Probably Paranoia But ...

[joko]

i have received a letter addressed to the empty shop at the front of my house.

i opened it because the paper inside the window was not showing the name - its regarding a house sale in london, confirming an offer (i am in liverpool)
i don't recognise the mans name, and i know the next door neighbour is a woman - though of course there could be a man there too (their door is not visible from any point in my house so i would never see them coming and going)

So i am wondering if, scam wise, there would be any reason for someone to use the address of an empty shop to buy a house at the other end of the country?


the thing is, the numbers are weird in my street - my neighbours house is numbered 87, but my house is 87 B, and the shop is 87 A ... but they are totally separate properties ... not sure why this is, but its confusing.

now it could be that this man rents a room next door and the A in his address means flat A ... but then surely he'd know of the issues we have with parcels and post etc, and that my place is 87 A, so why would he write that?
Especially on something so important as a house sale?
He'd know it would be confusing and any mail would be put through into an empty shop.


any ideas? am i just being paranoid?
i just don't want to start getting threatening mail looking for him because he's done a runner or something...

but the letter is an acceptance of his offer to them - so not sure what he could do a runner with...?

anyway just thought id double check before i post the letter next door, as i know nothing of this kind of thing.

should i email the company and just tell them they have the wrong address? let them deal with it?

cheers all

[ubasses]

you could ask woman next door if she knows a Mr X. If so give it to addressee with your apolgies and reason for opening.

If not return to sender explaining it was delivered to you but addressed to the empty shop and the addressee is unknown.

[joko]

ubasses - but i dont want to give it to him yet, in case its scam though!

if i ask and he's there, i will have to give it to him

i dont know if hes just renting a room for a bit, then going to do a runner, or if he simply does not exist, or if hes genuine and its a clerical error

actually i think i will just message the company and let them know its a wrong address, i cant really be bothered trying to play miss marple over a letter haha

[1ndex]

Not here RTS on envelope and post

[boxtops]

joko, I would just put it back in the post, marked Return to Sender, not known at this address. It's not yours, send it back. Don't get involved.

[EDDIE51]

Why are you getting so worried about this ? It is nothing to do with you , you opened in error a letter that was not for you. Just ask if the neighbour if the letteris for them and if it is hand it over, if not just put it through the letter box of the shop . Someone must have the shop keys and will go there occasionally to pick up mail.
NOT YOUR PROBLEM . Do not get involved !

[joko]

eddie - why do you assume i am worried sick over this?
do i sound remotely hysterical over this?
i am not - as i have quite clearly said.
i am just curious as to whether this was some known scam - i have heard of people using the addresses of unused buildings before because they are untraceable at that address.

why do people on here always seek to imply you are freaking out about something just because you ask a question?

i have just asked a question - which took me about 2 minutes.

and it is to do with me - the shop is mine. it is part of my house. I have the keys. how do you think i got the letter in the first place?

[factor-fiction]

Hi joko- I assume your use of the word 'paranoia' may have led eddie51 to think you are getting worried over this

[factor-fiction]

I hadn't realised either from the original question that the shop was yours joko.

[factor-fiction]

I'm not sure why it would be a scam since only you have access to the premises. Unless someone knows you have the keys and knocks on your door asking for the letter.
If you know the person at 87 flat A I'd ask them if it's for them; and if it's not I'd return to sender

[Baldric]

You seem confused, you say
//but my house is 87B///
And in the next paragraph,
//that my place is 87A///
.????

[Mamyalynne]

The shop is 87A and Joko owns the shop.

[EDDIE51]

The entire tone of you post suggests you are worried about it. I did not intend to offend you, sorry if I did
As you have seen the letter there must be a contact address / phone number. Just phone the people who sent the letter and explain what has happened, it is probably just a typing error in the number . ( 78 instead of 87 for example) That way the people who sent the letter will be aware that it has not been delivered and probably gratefull you have taken the trouble to contact them. Whatever it will get you 'off the hook' .

[boxtops]

Joko, I've had something similar in the past, I was selling a house and the people who'd put in an offer approached a finance company, but said their address was already at my house.

I contacted the senders as it seemed very wrong to me, and they weren't best pleased and asked me to send it back to them.

Just do return to sender - it's nothing to do with you, and it might not be anything to do with your neighbours either. Just send it back, let the sender sort it out.

[joko]

eddie - no worries - i am not worried, i just wondered.
by paranoia i just meant am i just seeing something dodgy where there isn't anything, not that i am losing sleep over it - i know i am not responsible regardless.

my thought was something like - nearly £200,000 changes hands with one party believing 87A is their permanent home address, buit they are at the other end of the country so hard to check, then when they scarper they come to my place looking for him.
the shop is boarded over and rarely used so they would probably think any mail may not be discovered for a long time - and make phone calls to london to get all relevant details directly.
I have heard of people getting loans out on abandoned properties etc so just wondered how that could work with a house sale - if at all.

as i say, i cannot be arsed to play miss marple with this, if it is an attempt at fraud it wont get far.
i will just email the company, as you say, to get me 'off the hook' should it be dodgy and also to make sure the person gets their mail.


to clarify though, there is one house that is 87 B, with a shop at the front which is 87 A.
it is not a flat above a shop - it is a house with a front shop - all one property.

the house next door is 87.

there is no 87 flat A

weird i know, but number 87 know my property is 87 B & A, and know there is often confusion over mail - so not sure why they would write it.

[ummmm]

Jeez, I couldn't even hire a carpet cleaner without a passport and proof of address...

[ST24]

It would be best to reseal the envelope with the address not showing, write on it 'unknown at this address' and put it in the post.