Opening mail not addressed to you with the intension of notifying sender of correct address.

[Lydeard]

I am recieving mail addressed to the father of my daughter, he left the address about eight years ago. I have asked him to change his address with credit companies but am still recieving his mail. Can I open them and fill in his new details and return to the sender. I have recently found out that he has taken out a �12000. loan with corresspondence coming to my address.

[Ethel]

You don't need to open the mail - the name of the company is usually on the envelope with a return address.

I would write a letter stating when he moved out, his current address and any other relevant details, and put it in an envelope with the unopened mail.

[CheekyChops]

I opened some earlier today for the previous owner of my house. There wasn't a return address or company name on the envelope.

I just wrote a letter as Ethel says and posted it back to the company in question (Debt Collectors).

[jaycee401]

I've sent some mail back as well - return to sender, and I even popped some in an envelope like ethel has suggested with a note giving them my ex's address but they still keep sending them to me.

[xxyyabikes]

Hi,I may be wrong here,but I am led to believe that if a letter has 'private and confidential' marked on it,it is illegal to open it (unless you are an executor in the event of the death of the addresee)..

[Lydeard]

The problem is the debt. I have no idea of how much he has built up. I have asked him to change his address on several occassions.
I have no intention of opening his mail with any malice or intent of withholding his mail. I just wish to make sure that the address is changed with all companies that write to him, because at present his mail is here sometimes for a couple of months (isn't that withholing mail?).

[ChuffingHell]

I would be a little concerned if he has recently taken out a loan and put your address. That said, I always thought in order to take out a loan, even if it was agreed over the phone, the loan company posted you something to sign and send back to them. If so, how did the loan get agreed?

Put the letter in a bigger envelope and send it back along with a covering letter and a copy of your council tax bill or something like that to prove he is no longer registered at the address, and give them his new address.