Is this a bit weird? - I think someone is using my address

[RushieRoo]

A couple of months ago we received a letter addressed to someone not known us. Didn’t think much of it and assumed it must’ve been for a previous occupant.

Then DH took in a parcel delivery. He thought it was for me but once he had it inside he realised although the parcel had our address on it was for someone else - the same person we previously received mail for.

Later someone knocked on the door and said we had his parcel. As I handed it over I recognised him as someone I have seen a couple of times standing near my house in a dressing gown and slippers.

Then yesterday we saw the same guy stood outside our house. A car pulled up and gave the guy a takeaway. Do you think he ordered takeaway to our address then intercepted it? Why is he using our address?

He comes from the direction of the carpark behind the house.

I don’t wanna follow him!

I’ll definitely make sure we don’t take anymore parcels in

Sorry if this has already been said but I read that people do this when they want to prove that they live in a catchment area where they desire their child to attend a particular school . So best to return everything to the post office and say the person is not known at that address.

@RushieRoo
I’ll definitely make sure we don’t take anymore parcels in

You need to contact the company to make sure they block the name in relation to your address.

My first thought was catchment! Or some other similar benefit of the zone?

Do check your credit score but as mentioned above you need ID for everything so unlikely he'd get far with anything financial.

Don't take in any more parcels and return misdelivered post with "not at this address".

Also speak to the postman about it as well if you have regular/same postman. The parcel needs to come to your door so that you can take the details of what company it was from and then refuse it.
The postman needs to stop handing parcels to this man who is using your address.
We found that being clear about the fact there was a suspected criminality and suspected fraud made people much more co-operative.

Was he sweeping in his paisley dressing gown and leatherette slippers? And what was he sweeping?

Could he be a council worker? Or perhaps the man who patrols the car park?

A traffic warden/road sweeper in one due to council cutbacks, who is secretly living out of the dumpster in the carpark because he can’t afford a proper accommodation and health supplements?

DC’s school is 15 miles away so I’m not sure it’s for school catchment purposes!

If he lives nearby I can’t see how it benefits to be using our address rather than his own

Maybe he's in an abusive relationship

I not understand the connection to this behaviour.

Very well organised homeless man who changes into his pj's and dressing gown when he gets back to his car before ordering online takeaway or presents for himself 🙄

I mean, why wouldn't he have his deliveries sent to the address he's parked outside?

If he lives nearby I can’t see how it benefits to be using our address rather than his own

Lots of ways eg he may be renting nearby and have taken out a fraudulent insurance policy on your address. Stuff is "delivered" to your address, he intercepts it, has a receipt and then makes a claim for loss or damage on the insurance. He's committing fraud but not actually tied to him or the address where he actually lives.

Perhaps he only owns the dressing gown and slippers? Maybe there’s no changing involved….

Is his name Arthur Dent?

@JoanOfAllTrades just a plain black dressing gown and slippers I’m afraid. With white Adidas socks

Maybe he’s was sweeping up because he wants to win Britain in Bloom

If you've seen him hanging round your property before then there loads of mail/parcels he has intercepted. If his is fraud. You need to get your credit file and see what they've registered against your address.

why not ask him next time you see him? does he look scary?

I would return everyhting with "no such person at this address" and maybe even open his letters to see what they are (which is probs illegal, I know).

Following your update, I wondered if perhaps he lives in a flat above one of the businesses - or is squatting in the other building? If the landlord is unhelpful or he's not supposed to be there, it would explain it all.

Ask him!

Very strange. It does sound dodgy.
I live in a small block of flats and there have been several occasions when a number of letters arrive, addressed to a name I don't recognise, and with the building number but no flat number. I put them all straight back in the post box, marked not known at this address.
It would be very easy for someone to get in and collect these from the communal hallway.

Very weird. Don’t take in any more parcels for anyone. My husband would have told him
not to set foot on our property again unless he wanted his legs broken. Creepy fucker.

If your address is on the parcel then it is not a mistake. He is using your address as a scam. You will soon have letters asking for payment.

The chap goes out in his dressing gown to sweep the front of OP's house.

Clearly an international hit man 😂

If anyone else is registered to your address the mortgage consent will pick it up.

But it is odd!

Worst nightmare 😭