Ex Owners post and parcels...dump it all?

[Lotusmonster]

We moved into our new house 2 years ago. During this time, the previous owner has continued to allow all manner of post and parcels to come to the house. This includes banking correspondence, clothing orders etc. We’ve gathered it all up twice and dropped it off at the estate agents. We’ve also bumped into the ex owner and given them the latest haul with a grumpy warning to get their addresses updated....but still stuff keeps coming. It’s taking up space in our hall...parcels etc and is a pain in the ass. I feel like binning it now after all this time. Any ideas please! Thank you!

Return to sender doesn't work.
I've been doing it for 2 years and now we have the bailiffs due for the previous dickheads debts. 🙄

I'd be very tempted to open the parcels though!

I've been in this house since 2006 and we still get the previous owners bloody mail. I kept sending it back but gave up after a few years and now just bin it.

10 years we've been in this house and still receive bank statements for previous owners plus something very official looking that says do not redirect. I just shred the whole thing now, if it was important enough they'd have redirected.

I’d eBay the parcels......

Some great suggestions here from tough experience. Thank you 🙏 I have just stuck notes on door and letter box saying no post or parcels for xyz. Will do return to sender stamp. Will keep parcels for 2 weeks then either use or give to charity. They’ve made no effort to give us an address to forward to or even give us a telephone number despite meeting us in the street once and taking their stuff directly. Their loss.

Whack the parcels on eBay - there's a big demand (I believe) for 'mystery parcels' ATM. You could make a small fortune - and they're clearly not missing the items they've ordered.

All previous owners mail that gets delivered to my house goes straight into the bin.

I wouldn't even wait 2 weeks, you've given them enough chances now. Do return to sender for letters, but for any parcels I would give the contents straight to the local food bank, charity shop, you get the idea. Or use the stuff yourself if it's suitable. It's not like you haven't tried. They are as good as giving their own stuff away. If they ever ask I would look thoughtful and say 'no, don't think we've had anything arrive lately...' but from what you've said that's doubtful anyway.

@Penners99

All previous owners mail that gets delivered to my house goes straight into the bin.

Well aren't you a charmer? I couldn't do that to someone. There could be anything in there.

Would it really hurt to 'return to sender' ?

After 9 years?

@Penners99

All previous owners mail that gets delivered to my house goes straight into the bin.

Please don't do this - it should go back in the post box with "not known at this address"

@Lotusmonster

You’d think they’d miss stuff, but apparently not. There’s something turned up a couple of months back from an aromatherapy firm...I’ve not opened it but assume oils etc. Today was a parcel of clothes. I think we are going to hang onto stuff for 2 weeks then re think it’s fate if no one has been in touch.

all that stuff , its madness !! they must be loaded if they can order all that and just not notice its ever arrived , christ you are welcome to free up your hallway space by sending all the parcels to me lol

You can get rid of everything except shares and debt collectors by writing return to sender. It might take a few goes, but it will go. If you have their address or forwarding address via estate agent then give that to Capita Registrars and the debt collectors, that's the only way to get rid of them.

I'd be worried if they were still linked to the address and any unpaid debts impacting your credit record. I know you can sort things out down the line by proving you're not connected but still a pain to have to do. Might be worth getting an up to date credit check.

@woodlandcalm

I'd be worried if they were still linked to the address and any unpaid debts impacting your credit record. I know you can sort things out down the line by proving you're not connected but still a pain to have to do. Might be worth getting an up to date credit check.

Why do people still think that the debts of previous occupants of any given address can have an impact on someone else's credit report?

If RTS isn’t working, and you want to stop it coming then open it and ring whoever is sending it.

This is perfectly legal in the UK so long as you are not opening the mail in order to act to the owner's detriment.

Straight to the bin for mine -they’ve had enough chances and the bin’s right outside my door compared to the several mile away postbox.
Was a rented house and receive mail for 4/5 different people ... some of them must’ve been gone years.

I worked for a company once that had loads of stuff RTS. The company didn’t do anything about the returns just binned them.

I used to pass on post for the previous owner, for months and months. Until I found out they were claiming benefits as if they still lived at my address! Obviously they could “prove” they lived there because they were receiving all the correspondence - because I was passing it on!

Refuse the parcels if you can and bin the rest. We are still getting mail here for the previous occupant and the one before.

For post: Gone away - return to sender

For parcels: send email to the company and stating
Addressee Gone Away - no known forwarding address. Available for your collection within 14 days, after which it will be disposed of.
I believe you can keep them if they don't collect them.

Just put it in the bin

Absolutely agree with all the people who said to write return to sender - even though it’s a pain to get to the post box for you, it will start to bring an end to it.

The previous owner of my house bought a £500 rug and sent it to our house and then kicked off and accused us of stealing it when it was left in the porch when we were at work. It was brilliant. I’ve kept the note that says ‘John Lewis are investigating’ 😂 ok love, I’ll wait for the John Lewis police.

@SteveyFluff this is terrible! what would be the motivation to pretend they were still at their old/your address?

Definitely send all letters back without “Not know at this address” as suggested.

And if the delivery driver ignores your sign then leave the parcels outside.