[SeaPrincess]

We moved house earlier this year and the previous owners have never set up a mail redirection. For about 2 months, I took all their mail to the RE agent once a week, but now I just return it all to the sender - based on the return addresses, this includes phone bills, share statements, superannuation and bank stuff, you name it. We get MORE mail for them than we do for us because I get most of our bills by email or through the bank.

I have returned mail to one business at least once a month, with the message "Return to Sender. No longer at this address. Please update your records."

So, how long does it take for their continued mail become more than an annoyance? Would you call the repeat offenders and pass on the RE agent's number? We were discussing Christmas mail (cards, etc) and DH said to gather it all up and drop it round to the RE sometime in January, along with a redirection form (which I picked up from the PO when I was there last week).

[Jamelex]

I am still RTSing mail and we have lived here well over four years. I certainly feel I've done more than a reasonable person would do but I can't bring myself to just throw mail out. I think if the RE has the forwarding address, that sending a mail-forwarding form with a polite request to update their details is appropriate.

[casime]

I've been here two years, and still getting mail, but it's because they are doing a dodgy. I did ring Centrelink and dob them in (she's still using this address as hers, but they are living together in another property). The centrelink letters stopped after that, but I still get heaps of others. I've even had DHS knocking on the door looking for them.

I return it all to sender, but it may take me a month or so before I get around to it. If they aren't concerned about their mail, then I'm not going to rush around to get it to them (or return it to sender). I flat out refuse to take it to the real estate, because it's not my job to be their mailman. Redirections are cheap and easy, there's no excuse for constant stream of mail to be coming to my house.

[SensibleSis]

It is annoying.

I have lived in my house for 10 years now and still get mail addressed to previous owners.

I have given up returning to sender and may or may not throw the stuff in the rubbish bin

[zande]

Currently in same boat OP. We bought this house a year ago. The new owner left me a note with their forwarding address asking me to send on their mail, "the stragglers" she said. Well it wasn't just stragglers, it was their whole flipping mail, piles of it day after day. After a month of re-addressing up to 5 letters or more a day, I contacted the agent who sold me the house and he got them to do a mail direction for 2 months.

After 2 months we went back to getting their mail. I started sending them back RTS, and as time has gone on the volume has become less and less, thankfully. But several bits of mail are the same bits of mail I have returned to sender many times (with the same notation to update their records). It's been a year now and I get more and more tempted just to chuck it out.

[raone]

I am on the other end of this and I feel horrible. We thought we had changed all our mail over before we moved. We knew there would be a few things we forgot. But no had to redirect everything still. Had to change address with Telstra three times among other companies. So Have upgraded the redirection to this month. (A full year) and some things are still going to the old house for some reason. Plus we asked a few places to take us off there mailing list as it is no longer applicable to us for where we live now and no they keep sending stuff.


ETA: I mean the mail is getting past the redirection somehow

This post has been edited by raone: 08/12/2012, 10:30 AM

[squeekums]

I still get stuff for tenants that did a runner so dont want to be found. Also get from the people before them.
I bin it all now, Ive been here 5 years, plenty of time for everyone to get their sh*t together

[Phascogale]

Twice this year we've had our mail redirection stopped for some unknown reason but a call to Auspost has sorted that out.

I also know that there will be mail that will continue to go to our old address because it's unsolicited and it's been picked up from somewhere. There's a few things that we get that I'm unable to either unsubscribe from or change address because there is no contact details on the mail they send out ie stuff from a large national optical store so unfortunately the new owners will get some of that mail.

But I'm harsh. I'll RTS when I get round to it and when I remember to actually pick it up from where I'm storing it and there is no way I'll be doing a special trip to the post box to send it. It may or may not end up in the bin when I get sick of it. Regardless of what it is, especially if I've RTS at least once.

[Holidayromp]

This whole thing gives me the sh*ts. We fork out money to have a redirection going for up to a year so that the new owners don't get our mail and then we move and are the redirection service for the previous people. So after a month we just bin it. I don't give a crap about the legalities if you are too lazy or too tight to fork out for a re-direction service then you don't give a crap about your mail. It is simple as that.

[Heffalump]

I throw it in a shoe box and everytime I go to the post office to pick up a parcel, I take what's there with me and hand it over. Not sure what they do with it.

Sometimes it can be months between post office visits but I no longer go out of my way as I've well and truly been here long enough for the previous occupants to get themselves organised.