Royal Mail redirection - help! Ex husband redirecting Mail

[Ele01]

Ex husband last year redirected his Mail during a divorce, since then Royal Mail have let through 10 letters of mine (solicitor letters / bank statements / gas bills etc) my ex then opens then and then sends them back to me opened :( I complained to Royal Mail 5 times - now I’m waiting for a manager to call me back Monday regarding what can be done. Royal Mail have attempted to stop it but it’s not working any strategy they put in place for stopping my Mail get through - you can clearly see my name and it’s different to ex it’s in full view on the letter yet it’s still happen.
Now after a year he’s taken another one out but he has nothing to do with the house I was awarded the house through finances (divorce) court. It’s stressing me out that Royal Mail just delivery my stuff and then ex opens it
I have all documented Proof/ letters and photos of the continental breach of my privacy.
Any tips for me to someone to say to Royal Mail Monday to tell them they need to cancel it after all these problems. Ironically it’s hardly anything he’s getting redirected all his accounts are not in the old address he’s just doing it because he has clicked on he waits long enough some of my Mail turns up by mistake x

I take it you still have the same surname.

Royal redirections are based on surnames. So when DH and I moved we had to pay twice for both our surnames to be redirected. I don't believe there was an option to split between two people with the same surname.

That does mean if you were to go through the hassle of changing your surname you would no longer have the option of him controlling your post.

Its a hassle but might be worth considering.

I also found it annoying we had to pay twice because i never changed my surname but i never considered the issue if you were divorcing and one party decided to redirect their mail.

Obviously changing your name also involves the hassle of changing it with everyone you correspond with so its not an ideal solution by any means.

I would set up a PO Box and have your mail delivered there , it’s a pain but it would avoid confidential post getting into his hands

TBH - for the purposes of solicitors letters etc I'd ask a good friend/family member to receive the post on your behalf.

I mean ask solicitor to use a different address - it isn't remotely acceptable to coninue the Russian roulette of will he/won't he get access to such confidential letters. Ask the solicitor to email and not to ever post also. I'd be creating barriers rather than relying on the Post Office for sure.

Great to see your update. Feeling relieved for you!

@Marmaladeagain

TBH - for the purposes of solicitors letters etc I'd ask a good friend/family member to receive the post on your behalf.

good idea.. even until you can check the redirection has been 100% cancelled

or make sure he hasn't just set up another one.

🌸

Just for anyone else reading this: I never had the same last name as my ex. But my mail still got redirected to his new address!!

I got my issue sorted pretty quickly, but having a different last name did nothing to stop it happening in the first place. Our names aren't even similar - think Smith and Jones for example.

It's a total mystery why mine and my DC mail was redirected in the first place.

Yes I think that was the issue it wasn’t just the same surname (I have kept my married name) it was just they were redirecting any post regardless to ex’s new address and then was opening the mail.
@HosannainExcelSheets it’s an awful situation my didn’t resolve so easily but I think it was because the sorting office were not wanting to admit fault but had to x

Yes thanks everyone it’s sorted now. They cancelled the redirection today due to the ‘issues’ but he’s potentially if you don’t get it cancelled it can go on for 4 years in total a redirection (they just increased the time limit you can redirect mail) I personally think it should be changed for circumstances for example if mail is mistakenly delivered that not on the redirection or if an ex is just using it to be awkward or opening mail- it took 6 months of things happening to Royal Mail finally cease it and cancel the redirection.

I’m just happy it stops now x

@ChikiTIKI thank you :) I’m relieved too now x

[quote Ele01]@ChikiTIKI thank you :) I’m relieved too now x[/quote]

no wonder... dreadful situation 🌸

I’m glad you got it sorted, OP.

I’ve had similar - exH redirected his mail when he moved. There have been continual mix ups and problems ever since. The odd thing of mine going to his, a fair amount of his still being delivered to me.

Earlier this year, he extended the redirect as it was about to end, and the whole thing was a massive cock up. All mail to my address (including mine) was redirected to his house for about a month. Most of it he passed on to me, but I know here were some letters he never passed on (he says not, but it’s a bit odd that the only letters I haven’t received at all this year have been during the period he was getting all my mail!)

It is so draining. I can’t wait for his extension to be up, so I can stop wondering whether he’s got any of my letters!

@ElfDragon ah really that never happened to me not one of my ex’s mail came to me! But nearly all mine went to him!

How awful for you what happened over your mail, you’re right it’s totally draining, but it can be stopped or they are continually sending your mail to your ex Royal Mail are in breach of privacy and they require to stop the redirection if it’s not working - your right to privacy trumps his right to redirection as you are the occupier.

Hope this post helps anyone in a divisor
Situation , it can get cancelled if problems are occurring x

I actually wonder if he had put your name also on the form, or some version of it, and that's why he got so much mail. It's a bit of a swizz because as pp said you have to pay twice for different surnames, but the application also asks you to list all the names in which you want mail redirected - or it did two years ago, certainly. So you would potentially have to list, for example:
Mr. John Smith
Mr. J A Smith
Mrs. Jane Smith
Mrs. J Smith

Let's say that he put his own name down, but also put down your initial and surname. He'd get that mail of yours redirected to him. Anyway, at least it's sorted now but I wonder if he was trying to play the system in some way like this.

@GooseberryJam I asked Royal Mail and they confirmed he only put his first name and surname ; I thought that too however no he didn’t, it was just Royal Mail mistakes letting my mail go to my ex and then my ex opening the letters. But yeah all sorted now, if anything happens like this to anyone just extend your rights to privacy and get it cancelled -it was obvious that my ex was just re extending just to see what mail came of mine by mistake x

@GooseberryJam we have the same surname but not the same initial first name - it was just Royal Mail not taking steps/care what was redirected x

Please tell me what you did! I have been emailing someone from the CEOs office for a year. Now he has renewed for a second year and no post since Xmas. My son has the same initials. They sent him his mail and National Insurance number and he didnt tell me. I was fined because i had to cancel car insurance for him. My post is being sent and we have missed hospital appointments because the letters have been delivered to him! He doesnt tell us tilll months later and eventually admits it. Please help

I don't know if my previous message posted ,but i am in the same situation.

They refuse to cancel the redirection. Despite my son having the EXACT SAME initials. They sent my ex his national insurance number together with other documents. My and my daughters hospital appointment letters have gone to him, and i only found out after the hospital contacted me by phone as a no show. I have had no post since Xmas. The woman im dealing with says they cant do anything.