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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Council at my door...

120 replies

OnNaturesCourse · 22/03/2023 11:17

Had two people come to my door from my local council looking for someone I've never heard of today . They stated they are looking to speak to this person urgently.

I said never heard of the name or person and they went away no further questions.

I've just now received a letter (post man) addressed to this person with my address on it. I haven't opened the letter. But I am now concerned someone is using my address for council tax or benefits etc. Wondering if I should open the letter and, if it is council or other contactable organisation, give them a call to try and explain what's happening? Or is it unreasonable to open others mail? (I've actually heard it's illegal...)

How concerning could the situation of someone using my address be? I guess they could have genuinely used the wrong house number on a form etc but surely the council should have pretty accurate details. I mean I pay the council tax for my home so my name is recorded here.

OP posts:
Mayonaiseislife · 22/03/2023 11:18

Open the letter

IncompleteSenten · 22/03/2023 11:21

Despite what a lot of people will tell you, it is not illegal to open someone else's mail.

They just don't understand the law!

The actual law is "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."

Key words in your situation being without reasonable excuse. Someone potentially falsely using your address is a very reasonable reason to open mail.

LadyHaHaHeeHaw · 22/03/2023 11:22

Normally I'd say put it back in the postbox with Not Known,but in this instance I'd ring the council to if they want it for their records/file.

Not sure if that's legal though

Original poster
OnNaturesCourse · 22/03/2023 11:27

I usually do just chuck them back in post box. Our house was previously rented out and had a LOT of tenants so it's not uncommon for us to get random bits of mail under different names. It used to be loads but over the years it's dwindled down to pretty much nothing. I recognise most of the names now too but this one I don't.

OP posts:
snowysnowglobe · 22/03/2023 11:27

I’d open it.

TheFlis12345 · 22/03/2023 11:28

Open the letter. It’s only illegal if you do so with ill intent.

Viviennemary · 22/03/2023 11:29

Open the letter. Then ring the council. Don't just ignore it.

MoongazyHare · 22/03/2023 11:30

Which bit of ‘the council’ were they from? Council tax? Planning? Licensing? Environmental Health?

It makes a difference as to what the issue might be.

MereDintofPandiculation · 22/03/2023 11:31

Of course, if you usually do open all the post that comes to the house, it's the easiest thing in the world to find you've accidentally opened a letter without reading the address

Original poster
OnNaturesCourse · 22/03/2023 11:32

It's about arrears and the need to discuss recovery or collection of these.

According to the letter it was at a previous address.

Doesn't provide much details except the guys name. No council account number or anything else to identify him.

Not sure if the council would be able to help without the details but I'll keep the letter incase the people come back. They are still out on my street. I wonder if they are collection officers or similar.

OP posts:
Greentree1 · 22/03/2023 11:34

You need to know what is in the letter, it could be final demands or bank accounts set up from your address. Open it. If it's debt collectors, be careful, if you engage with them they may try to make you responsible for the debt.

If it's nothing bad seal it up and put back in the post, not known at this address.

Clarinet1 · 22/03/2023 11:36

I would simply write on the envelope “Not known at this address” and put it back
in the post. After all, if you’re not that person, the letter cannot be anything for you.
The visit you had from the council may
be purely coincidental or may be a symptom of more dodgy dealings. Either way, you would probably be wisest not to get involved.

CaroleSinger · 22/03/2023 11:40

So call the council and tell them the person doesn't and never has lived there. How simple is that?

LIZS · 22/03/2023 11:40

If they are still outside, pass the letter on.

Comedycook · 22/03/2023 11:42

I'm confused...were they debt collectors working on behalf of the council or actual council employees?

Quveas · 22/03/2023 11:42

I would absolutely not ignore it. I would phone the council and tell them that this person is not at your address and to your knowledge has never lived there. I would follow that up with a letter confirming the conversation as proof. Lots of people write "not known at this address" on things but happen to be the addressee! You have no idea what else may turn up, so I would tackle this straight away.

AdoraBell · 22/03/2023 11:45

I would write -Not Known At This Address on the letter and drop into a postbox, but in this case tell the council first.

MarchMadness23 · 22/03/2023 11:45

I'd ring the council & sort it out.

WeBuiltThisBuffetOnSausageRoll · 22/03/2023 11:45

It might be worth doing a credit check as well, to make sure that this person hasn't been wrongly associated with you.

2bazookas · 22/03/2023 11:53

You didn't read the envelope and opened it before you realised it was for someone else.

Now you know what's afoot you can make a plan.

Original poster
OnNaturesCourse · 22/03/2023 11:54

I will give the council a phone and a email. Can't see the people outside anymore. They said "here for / / council" but I didn't ask to see ID as they weren't coming in/it didn't cross my mind. So I guess it could be council or collectors for the council. I'll be sure to check and ask should they come back.

Just found it a bit odd.

OP posts:
Comedycook · 22/03/2023 11:56

They sound more like debt collectors to me rather than council employees after your description. When you owe the council money, their own staff don't go knocking on doors to collect.

Allthegoodnamesarechosen · 22/03/2023 11:58

Absolutely no point in sending the letter back IME. We have had quite a lot of post ( including what we believe to be bank statements and dividend notification) belong to the two previous owners of this house. We send them back with not known at this address but they just keep coming.

If this is about debt collection get in touch with the sender and tell them that this person is not at this address and that you have no dealing with them,. Ask them to confirm the conversation.

Original poster
OnNaturesCourse · 22/03/2023 11:58

Yeh I did think that once I closed the door, like would the council really be sending staff out to doors? Odd. Hopefully they are able to trace him from the old address that surely they'll have on file somewhere.

OP posts:
KatherineJaneway · 22/03/2023 12:09

I had this. I marked every letter 'Return to sender. Unknown at this address' every single time and sent it back.