Opening post question

The thing is I'm sure they don't "mean" to - but I'm worried that one day something important will slip out when they reseal the envelope and I'll never get whatever it was I was supposed to get!
 
I have to say according to that legislation it's not quite as simple as simply being illegal to open someone else's mail - the practice's legitimate excuse could simply be they receive and open dozens of letters a day, 90% of which are correctly addressed and as soon as they note that it is someone else's mail they deliver it to the correct address.

So it's neither intentional delay or opening post without a reasonable excuse, nor are they intentionally acting to anyone's detriment

Best bet is to try and speak to your postie who keeps messing it up, or just keep on at the surgery to re-deliver - maybe suggest that they keep a box under the desk in reception they can just put the mail into and you'll pick it up, something along those lines.

You'll also note that it is arguably perfectly legitimate to open someone else's mail if it is delivered incorrectly to you - you aren't delaying the transmission as it's been delivered to you anyway, and further that if you open it to, for example, try and find a telephone number if the address on it is wrong, then you aren't acting in any way to the person's detriment so you aren't breaking the law for that reason either.
 
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Freefaller said:
The scene:


I've registered a new address with the post office and spoken to the local depot - our new address is 103a - just to make it stand out.

Recently my credit card statement was opened - containing sensitive details that I don't want others to read.

And most frustratingly a letter from work which contains even more sensitive data, especially as it contains where I work - something which I don't tell to people as it's not something I want to share.
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Have you told your work and CC company - do they know to send the post to 103a and not 103?
 
Says something about the surgery if the people opening the mail there cant even look at a piece of mail with private and confidential and a different name on without bells ringing that it's not theirs.

I'd try taking it up with the surgery again in a not so very nice tone.
 
See if you can collar the postie. You should have the same person delivering each day and the chances are they either don't know your names yet or the post is already bundled when they get it and they don't check it. Your postie will probably be quite happy to have a flick through the bundle of mail just in case anything is mixed up.
 
Raist said:
So you have to put the county on every address?

And why are there only 15 addresses per postcode? We have tens of thousands.

Ok, maybe not confusing. Just different. :)
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Postcodes are similar to the full US Zip code with the extra 4 digits.
There is a component that represents the district and then a further bit that goes down to the street level.
Supposedly all you should need to send a letter is the house number and the postcode.

According to here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Postcodes_in_the_United_Kingdom#Format

There are nearly 3,000 postcode districts, so each of these generally will have tens of thousands of addresses in it and is similar to a US Zip code.
 
Rich_L said:
I have to say according to that legislation it's not quite as simple as simply being illegal to open someone else's mail - the practice's legitimate excuse could simply be they receive and open dozens of letters a day, 90% of which are correctly addressed and as soon as they note that it is someone else's mail they deliver it to the correct address.

So it's neither intentional delay or opening post without a reasonable excuse, nor are they intentionally acting to anyone's detriment

Best bet is to try and speak to your postie who keeps messing it up, or just keep on at the surgery to re-deliver - maybe suggest that they keep a box under the desk in reception they can just put the mail into and you'll pick it up, something along those lines.

You'll also note that it is arguably perfectly legitimate to open someone else's mail if it is delivered incorrectly to you - you aren't delaying the transmission as it's been delivered to you anyway, and further that if you open it to, for example, try and find a telephone number if the address on it is wrong, then you aren't acting in any way to the person's detriment so you aren't breaking the law for that reason either.
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Indeed. It's not often, but typically it's the post I don't want them to open that gets opened!! I have spoken to them ad naseum - but I guess all I can do is hope they get it into their thick heads. They have got a "next door" tray set up - but it doesn't stop them opening it, and I'm sure they don't have time for it, but it's not nice having your post read - if they do.

vicisthebest said:
Have you told your work and CC company - do they know to send the post to 103a and not 103?
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Yup - they have the correct address. Sometimes the letters do arrive without going to the surgery - however it's when it does get to the surgery though they tend to be opened without being checked.

Meridian said:
Change your house name to "Not the Surgery"?


M
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:D

Tempting!

I have put in the past 103 - NOT THE SURGERY

as my line in the address - funnily enough that worked! ;)
 
twentyone said:
Says something about the surgery if the people opening the mail there cant even look at a piece of mail with private and confidential and a different name on without bells ringing that it's not theirs.

I'd try taking it up with the surgery again in a not so very nice tone.
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I'll speak to them again - but as Jonny says I just need to enforce it with the Postie - though Max Tri has offered some good advice in private which I will be doing too. :)

Jonny69 said:
See if you can collar the postie. You should have the same person delivering each day and the chances are they either don't know your names yet or the post is already bundled when they get it and they don't check it. Your postie will probably be quite happy to have a flick through the bundle of mail just in case anything is mixed up.
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Done that - but worth doing it again.

As I said it's the exception that makes the rule, but it's a PITA when it does happen!
 
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