to find a forwarding address; that's not your problem.

FestiveChristmasLights · 10/12/2020 15:40

YABU. M&S will likely be able to trace the buyer so you should contact them.

AndcalloffChristmas · 10/12/2020 15:40

I agree I’d make a proper effort to locate them, through estate agents for example.

ilovesooty · 10/12/2020 15:41

@katy1213

I'd spend it. Not much you can do without an address - and why should M&S benefit? I wouldn't go to any trouble to find a forwarding address; that's not your problem.
It depends whether you feel a moral responsibility to make an effort to forward it, I suppose.
pumpkinpig · 10/12/2020 15:42

It's not illegal to open mail not addressed to you - it's illegal to use the contents of mail you've opened to commit fraud.

Keep it - clearly they're not interested in updating Aunty and Uncle where they live now.

Original poster
skipperjonce · 10/12/2020 15:42

@Gardeniaofdelights

I would make some effort to send it on - ask on a local fb group if anyone knows a forwarding address, or ask their solicitor? But if you can’t locate them I don’t see the harm in spending it so it’s not wasted.
Thanks, excellent suggestion. I’ll pop a pic of the envelope on our local group. Hopefully someone will know the recipient.

The previous owners sold to a national builder as a part exchange deal, then they sold it to a px specialist reseller, so doubtful new address details would be released through that chain, even if they were known.

OP posts:
MaelyssQ · 10/12/2020 15:45

I couldn't spend a voucher not meant for me. I'm shocked that you even considered this. I would be asking neighbours, posting on social media, contacting M&S, to try to locate the person this gift is intended for.

MustardMitt · 10/12/2020 15:45

I’d spend it. Maybe it is stealing. If the police want to arrest and prosecute me for using a gift card not explicitly addressed to me that I couldn’t possibly return, then fine.

Sorry for aunty and uncle, previous owners should have updated their address!

rbmilliner · 10/12/2020 15:47

Keep it for the time being if nothing else, the previous owner or uncle & aunti could be in touch if they realize the mistake

Redred2429 · 10/12/2020 15:47

I would use Facebook and ask neighbors and If I couldn't trace I would donate it

CareBear50 · 10/12/2020 15:50

I would spend it but ONLY after a period of six months where I'd tried my absolute best to find the original owners.

Like PPs have already said - neighbours, social media, their solicitor, real estate agent.

uhohbrusselsprouts · 10/12/2020 15:55

It is NOT illegal to open mail addressed to another that comes to your house. God knows why everyone thinks this. No one has ever been charged for opening post!!

It is ONLY illegal to use the information within post for legal activities such as ID fraud.

Plonque · 10/12/2020 15:55

Well you've no way of getting it to the rightful owner so if you don't spend it, it will get wasted.

Technically it is theft but I'd have opened it and I'd have kept it - But I wouldn't have posted on social media about it. You know you aren't going to get a pat on the back for it, don't you? Confused

jessstan1 · 10/12/2020 16:00

Don't be ridiculous, of course you can't keep it. You should not have opened it! However it is possible to open someone else's card or letter by accident when you have a pile of your own to open, I did that once. What I then did was re-address it to the sorting office with a note explaining what I had done in error and left it to them. It's amazing how good Royal Mail are at finding people who have moved and if they don't, it's not your problem.

MobLife · 10/12/2020 16:01

There are plenty of ways to try and reach the rightful owner-via the estate agent or via M&S to track the buyer first

Equally if mail comes to you with no return address you still shouldn't open it-the royal mail have a process for managing with items like this and you can just put it back in the box marked return to sender then the post office can deal with it

I am genuinely shocked by some of the responses on here!!

lockupyourcinammon · 10/12/2020 16:04

That’s so tacky to consider spending it. I once had the same, a £30 boots voucher with no way of finding the intended recipient. I didn’t bloody spend it!

Monkeypeas · 10/12/2020 16:10

@FestiveChristmasLights

YABU. M&S will likely be able to trace the buyer so you should contact them.
What MI5 level detective skills do you think M&S have?

Just siens it OP, there is nothing you can do. Who is to say the previous owners are even still local?

If it makes you feel better, buy a bag of shopping with nice m&s bits and donate it to a food bank

nzeire · 10/12/2020 16:10

The details of Aunty will be in the m and s customer system ?