Road Tax Fines for someone who doesn't live at my address

[Kev_Mk3]

Long story short my ex moved out end of 2015 / start of 2016 and has never changed her car v5 to her new address so i get all her reminders etc.

I told her the first year and also told her to change her v5 address, she then blocked me on everything and I deleted her number etc moved on with life. Tax time I get another letter saying to tax it blah blah blah. As I have no way of contacting her I reported it un taxed and left it at that.

Another year passed again another frigging letter. Far as I know shes moved so I have no address details nothing, I've sent the letters back "return to sender / not known at this address" but now its stating fines, external agents etc. I'm not fussed about it as shes not registered at my property in any way shape or form (well apart from this V5!) If they checked the electoral roll records they would see this.

Should I be worried about anything or just carry on sending the letters back?

Not bothered what happens to her tbh just no comebacks on myself lol

[eybic]

I'd not be worried about it, she doesn't live there and you've told them, it's their/her problem.

[bigandclever]

And stop opening her letters.

[konark]

Can I be the first pedant to say there's no such thing as Road Tax.

[Kev_Mk3]

eybic said:

I'd not be worried about it, she doesn't live there and you've told them, it's their/her problem.

Thanks ill just keep sending them back then lol

[PhilboSE]

You can contact DVla and tell them that the person is not at your address. They will remove them after a process and and you won’t get her stuff.

[Cold]

bigandclever said:

And stop opening her letters.

Why not?

[Chris32345]

Cold said:

Why not?

Because you can't open letters not addressed to you
Should all be sent back not at this address

[jondude]

Cold said:

bigandclever said:

And stop opening her letters.

Why not?

I am pretty sure it is an offence under the Postal Services Act to do so BUT as with most legal notices, there is an element of cryptic language.

It says (if I remember rightly) an offence is committed if you do this but not if you have reasonable cause to do so. Gawd knows what reasonable cause you could have but there does appear to be a get out of jail card there.

So probably one of those where yes, you should send it back marked 'no longer at this address' or 'not known at this address' but if you do not, not much is going to happen unless you turn yourself in and admit you had no other reason than poking your nose in other people's business.

[bigandclever]

Cold said:

bigandclever said:

And stop opening her letters.

Why not?

Because he’s doing the right thing returning to sender.

[SVTRick]

Road Tax ???? must be a scam

VED yes Road Tax long gone.


You have a bin - sorted.

[BertBert]

I'd put them straight in the recycling

[Boosted LS1]

Chris32345 said:

Cold said:

Why not?

Because you can't open letters not addressed to you
Should all be sent back not at this address

Once it come through your letter box I see no reason not to open unwanted mail. In fact I probably wouldn't even look to see who the addressee is.

[Kuji]

I thought it was one of those 'Life' things that everyone knew that parents passed on to their kids as part of the 'bad things' list.

The Act says: "A person commits an offence if, intending to act to a person's detriment and without reasonable excuse, he opens a postal packet which he knows or reasonably suspects has been incorrectly delivered to him."


You should only really, do it If you feel that you do have reasonable excuse, that could be defended in a court of law (obviously).


Most corporate envelopes are printed with return addresses, mitigating the need to open post to identify the sender.
.

[otolith]

I have in the past received mail addressed to someone I didn't know. It was a mobile phone contract, someone was setting up a fake identity at my address, and presumably hoped to intercept the handset. Reported it, all sorted out. If a letter comes through my door, addressed to my house, I'm going to open it.

[Kev_Mk3]

So in short do as i am return mail & forget.

Thanks

[Boosted LS1]

Basically if you're not intending to act in a bad way, opening is fine by me if there isn't a return address on the outside.

[Kev_Mk3]

Seems car has had a new mot and been taxed - I'm guessing its been sold so I really wont get anymore mail thankfully.

[BertBert]

Kev_Mk3 said:

Seems car has had a new mot and been taxed - I'm guessing its been sold so I really wont get anymore mail thankfully.

It must have been a terrible burden!

[Who me ?]

Kuji said:

Most corporate envelopes are printed with return addresses, mitigating the need to open post to identify the sender.

in reality, a lot of corporate envelopes give an address on the reverse that is for all intents and purposes a dead letter bin. if th sender cn be identified from the reverse, I google the HQ address of the sender and return to that address with an instruction to the sender. I've seldom found it fail.