Opening Other Peoples Mail - Before Dispatch

[kammalla]

In the Organisation I work for we occasionally send out bulk mailings to members of the public or other companies. A guy in our dispatch office always opens one of the bulk mailing letters to see what it is - even if it is addressed to an individual, can this be done or am I right in thinking once the envelope is sealed the contents are private and for the addressee only? The guy seems to think it's his right to know what it is as he and the other guys have to process the mailing

[dzug]

Depends on your company policy - the Royal Mail rules don't come into force until it's actually posted.

If the guy is processing the mail then he could have a legitimate reason for opening it. Difficult to see what (unless it's going overseas when there are lower rates for printed stuff), but it's possible.

[Maypole]

He is just a nosey weirdo. Probably a Peeping Tom too lol.

I assume you are sending the mail on behalf of the company you are working for , in which case yes it can be opened until its in the mail system although I imagine his boss would find it a bit strange.

If you are processing mail under contract from someone else then thats a whole other issue.