Royal Mail Re Direction of Post

[smurfchops]

When my son's friend sold his house, he asked my son Carl if post could be re-directed to him, which my son agreed to. However Carl is getting mail for his friend, with demands for utilities which haven't been paid - his friend says to just throw them away. If this friend goes on the missing list will my son be obliged to pay these utility fees? The friend is not living with Carl and has the money for the sale of the house, I think he is going abroad on a Gap type thing.

[factor-fiction]

H- maybe I've misunderstood but how does your son get access to this post- did your son buy the house from a friend?

[pastafreak]

It sounds as if the friends mail is being sent to the sons address. The house sale is seperate.
I should think the addressee (sp)(the friend) is responsible...not the son.

[EvianBaby]

If the mail is just being forwarded to your sons address which is not the address the unpaid bills relate I can see no way he could be liable. He should just return to sender with recipient unknown on the envelope.

[RATTER15]

The addressee is the only person responsible, regardless of where the post was delivered.

[factor-fiction]

I see- I can understand this when the friend is travelling abroad but I'm not sure why it's being done now before he goes unless he has 'no fixed abode'. Anyway, there is no obligation whatsoever on your son to pay these bills

[starone]

Contact the utilities and sort it out. Make sure that from now your son is responsible, while before he bought the house his friend is responsible and you have no idea where he is gone so please don't send any mail addressed to him to this house. Your son should have taken a reading of the meters when he moved in and contacted whoever he wants to deal with. He doesn't have to go along with the same provider.

[pastafreak]

The son didn't buy the house. He's only agreed to have mail redirected to him.

[starone]

Oh I see, read that wrong then. I think I would still contact the utilities and tell them what has happened - he has not taken responsibility for paying the bills and to be on the safe side I would make that clear. I still get mail in this house from the lady who sold it to the landlord four years ago. I used to write on the envelope - moved, return to sender, address unknown - and put it back in the postbox but I got tired of that and now I put it in the recycling, unopened. They might get the message one day.

[smurfchops]

Sorry I had a problem trying to explain properly~! No my son Carl didn't buy the house, he just agreed to have post re-directed for his friend. Thanks all !

[ubasses]

If friend is off abroad, just get son to return the envelope marked 'no longer at address, moved abroad'

[tonywiltshire]

Your son has no obligation to pay any debts of his friend, the fact he has permitted his address to be used as an address for his friend may mean he receives visits from debt collection companies who are seeking his friend, but he is under no obligation to provide information or pay. Perhaps it is time that your son considered removing the offer of using his address.

[themas]

If the friend is deliberately not paying his debts when he has the money to do so he is irresponsible & stupid. Your son should definitely refuse to have anything more to do with this & get the mail redirection changed or cancelled. As tony says, he could end up with probelms with debt collectors, bailiffs etc. - & they won't necessarily readily accept the truth of what he tells them.