Advice on mis-delivered mail

[JPD]

The other day my mom handed me a bunch of mail, and told me it was my mail, so without thinking about, I started opening one addressed from a bank. I didn't think much about it, while I don't use that bank, I have gotten junk mail from them in the past

After I opened it, I realized it was a bank statement, I stopped looking at it, put it back in the envelope, and looked at the address. I realized it wasn't addressed to me at all. What I want to know, is what I should do with the bank statement.

I know its a crime to open another persons mail, but at the same time, I didn't realize this mail was not for me. If it was unopened, I would have but it right back in the mail box, but since it was accidentally opened, I'm not sure what to do with it.

[BookstoreEscapee]

Can you tape the envelope closed? I would just do that and put it in the mailbox with a note to the carrier. I don't think anyone's going to come arrest you for accidentally opening an envelope you had no reason to think wasn't meant for you.

[mathnerd]

Shred it and don't worry about it anymore. Like you said, if you hadn't opened it, the right thing to do would have been to put it back in the mailbox with a "misdelivered" or "addressee not at this address" notice, but since it's opened, you'll cause the account owner more grief if they get an obviously opened statement in the mail. The account owner has probably already contacted the bank for a duplicate, so it's not like you're keeping information from him/her.

[kaherbert]

It isn't a crime to accidentally open mail that was misdelivered to your address.

My answer depends.
Was the name similar to yours at a nearby address? The reason I ask is years ago my parents and I moved and filed change of address properly. They didn't get bills they should have. They didn't even get bills for electricity/water/cable that wouldn't be associated with our old address because it was a different city in a completely different region of the state (If we lived in any of the other lower 48 we would have been several states over - but we were Texas). Mom was concerned so she called and was told the various companies had received the bills back with Not at this address on them.

That same day a small boy came to our door with 2 days worth of mail, and several packages. Our address was crossed out on some and their address was written in. Turned out a family with the same last name lived across the street 3 houses down, and a 3rd family with the same name next street over.

I took the mail with the altered addresses to the post office. The dividing line between to mail carrier routes was the middle of our road. Their mail carrier was seeing their last name (and very similar first names) and delivering it to them. We got that straightened out.

If the person is a neighbor, I would walk the mail down to them and explain you didn't look at the envelope before opening it.

If it was sent to (stranger) at your address. I would take it to the bank if there is a branch nearby in case it is some type of fraud.

[sstabeler]

Shred it and don't worry about it anymore. Like you said, if you hadn't opened it, the right thing to do would have been to put it back in the mailbox with a "misdelivered" or "addressee not at this address" notice, but since it's opened, you'll cause the account owner more grief if they get an obviously opened statement in the mail. The account owner has probably already contacted the bank for a duplicate, so it's not like you're keeping information from him/her.

frankly, as someone who occasionally either has their mail misdelivered to someone who shreds it, and occasionally receives their mail (which we make sure gets redelivered to their house) I'd actually prefer it if you didn't shred it. the issue with someone reading your mail is that bills can be used to help get ID. ( I THINK it is proof of address, but I'm not 100% sure) As such, as long as the entire bill's there, then I'm not massively bothered if you read it. Combine it with you having had the manners to return the bill, then I don't think I have to worry.

In short, tape it back up, if you feel you have to include a note explaining what happened, then put it in the mailbox with a note to the postman explaining it's misdelivered.

[TheSHAD0W]

I second the above advice; tape it shut, circle the address if it was incorrect, or write "return to sender" if it was mis-addressed, and drop it in a mailbox.