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Original poster

Someone keeps giving our address for their bills and delivery items - is there anything we can do?

22 replies

sharkyandgeorge · 18/12/2008 18:49

Hope this makes some sort of sense.....

We live in a village, just around the corner from us (so on the same road) a man has built a office or something and is operating a business from there (no idea what.

This has been there a few years, problem is he keeps giving our address which is number 1 ....road name... for all his stuff, mobile phone bills etc.

In the past few weeks I have had a mobile phone delivered, someone turn up to try and fit carpets, some other package, a mobile phone bill and today someone tried to deliver a TV.

Previously when it has been a signed for item, I have just refused to sign and got them to take it back.

Starting to get really annoyed that he just decided to take on our address as his own, the houses in that part of the road have a different postcode to ours so he shouldn't use this address anyway.

Is there anything we can do to stop him doing this, is it even legal for him to just use our address as his.

I'm not sure if this makes any sort of sense so let me know if anything needs clarifying.

OP posts:

lucykate · 18/12/2008 18:50

have you spoken to him about it?, he may not be aware of this problem.

PortAndStilton · 18/12/2008 18:51

Have you tried just talking to him about it nicely?

HassledElf · 18/12/2008 18:51

Not sure but sounds iffy as hell to me - call Royal Mail and see what they think. And any post that comes through the letter box, just stick back in teh post marked "Return to Sender". Hopefully the inconvenience will prompt him to get the right address sorted.

Anifrangapani · 18/12/2008 19:00

If you get really pissed off call experian and Equifax and say you suspect a fraud is going on - give is real address and then notes of cllarification on your own files. That way he will never get credit again..... well at least for a very long time

Original poster

sharkyandgeorge · 18/12/2008 19:04

Yes we always do the return to sender thing with any post that just comes through the letter box and always refuse to sign for anything but still carries on doing it.

OP posts:

PortAndStilton · 18/12/2008 19:07

Again, have you tried speaking to him about it?

Original poster

sharkyandgeorge · 18/12/2008 19:12

Yes of course we have spoken to him about it, he has even come round to our house to pick up his parcels in the past.

OP posts:

Lauriefairyonthetreeeatscake · 18/12/2008 19:22

is there any chance he doesn't realise his own address or think the mail are making a mistake?

Yes, he's been round but he may genuinely be a doofus surely ?

annh · 18/12/2008 19:22

But what did he say when you told him he was using your address? Is he claiming it as his?

lisad123 · 18/12/2008 19:30

well I would be tempted to make a note of all the companies he is using at your addy and ring them and tell them whats what. If he has used your addy as his mobile phone address there could be trouble as it could affect your credit iyswim!
I would send a letter to him and explain that if he continues to use your addy you will involve the police, its fruad after all.

LadyMuck · 18/12/2008 20:02

Have you looked up his address on Royal Mail?

It may seem bizarre but I understand that addresses aren't actually always unique - there's a road in Worcester or somewhere that has 2 No 2s on it.

Original poster

sharkyandgeorge · 18/12/2008 23:23

Yes looked up address on Royal mail and although the same road his postcode is definitely different to ours, as I said we are in a village so road long and windy not just a street if that makes sense.

Decided to ring local police station for advice and apparently it's not fraud as he isn't using our names and although annoying isn't actually anything we can do other than ask him to stop and send back all of the deliveries that they try to make here.

OP posts:

LadyMuck · 18/12/2008 23:26

So are you both number 1 road name but with different postcodes?

Original poster

sharkyandgeorge · 18/12/2008 23:29

No, we are number 1 road name, he is not number 1, on the royal mail website it says his business name - road name - different postcode.

But he keeps sending all his post / deliveries / carpet fitters etc to number 1 road name...which is our house and using our postcode as well.

OP posts:

mummypig · 18/12/2008 23:43

Oh that sounds so frustrating. You could use the Mailing Preference Service to block any catalogues etc with his name on:

www.mpsonline.org.uk/mpsr/

but that won't stop him from using your address for his phones and TVs etc. And if he's put your postcode on, apparently Royal Mail say they have to deliver it to your house and not to him:
this is what Royal Mail say

Can't think of anything else, would be inclined to do as lisad123 suggested.

LadyMuck · 18/12/2008 23:46

Well in fairness he may not be sending them to your address. The suppliers may be using a computer systen which "forces" a particular address, so if his address is new it may be that someone is being lazy and using the closest address that they can find. I've come across this a few times, especially when there has been a new development and so the computer address files haven't been updated yet (and you can restricted to what the database holds). And bear in mind that a caroet fitter won't be able to tell the postcode from the outside fo the house say.

Either way doesn't sound as if there is much that you can do short of putting a notice on your front door to warn off any potential deliveries.

LadyMuck · 18/12/2008 23:48

Looking at it from his point of view, as it doesn't appear that it is fraud, presumably he is equally fed up with the situation. There was clearly no benefit for him is having carpet fitters appearing at your house.

Original poster

sharkyandgeorge · 18/12/2008 23:52

No I can't see any benefit to him either as he must be constantly having to chase up packages but this place has been there years and is clearly on the royal mail website as I have looked so although your idea is plausible not sure if that is the case or if he is deliberately giving our address.

But looks like there is nothing we can do so will just have to keep sending things back and hope he gets fed up and starts giving out his correct address.

OP posts:

PortAndStilton · 19/12/2008 08:23

What did he say when you asked him why stuff kept coming to your address and the wrong postcode?

SueW · 19/12/2008 08:35

Maybe he has a kind of "postcode dyslexia".

My workplace and my home are only one character different. You wouldn't believe how many times I give the wrong postcode and then have to correct it.

LadyMuck · 19/12/2008 08:50

But given your description, lets say that your address is

Mrs SharleyMum
1 Long Lane
Somewhere
XX1 5YY

and his address is

Mr Annoying
Business Ltd
Long Lane
Somewhere XX1 5YX

If you do in fact live in a long lane, then it sounds as if the Royal Mail possibly understands the situation (otherwise you would get all of his mail), but any other delivery by courier say or carpet fitter doesn't know what to expect.

I don't think that it makes the position any less annoying, but really can you think of a single logical reason, other than fraud which has been ruled out, as to why he would want to use your address. I think that this happens because he doesn't have a number. It doesn't make it any less annoying, but the way to a solution might be to address the numbering issue rather than to assume he is being deliberate in getting you to accept his deliveries. As you're returning things to sender then there really isn't any reason as to why he would try to address thigns to you deliberately. It must be fairly annoying for him too, especially if you're not even directing couriers to his address.

LoveBeingAMummyKissingSanta · 19/12/2008 11:11

You could put a little note on your door...we are not Mr Annoying, we will not sign for / take letters/parcels.

The previous owner of our house still has post delivered here nearly two years later, some of which we have opened by accident. Have got to the point now where i ring the coompany cause if he's got credit etc then I don't want that crap coming to me. they are always glad to hear about it. Some companies charge a customer if they don't have the right address and have stuff returned!

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