Help Please - Redirection or PO BOx due to Legal Name Change

[Pandora80]

I am new to the chat so hello!

I hope someone can help as I have gone round in circles trying to figure this out.

I changed my named by Deed Poll after leaving an abusive marriage and have moved away to live a happier life. Until…

A few months ago a letter arrived for me in my old name which came as a shock and caused me gut-churning distress. It was only a small matter – an outstanding bill – but it scared me. I guess I was traced through my bank records.

However, I am now petrified of returning home every day in case I find another letter in my old married name from anyone at all.

Ideally, what I would like is to have this mail stored at my local delivery office so that I can pick it up once a month. This way I can control when I receive it rather than it be a nasty surprise waiting for me, and prepare myself emotionally. As silly as this sounds, I really am trying to build up confidence again and this just sets me back.

Now the issue: the problem is I have nothing in this old name to serve as my ID – my passport, driving licence etc have all been changed, and my utility bills and new bills all now bear my new name. All I have is the legal document that changed my name.

Am I eligible to set up a PO Box, or Redirection? I have tried Keepsafe but ideally I want this on a long term basis, not having to do it once a month and avoiding the default automatic redelivery .

I hope someone can help.

Thank you 

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Pop into your local office and see if they can set up a Call and Collect for you - the only small problem is there may be a limit of how long you can leave it, but they should be able to help and explain it all. Be very specific though that you only want 1 name as a call and collect - not everything for the address.

[wannabeek]

Yes, this may not be the same in every office but it would be very simple to set up at ours. Many duties at our place have a note of which names at which addresses have their mail collected at the office. It would just be a matter of you popping into your local delivery office and having a word with them - no need to go into the details as to why if you don't want to, just specify the name to be held for you at the office for collection at your convenience.

[Lounge Lizard]

Just a thought but maybe if you did also have post for the old name too you could endorse that "gone away", it would be returned to sender and hopefully would not be sent again.

[Pandora80]

Thanks so much for all the great advice here - it's a relief knowing there is a possible solution to this, as all I want is any post addressed to that name held for me to collect in person. I'm not anticipating much at all, but still a reassurance that if anything were to turn up, I could prepare for it.

I will pop along there in the morning and discuss the Call and Collect option and put to use all your other suggestions :-)

[Pandora80]

Just a thought but maybe if you did also have post for the old name too you could endorse that "gone away", it would be returned to sender and hopefully would not be sent again.

Thanks for this suggestion - is this the same as writing 'Not known at this address' on the envelope and posting back?

Thank you :-)

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Just a thought but maybe if you did also have post for the old name too you could endorse that "gone away", it would be returned to sender and hopefully would not be sent again.

Thanks for this suggestion - is this the same as writing 'Not known at this address' on the envelope and posting back?

Thank you :-)

Yes