AIBU to think that this isn't legal?

[WalkingDownTheStreet]

I got a letter in the post yesterday.
Addressed to :
My Neighbour
My full address

It's a copy of The Watchtower

Can they send you unsolicited mail? I suppose it's no different to them posting spam through your letterbox themselves but it just seems intrusive.

@GreyhoundG1rl

Of course it's not illegal to send things through the mail. It's not illegal to knock on people's doors either, in case that was your next question

At least that way I can tell them where to shove it.

All you do is, pick letter up, look, walk to bin and bin it.

You must be easily annoyed. I don't see why this is a big deal.

@HughGrantsHair

I've had handwritten notes from local Jehovah Witnesses during lockdown. Never considered what they were doing illegal they're sending them because they can't knock doors. No different to all the other stuff that goes straight in the bin. UKIP leaflets are unwanted in my house, they can still send them though without breaking the law

If its the same as the ones I got, they aren't actually handwritten, I was a tad put out when I found that out. ;)

I assume you're mixing up data protection regulations.

Personal data is anything that can be linked to you, as an individual. So name + address = personal data.

Organisations should gather your consent before using your personal data. They do this in a number of ways; so in a shop at the till, they ask for your email address, you give it, and they assume that this is consent to be sent email marketing. Or you buy something online and don't untick the box about "we may share your details" and suddenly you're getting marketing through the letterbox from shops you've never bought from.

However, your address in and of itself is not personal. It is publicly available. If it hadn't had your address on the front, then would you have noticed? It's exactly the same thing. However we as consumers are more likely to open something with our address on - as it gives the perception of being personalised - whereas blank envelopes may go in the recycling without being opened.

Oh that's disappointing.

It’s what a lot of JW’s are doing in place of their door knocking field service

It’s not remotely illegal to send letters to people

If you contact the Kingdom Hall they’ll remove you from their list

@WalkingDownTheStreet

Ok, fair enough. Usually though unless you sign up to a mailing list, companies generally can't contact you. It's a bit annoying nonetheless.

No - that's not the case. You have to specifically opt out by contacting the company yourself.

Send it back marked ‘Not known at this address’

It blows my mind what easily affronted people think is illegal.

I really don't know how some people managed without random advice from unknowns before the internet!!!

Illegal?! 😂

Postmen/women get paid extra to deliver all the extra crap that comes through the door.

@HughGrantsHair

I've had handwritten notes from local Jehovah Witnesses during lockdown. Never considered what they were doing illegal they're sending them because they can't knock doors. No different to all the other stuff that goes straight in the bin. UKIP leaflets are unwanted in my house, they can still send them though without breaking the law

Me too. Beautiful writing. It went straight in the bin.

I get loads of junk mail. Not illegal, just annoying. If this is the first but you've ever received OP I think you are pretty lucky

@ForwardRanger

I think you're being a bit religious-ist

Seconded

@HughGrantsHair

I've had handwritten notes from local Jehovah Witnesses during lockdown. Never considered what they were doing illegal they're sending them because they can't knock doors. No different to all the other stuff that goes straight in the bin. UKIP leaflets are unwanted in my house, they can still send them though without breaking the law

It's illegal to go door to door at the moment?

Somebody needs to tell the fucking chuggers who did our street yesterday afternoon. Blue Cross, apparently (going by the official clothing, lanyards and the like).

Just chuck the Watchtowers in the bin.

I have noticed the local racists political canvassers who have 'opinions' upon immigration/religion/Brexit/Sadiq Khan we're not racialist but never dare to knock round here and only ever delicately sneak the leaflets through the doors in case there's a possibility somebody inside might notice them. Just as well, really - they're the ones I'd be likely to call back just to tell them where their odious propaganda/at best borderline hate speech can be inserted.

We got one yesterday addressed to number x Our street. Whilst I’m not a fan of the jws, the letter was actually kind, thoughtful and respectful-yes it was a “if you have questions” type of thing, but also wishing us well and looking forward to better times.(which is ironic given that they believe in the impending apocalypse)They actually, just prior to lockdown, renovated a derelict chapel a few doors down, our hearts sank, but they have always been polite, less disruptive than fecking British Gas and are only there twice a week. Could have worse neighbours.

Re-seal the envelope. Cross our your address. Mark it "Return to sender, please remove my details from your database and don't contact me again". Pop it in the post. Job done!

Why so much angst?! Bin it, use for animal bedding, draw glasses on Jesus.

They're doing what they feel is right to save our souls. I don't feel I need saving so I bin it. No drama.

They used to hand me a copy of this sort of thing at my train station. I always smiled, said thank you and threw it in the bin round the corner. Aside from the waste of paper, I don't understand why you would be angry about it?

I got a handwritten letter, including phone number, and some pretty upsetting leaflets through from them.

I sent a message telling them it was upsetting and intrusive and that I had already requested they don't come to my house on their rounds so I certainly didn't want then to write either.

Got an apology and taken off their mailing list.

A few people I know have had Facebook requests and messages from them too.

Gosh you seem very upset for what amounts to junk Mail.

Yes there has been an uptick in JWs doing this over the last year or so. Just chuck it in the recycling. They must be spending thousands on postage and packaging!

I remember once DP and I got a knock on the door from an offshoot religious group (Christian but not affiliated with any major branch). They told us they’d like to come by one evening and do a prayer circle with us. We politely (but firmly) declined and said we weren’t interested. Then one of them asked if we were married and we said no (not that it’s any of their business) and they left.

A few days later we get a bunch of crudely designed leaflets through the door with bad word art and low res images saying we were living in sin and would burn for all eternity unless we repented and joined that particular group. That was lovely. Popped it in the recycling and haven’t heard any more about hellfire for the time being.

Either bin it or put it back in the box marked "Return to Sender". Pointless getting that worked up about it.

I’d a couple of them came here, I don’t mind talking to them, so I made polite conversation , they were talking about the bible and correlations to every day life. To he fair was a relatively interesting theological discussion, it was a sunny day and I was just being nice.

Anyway, seems doing that encourages them. They think if you’re nice to them and don’t shoo them away you must want to join. So they started coming back. Eventually I had to look them in thr eye and say “look it’s interesting but really I’m just being nice, and I’m never ever going to become a JW”. They looked shocked and didn’t come back after that.😂