Neighbour using my address for bank account

[LookAtMyCat]

The lady that lives next door to me is a bit odd. We both have gates into our properties with post boxes on the gates. She makes a weird habit of putting mail that is addressed to her address (in her daughters name) from debt collectors, in my post box, continually. I used to just take them out and put them back in hers but she always puts them back into mine so now I just bin them.

But now I've gotten 2 debit cards from Lloyds bank, to my address with an "a" added on the number, in her sons name (who I believe is moving in/has moved into her house). So she lives at 26, I live at 27, and these are addressed to 27a. The kicker is that sometimes I have spotted her looking in my post box (maybe to obtain the bank card?).

I obviously do not want someone using my address with an "a" on the end, especially for a bank account. I'm not sure how he'd open one up without proof of address. The first card I put back in the postbox with "Address does not exist" written on it. But now another has come.

So; how to proceed? Ring the bank? Could I get in trouble for opening the letter though?

[esxste]

Can't you get a post box with a lock on it?

Have you tried talking to her?

[anonymous-user]

Ring the bank now.

You cannot get into trouble if opening mail innocently to find out what is coming to your address.

[anonymous-user]

esxste said:

Can't you get a post box with a lock on it?

Have you tried talking to her?

How would the postie deliver?

[HantsRat]

Have you spoke to her and asked her to stop?

[eybic]

garyhun said:

esxste said:

Can't you get a post box with a lock on it?

Have you tried talking to her?

How would the postie deliver?

Through the flap but the box itself would be locked.

I agree with the "call the bank now" comment. It sounds like they are trying to do something dodgy.

[Brads67]

Sounds like they are committing fraud and setting it up to look like your address is the base for the criminal activity.

Good luck with that.

[steveo3002]

would it be worth logging some sort of fraud complaint with the police , get a report number from them so you can quote it if things turn ugly

[kennydies]

At the end of the day you don't want any bad debt associated with your address as the paperwork alone is a pain in the arse.

[_dobbo_]

Have you tried talking to your neighbour?

Calling the bank seems sensible but a brief conversation about what is happening might shed some light.

[anonymous-user]

OP has already said she's strange.

I'd have been onto the bank before I did anything else.

[_dobbo_]

garyhun said:

OP has already said she's strange.

I'd have been onto the bank before I did anything else.

Oh sure I got that bit, but this seems like an escalation in terms of inventing new addresses beyond the debt collector stuff that happened previously.

[LookAtMyCat]

I opened the second letter and it is another card from a different bank. I rang their fraud department and reported it, and they have told me to call the police. I think I'm going to go around later before I do that and have a chat.

[Big E 118]

LookAtMyCat said:

I opened the second letter and it is another card from a different bank. I rang their fraud department and reported it, and they have told me to call the police. I think I'm going to go around once I get back from 2 weeks in the Bahamas that I've just paid for on their card.

Edited that for you OP!

On a serious note, report to the police. You neighbours know what they are doing, it's not "a bit odd" or a mistake. They are committing fraud and by using your address inplicating you. You are innocent but it might be a real pain/time consuming/expensive to prove it.

[E36GUY]

WTAF?!

I'd deffo be on to the Police. Seems they are well used to debt collectors calling and are trying to dodge the letters and carry on running up debt hoping any collectors will call at the wrong address.

Clearly not very bright either.

[Durzel]

Think about it this way...

To the uninitiated (i.e. everyone other than you) what's to say that you aren't signing up for these things and tacking "a" onto your own address, using some pub logic "this is a great foolproof scam"? What's to say, from an outside perspective, that your neighbour - at number 26 - is completely oblivious to your fraudulent activity and innocent? Right now you've got nothing to show to an objective party that you aren't doing all this stuff yourself.

In other words - don't even for a moment downplay this sort of thing as them "being a bit odd". They are opening you up to a world of pain in terms of potential negative associations with you/your address.

Report to bank, Police, whoever else you can think of.

[bilhound]

Durzel said:

Think about it this way...

To the uninitiated (i.e. everyone other than you) what's to say that you aren't signing up for these things and tacking "a" onto your own address, using some pub logic "this is a great foolproof scam"? What's to say, from an outside perspective, that your neighbour - at number 26 - is completely oblivious to your fraudulent activity and innocent? Right now you've got nothing to show to an objective party that you aren't doing all this stuff yourself.

In other words - don't even for a moment downplay this sort of thing as them "being a bit odd". They are opening you up to a world of pain in terms of potential negative associations with you/your address.

Report to bank, Police, whoever else you can think of.

Yup - definitely call police. Going over there for a chat will not solve anything, your neighbour certainly hasn't extended you any courtesy or given your feelings any thought by using your address for their criminality...

[designforlife]

Kiss goodbye to your credit rating fella.

[Amused2death]

Report to all the relevant organisations, then go round and tell them you've reported it.
i.e. You know, and they know you know.

[Toltec]

Does anyone else find it unusual that 26 & 27 are next door to one another?