united-kingdom legal-concepts mail precedent postal-service
Serving legal documents by recorded delivery - different name signed on receipt?
<p>I've sent a response to a demand for payment of debt by recorded delivery.  The Royal Mail tracker indicates that the letter was delivered and signed for, although the name given and the signature are unrecognizable to me (the name isn't a name I would've expected given the people demanding the debt be paid).  I've double-checked and the letter was definitely sent to the correct address, according to Royal Mail.</p>
<p>So, could the person demanding the debt claim, in court, that they had not received the response because someone with a different name signed for the letter?  Do you actually need it to be signed for by a recognized person?</p>

<p>Let's say you were careless and wrote my address on the letter instead of the right person (there is actually a house about a mile away from me with practically the same address). So someone hands me a letter through recorded delivery that has nothing to do with me whatsoever, and I sign for it. Well, you didn't deliver it.</p>
<p>Unless that person lied to you and gave you a random address. Or my home was their business location 20 years ago and they never updated it. In that case it would be very likely that factually delivering the letter <em>to me</em> would legally count as delivering to him.</p>
<p>If the address is actually correct then they are usually responsible for people signing for registered deliveries. And it is legally delivered. Maybe not if the mailman surprised a burglar emptying the house and the burglar signed the letter.</p>
