Medical bill for unknown person at my address

fxotoole

Hey just looking for legal advice on something.

About 4 weeks ago, I received a letter by regular post which appears to be a demand for payment of a medical bill. I didn't open it, as it was addressed to "the parents of Joe Bloggs". Obviously I've changed the name but the surname is not my surname, I've never had any persons by that name living in my house, and my family is the only family who've ever lived here,as I bought this house 8 years ago and no one else has ever lived here.

The envelope had the branding of a medical billing agency which I won't name. There was a plastic window on the envelope and you could see the various payments methods at the top of the letter.

I crossed out the name/address, wrote "not known at this address - return to sender" on the envelope and thought nothing more of it.

4 weeks later and I've received a second letter, which again appears to be a demand for payment. Again, I'm not going to open it, as its not my business, but this time I'm going to put this envelope inside a larger A4 envelope, accompanied by a letter that sets the record straight, along with a request that they confirm in writing, within 7 working days, that no person at my address is liable for any payment in relation to this matter. I will send the A4 envelope by recorded delivery and allude to the fact that I now have proof they've received the letter in the letter I'm writing.

Does that cover me legally? Anything else I should be doing to cover myself?

Spook_ie

fxotoole wrote: »

Hey just looking for legal advice on something.

About 4 weeks ago, I received a letter by regular post which appears to be a demand for payment of a medical bill. I didn't open it, as it was addressed to "the parents of Joe Bloggs". Obviously I've changed the name but the surname is not my surname, I've never had any persons by that name living in my house, and my family is the only family who've ever lived here,as I bought this house 8 years ago and no one else has ever lived here.

The envelope had the branding of a medical billing agency which I won't name. There was a plastic window on the envelope and you could see the various payments methods at the top of the letter.

I crossed out the name/address, wrote "not known at this address - return to sender" on the envelope and thought nothing more of it.

4 weeks later and I've received a second letter, which again appears to be a demand for payment. Again, I'm not going to open it, as its not my business, but this time I'm going to put this envelope inside a larger A4 envelope, accompanied by a letter that sets the record straight, along with a request that they confirm in writing, within 7 working days, that no person at my address is liable for any payment in relation to this matter. I will send the A4 envelope by recorded delivery and allude to the fact that I now have proof they've received the letter in the letter I'm writing.

Does that cover me legally? Anything else I should be doing to cover myself?

Would you not just open the letter, ring them and say they have the wrong address?

Wheety

As above, just contact them. Loads of threads on Boards of people jumping several levels when they encounter issues.

Registered post will cost you €8. Why should you pay that? A quick call and tell them someone has obviously given false information. You said you can see who it's from so you don't even need to open it to call them.

splinter65

fxotoole wrote: »

Hey just looking for legal advice on something.

About 4 weeks ago, I received a letter by regular post which appears to be a demand for payment of a medical bill. I didn't open it, as it was addressed to "the parents of Joe Bloggs". Obviously I've changed the name but the surname is not my surname, I've never had any persons by that name living in my house, and my family is the only family who've ever lived here,as I bought this house 8 years ago and no one else has ever lived here.

The envelope had the branding of a medical billing agency which I won't name. There was a plastic window on the envelope and you could see the various payments methods at the top of the letter.

I crossed out the name/address, wrote "not known at this address - return to sender" on the envelope and thought nothing more of it.

4 weeks later and I've received a second letter, which again appears to be a demand for payment. Again, I'm not going to open it, as its not my business, but this time I'm going to put this envelope inside a larger A4 envelope, accompanied by a letter that sets the record straight, along with a request that they confirm in writing, within 7 working days, that no person at my address is liable for any payment in relation to this matter. I will send the A4 envelope by recorded delivery and allude to the fact that I now have proof they've received the letter in the letter I'm writing.

Does that cover me legally? Anything else I should be doing to cover myself?

“Legally” all you have to do is write “not known at this address” on the envelope and send it back. Just continue to do this with any further communication.
Personallly I would not be inclined to let them, or anyone, have any of my personal information (which you will be doing if you enter into correspondence with them).

F1ngers

Just put "not known at this address" on the envelope and put it into a post box.

Why incur any expense on your behalf?

TomOnBoard

If you didn't incur the charge, you don't have any liability. Just because either someone used your address fraudulently or somewhere along the way a mistake was made, it does not make you liable. By sending the letter back as you have done already, you are extending them a courtesy, and your intention to incur cost to send the second letter by Recorded Delivery is an even greater courtesy on your part. "Not known at this address - Return to Sender" ought to be sufficient action for anyone. Take a photo of of the envelope with your message on it before you pop it into a post box, and you're done!

blackbird 49

This happened to me, i would write on it not known at this address and put it back in post box, got another sent to me opened it rang the number and told them this person does not live here and never has, did'nt even know who they were, it was from a Nursing home, they thank me for letting them know and i never received anything anymore, i think your over thinking it a bit much

fxotoole

F1ngers wrote: »

Just put "not known at this address" on the envelope and put it into a post box.

Why incur any expense on your behalf?

The miniscule cost of sending the letter back by recorded delivery is a small cost to pay to resolve this issue now and not have a potential debt or court date hanging over my head.

Obviously "return to sender" hasn't worked the first time round. For all I know the letters I'm sending back are sitting in an An Post sorting center not being dealt with for weeks. Meanwhile this agency may be looking to escalate using debt collectors/solicitors. Firing a shot across this company's bow in the form of a stinky letter is more likely to be successful than hoping and praying that An Post return the letters before this escalates

splinter65

fxotoole wrote: »

The miniscule cost of sending the letter back by recorded delivery is a small cost to pay to resolve this issue now and not have a potential debt or court date hanging over my head.

Obviously "return to sender" hasn't worked the first time round. For all I know the letters I'm sending back are sitting in an An Post sorting center not being dealt with for weeks. Meanwhile this agency may be looking to escalate using debt collectors/solicitors. Firing a shot across this company's bow in the form of a stinky letter is more likely to be successful than hoping and praying that An Post return the letters before this escalates

But how would you have a debt or a court date when you didn’t incur a debt?
You do realize that you can’t be billed for some service somebody else used but didn’t pay for?

danjo-xx

fxotoole wrote:

Obviously "return to sender" hasn't worked the first time round. For all I know the letters I'm sending back are sitting in an An Post sorting center not being dealt with for weeks. Meanwhile this agency may be looking to escalate using debt collectors/solicitors. Firing a shot across this company's bow in the form of a stinky letter is more likely to be successful than hoping and praying that An Post return the letters before this escalates

It's not your problem.

F1ngers

fxotoole wrote: »

The miniscule cost of sending the letter back by recorded delivery is a small cost to pay to resolve this issue now and not have a potential debt or court date hanging over my head.

Obviously "return to sender" hasn't worked the first time round. For all I know the letters I'm sending back are sitting in an An Post sorting center not being dealt with for weeks. Meanwhile this agency may be looking to escalate using debt collectors/solicitors. Firing a shot across this company's bow in the form of a stinky letter is more likely to be successful than hoping and praying that An Post return the letters before this escalates

Apologies, classic example of not reading ALL of the op.

Glass fused light

Dont open the letters
Don't bother with the a4 envelope nor the Letter.
Just add for the attention of the Data Protection Officer Of company
Above the return to sender

The post office will do record of sender for free.

Rinse and repeat.

Victor

Spook_ie wrote: »

Would you not just open the letter

It is an offence to interfere with someone else's post.

Sleeper12

Spook_ie wrote:

Would you not just open the letter, ring them and say they have the wrong address?

It's illegal to open someone else's mail afaik. My wife didn't get the memo.

EdgeCase

Just write :

“Unknown at this address - Return to Sender - FAO : Data Controller”

Throw it into a postbox.

You've no liability whatsoever for anything. It's nothing to do with you at all. The letter isn't addressed to you. It's got the wrong postal address.

Don't go buying stamps or anything. It'll be returned

L1011

fxotoole wrote: »

The miniscule cost of sending the letter back by recorded delivery is a small cost to pay to resolve this issue now and not have a potential debt or court date hanging over my head.

Neither of which can possibly happen

EdgeCase

There's absolutely no way you could "have a potential debt or court date hanging" over your head. You have no contract or legal relationship whatsoever with this organisation.

People can't just go around throwing invoices out to random strangers and then taking them to court. That isn't how it works. The contract is also with a specific person, not an address.

It would be an interesting "court date".. for them.

Glass fused light

EdgeCase wrote: »

There's absolutely no way you could "have a potential debt or court date hanging" over your head. You have no contract or legal relationship whatsoever with this organisation.

People can't just go around throwing invoices out to random strangers and then taking them to court. That isn't how it works. The contract is also with a specific person, not an address.

It would be an interesting "court date".. for them.

Particularly when the company has to disclose sensitive medical data of some random child.