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Original poster

Royal Mail keep redirecting my mail

25 replies

Triotriotrio · 10/01/2022 21:58

My ex and I split up 3 years ago and he moved out. He had a redirecton set up for his mail (we obviously have the same surname) but not mine. Royal Mail, despite conversations complaining about the - unofficially as Covid meant I could speak to anyone keep redirecting my post, clearly addressed to me as Mrs Triotriotrio to him. 🙄For the past 3 years this has included things such as the divorce petition (he divorced me) which I then didn't revive until too late to respond and also now, the bank account details with my new partner.

What can I do about this? I feel they are really impacting my privacy and right to a private life.

OP posts:

elelel · 10/01/2022 22:02

Why does he still have his mail redirected after 3 years?

dementedpixie · 10/01/2022 22:03

Change your name

Original poster

Triotriotrio · 11/01/2022 00:28

@elelel

Why does he still have his mail redirected after 3 years?

I genuinely wish I knew, he's a bit obsessive about such things. I really don't want to change my name over this... Roya Mail need to sort this out surely

OP posts:

peachgreen · 11/01/2022 00:31

That's absolutely shocking, to be quite honest. I can't believe Royal Mail aren't bending over backwards to apologise.

PissedOffNeighbour22 · 11/01/2022 00:40

I used the email complaints form and they dealt with it immediately.
Ours wasn't as serious an issue though. Our Mail was still going to the wrong address and they started delivering the new owners mail to our new address despite very obvious difference in names.

elelel · 11/01/2022 00:43

I genuinely wish I knew, he's a bit obsessive about such things. I really don't want to change my name over this... Roya Mail need to sort this out surely

He should be having his mail sent to his own fucking house.

Original poster

Triotriotrio · 11/01/2022 09:12

Well quite, but apparently he is legally allowed to have a redirecton for 4 years!!! Which would be fine if they actually just redirected his own stuff. Thing is, because they put a huge redirect sticker over the address, he often opens it before he can tell its not for him, he wouldn't do it deliberately but now he has had all my new partner and my joint account information including the application forms etc with our finances on it!

OP posts:

Alpinechalet · 11/01/2022 12:08

I would write one last time to Royal Mail and advise them they have breached GDPR by incorrectly sending your and your partners personal information to a 3rd party.

Lodge a complaint with ICO for same reason.

SoupDragon · 11/01/2022 12:20

I imagine the problem is that he has set the redirection up to cover "everyone with that surname" at the address rather than just him. You would think this would be easy for RM to sort out though.

prh47bridge · 11/01/2022 12:49

@Alpinechalet

I would write one last time to Royal Mail and advise them they have breached GDPR by incorrectly sending your and your partners personal information to a 3rd party.

Lodge a complaint with ICO for same reason.

I doubt that will achieve anything. The OP's ex is committing an offence by opening mail not addressed to him. Royal Mail is not the data controller for the contents of packages they handle.

SoupDragon · 11/01/2022 13:27

The OP's ex is committing an offence by opening mail not addressed to him.

No he isn't as the OP says it is because the redirection sticker is stuck over the proper address so it is by mistake.

prh47bridge · 11/01/2022 15:25

@SoupDragon

The OP's ex is committing an offence by opening mail not addressed to him.

No he isn't as the OP says it is because the redirection sticker is stuck over the proper address so it is by mistake.

If the sticker covers the OP's name then yes, he is not committing an offence. It doesn't alter my view that the ICO would not consider Royal Mail to be in breach of GDPR. Indeed, when GDPR was introduced the ICO stated that incorrect delivery would be unlikely to be considered a breach of GDPR by Royal Mail. It might be a breach by the sender, but that doesn't really help the OP.

elelel · 11/01/2022 15:34

I just don't understand why he isn't having his mail delivered to his own house. It's been 3 years. If there an element of fraud involved with benefits, bank, DVLA etc? I would be concerned

elaeocarpus · 11/01/2022 16:36

I had this in reverse; i moved redirected post and sporadically i would get exs post. I had very specifically named myself and DC ; exes first name different initial etc. it was just lazy/incompetent.

I complained to royal mail - apologies and a few extra months free🙄. Kept happening, complained again , more apologies.

Original poster

Triotriotrio · 12/01/2022 09:54

@elaeocarpus

I complained to royal mail - apologies and a few extra months free🙄. Kept happening, complained again , more apologies.

This sounds like exactly what is happening here. His redirect is only in his name, but human error is sending my post to him. I've put in 2 complaints but they don't even apologise sincerely its just a brush off.

I am so pissed off about it. I asked ex why he still has a redirect and he said he thought he might as well do another year. RM say legally he can do it for 4 years so there is nothing I can do about it. I seriously doubt it is a fraud thing, he is just one of thoelse people who cover all bases. It is seriously pissing me off though.

RM have 48 hours left to respond to my complaint. I want more than just an apology!!!

OP posts:

CorrBlimeyGG · 12/01/2022 10:01

How many items are being misdirected?

Have you spoken to the local sorting office? The problem here is human intervention, someone is seeing the surname so automatically putting a sticker on it. If you speak to the office directly, they're usually pretty good at resolving these things.

What are you looking for as a means of resolving your complaint, aside from them making best endeavours to ensure if doesn't happen again?

Alpinechalet · 12/01/2022 11:07

@prh47bridge
In this situation is the Royal Mail not a Data Processor? They are identifying the OPs correctly addressed mail and then incorrectly applying the redirect sticker with her ex’s name and address.

Original poster

Triotriotrio · 12/01/2022 11:34

To make matters very much worse, I just received the redirected post back in an envelope from my ex.... Of all the things that they could have sent him, it is the documentation for my wedding to my new partner (which we hadn't planned on telling anyone about). I just want to cry.

I'm so angry and feel like everything is ruined.

OP posts:

Idontevenknow · 12/01/2022 11:43

Royal mail are obviously at fault, but since they don't seem to be actioning it, have you tried asking your ex to cancel it? I know he's said he may as well just do it for another year, but if it was an amicable split and he is semi reasonable could you ask him to cancel due to the distress caused, and promise him that if anything does come for him you'll contact him quickly?

I would continue to escalate complaint at Royal mail regardless, it is shocking this hasn't been actioned

Original poster

Triotriotrio · 12/01/2022 11:52

I have a really good relationship with my ex, but given that he has poor MH I can only imagine that this has really knocked him for 6 and so I really don't want to approach him about it.

I just spoke to the information commissioner and they have said that this would count as an inappropriate disclosure of my personal information and so I am currently reporting it online to them. I also intend to complain to OFCOM and claim compensation if possible. The thing is no one will accept an escalation in my complaint until RM have finished their enquiries.

I feel like cancelling the wedding. It was supposed to be just us two with some random witnesses. A really private affair, and now the sparkle has gone from it

OP posts:

prh47bridge · 12/01/2022 13:47

[quote Alpinechalet]@prh47bridge
In this situation is the Royal Mail not a Data Processor? They are identifying the OPs correctly addressed mail and then incorrectly applying the redirect sticker with her ex’s name and address.[/quote]
No. if we class Royal Mail as a Data Processor, we would have to identify every ISP, every manufacturer of routers, etc. as a Data Processor. They do not process the data in the envelope nor do they control that data. They simply route the envelope to its destination.

Alpinechalet · 12/01/2022 15:59

Interesting update, glad ICO are taking this seriously. Hopefully Royal Mail will now get the hurry up to resolve.

Alpinechalet · 12/01/2022 16:02

I also meant to say, sorry they have disclosed your wedding. I can only imagine how upsetting this is for you and your DP.

CorrBlimeyGG · 12/01/2022 16:12

Have you spoken to the sorting office?

How much post is being redirected?

No point in complaining to OFCOM. There is an independent redress scheme. If you're following the correct complaints procedure, how have you not exhausted the RM stages by now? This is strange.

Original poster

Triotriotrio · 12/01/2022 22:27

I am awaiting a further response from them. They have redirected random things, about 6 times in the past year but strangely it is always the important stuff that seems to get redirected!! I checked with OFCOM and they want the final conclusion from RM before I can proceed with the complaint to POSTAS. It seems they don't want you to complain.

OP posts:

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