To wonder if this is some sort of con?

[PrinzessinCressida]

A couple of days ago we received a letter addressed to a person at a company and we've never heard of either. It had our exact address apart from the last letter of the postcode. We thought it was a mistake and were going to put it in the postbox with a "Not known at this address" comment, but another letter has arrived today, from HM Revenue & Customs. Same company name, same address as the previous letter. The first letter is typed with a window envelope and we can't tell what it is without opening it.

I've googled the company and it was set up 12 days ago with the address on the letters (ie our address with the slightly changed postcode). The director is the person the first letter was addressed to.

Should I be suspicious or is there possibly a totally logical explanation to this? And what would you do with the letters?

I’d look the company up in Companies House directory.

It's not listed there. I found it on some online directory.

Have you put the postcode into Google to find out if it exists?

Try searching the director's name on Companies House; if they're an office holder in any other companies they'll come up, you may start to see some connections. Return the HMRC letter as not known at this address.

If the postcode is so similar it's probably a mistake. Like they've put your address - 12 green road, instead of theirs - 12 green avenue

I’d be opening the letters for a start.

I would take a copy of both letters and send them to HM Revenue and customs with covering letter saying these companies are nothing to do with you.

What address does the postcode give? That should give clues if it's similar name

Open the letter
It isn't illegal to do so

I’d open and contact HMRC. My concern would be if someone has set up a fake company using your address, (even if there is one letter wrong on the postcode).

Aha! I just checked - the postcode does exist and brings up the odd numbers on my street (we're an even number). So perhaps it is a genuine mistake - a typo or a misreading of a handwritten number.

I looked up the director's name on Companies House and it is listed against several companies, although none at this or a similar address, but I'll double check to be sure.

I guess there is still the possibility that someone has set up a company fraudulently against our address with a minor change as a disguise. I'll have a think about opening the letters, although isn't it illegal to open a letter that's not addressed to you? Would I be able to justify this if I later have to contact HMRC?

And thank you all for your advice, it's really helpful.

@PrinzessinCressida

Aha! I just checked - the postcode does exist and brings up the odd numbers on my street (we're an even number). So perhaps it is a genuine mistake - a typo or a misreading of a handwritten number.

I looked up the director's name on Companies House and it is listed against several companies, although none at this or a similar address, but I'll double check to be sure.

I guess there is still the possibility that someone has set up a company fraudulently against our address with a minor change as a disguise. I'll have a think about opening the letters, although isn't it illegal to open a letter that's not addressed to you? Would I be able to justify this if I later have to contact HMRC?

It's not illegal, no. That's just a mumsnet myth!

But I'm not sure how opening one would help if it's a mistake, it would hardly the right address inside. Maybe better to return to sender or ask neighbours if they know the name of the person it's addressed to.

@PatsyJStone

I’d open and contact HMRC. My concern would be if someone has set up a fake company using your address, (even if there is one letter wrong on the postcode).

Mine, too. Whatever you do, make it clear to HMRC you have no knowledge of the person or the company.

Ring HMRC and tell them your concerns.

It isn’t illegal to open post not addressed to you, it only becomes illegal if you do so with “malicious intent”. So you should open the letters for clues as to what is going on.
I’d be contacting HMRC as a first step.

Ring HMRC and register it as a complaint

@Embracelife

Open the letter It isn't illegal to do so

Oh yes it is.

Postal Services Act 2000, section 84 (3):

"A person commits an offence if, intending to act to a person’s detriment and without reasonable excuse, he opens a postal packet which he knows or reasonably suspects has been incorrectly delivered to him."

@JimmyDurham

Postal Services Act 2000, section 84 (3):

"A person commits an offence if, intending to act to a person’s detriment and without reasonable excuse, he opens a postal packet which he knows or reasonably suspects has been incorrectly delivered to him."

How is the OP intending to act to the detriment of the person who the letter should have gone to?

It sounds like a simple mistake on the house number rather than anything sinister

OP, have you googled the name and the postcode on the letter? It may give the correct number on your street.

Thank you all for your advice. We rang HMRC and explained this is nothing to do with us. They asked us to send the letters to them with our contact number and they'll investigate and let us know. They understood our concern, which is reassuring. We haven't opened the letters.

My money is on the person who set up the company having mistyped their street number, but better safe than sorry.

Thank you all again.