Someone else opening my private mail

[planetzog]

Unbeknown to me, my landlord opened a private letter addressed to me, without my knowledge or consent. Is there any recourse that I can take and what is the law regarding this? Thank you

[squarebear]

Is this regular or just a one off?

[snags]

''Unbeknown to me''

How do you know then?

[ihaveaquestion]

Have a word with post office or visit their website.

[snags]

Check your slinky...

[jno]

http://www.theanswerb...w/Question606796.html

[dzug]

The law is he's not allowed to open it.

As a once off accident any compalint to the authorities will be laughed off.

If it's regular it will probably take you an expensive legal case to do anything about it - unless he's stealing from you

[planetzog]

I'm really glad that you all think this is funny. Actually it is very serious to me as I could become homeless because of it. I don't think it is anyone's business but mine to the why's etc. All I am prepared to divulge is it was an official government letter that was addressed to me personally, that clearly stated it was private. And the reason why I said it was unbeknown is because a neighbour witnessed it and objected to him opening it but he still went ahead. So, if anyone has any constructive advice I would be glad to hear it. Thanks

[Ramsbottom]

Firstly, this is NOT amusing at all. I've had several packages opened / missing from Royal Mail and its not good. Identity theft can easily lead from this.

The law is very clear on this point. It is a criminal offence. It is a VERY serious criminal offence. Strictly, it is a type of treason, and less then a decade ago would lead to a automatic prison sentence.

The power to open someone elses mail is not even given to the police - it is reserved for the security services.

You could confront the landlord about it. Or go to the police - with a witness you may get something done even if it is just an informal warning, he won't do it again. But any complaint may mean that he willl try to evict you so you have to be careful.

Hope you get it sorted

[fredpuli47]

Well it's only very serious in law if you think that an offence only triable by magistrates and punishable with a maximum of six months imprisonment and a fine is very serious ! But it can be very serious, in context, to the individual.
[ Postal Services Act 2000 s 84(3) ]

The offence under s 84(3) is where a person intending to act to a person's detriment and without lawful excuse opens a postal packet which he knows or reasonably suspects to be incorrectly delivered to him.

That would cover this case., methinks He's at the address and has taken a letter as though it were to him. . The subsection is worded to cover a whole range of possibilities.

The first step is to report it to the police explaining what has happened, how you know, and, above all why it's important to you and what reason the landlord would have for opening the letter. What does he hope to discover? What benefit would that be to him and what detriment, harm , could it bring to you ? (Note that the section refers to intending detriment)

The police ,at the very least, should warn him of the possible consequences of such action so he doesn't do it again. What further steps they take will depend on advice they get from the Crown Prosecution Service.

[Barmaid]

It could easily have been an honest mistake. I recently opened a birthday card which was not for me. I walked in, in a hurry, on the phone, grabbed a pile of mail and started opening it and only once it was opened did I realise it was not mine.

I think you should do as fred says. That way, if it happens again, you already have it on record (and the more times it happens, the less likelihood there is to be of it being an honest mistake).

[hc4361]

The only evidence is hearsay.

[Barmaid]

Not if the neighbour gives evidence it isn't HC.

[hc4361]

Do you really think he would, barmaid?

[Barmaid]

I couldn't say either way HC, until the police go and see him. Let's suppose for one minute he says he will and then the police call in the landlord for IUC and he admits it - end of. His admission in i/v is enough.

I don't know if planetzog has the letter now - in which case the landlord's dabs will be all over it. Not that they will bother fingerprinting for a case of this nature.

[planetzog]

Thank you all for your input. The letter in qyestion was clearly marked to say where it had come from and he was in no doubt at all that I was the reciprient. In fact, he declared to 1 of the 2 witnesses, that he knew who had sent it and after both witnesses said it was illegal to open it and tried to stop him, he went ahead anyway. so he did have the opportunity to not open it and was warned that it was illegal to do so. Therefore it clearly was intent and with malice of fore thought. He then typed me a letter saying that he had opened it and seen it's contents and then had the audacity to instruct me on what I should now do! Last evening a member of his staff was told by him to come round to my home to find out what was happening about it. Surely this is tantamount to bullying or something. Any ideas on what I do now?