Re: opening mail addressed to parents

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On 4/01/08, Naina wrote:
> Hello there, I am a law student and ocasionally have
> friends asking questions that I don't have an answer
> about.
>
> A friend of mine opened a mail addressed to her father.
> Her father does not live in the US anymore. Unfortunately,
> this letter was sent by a collections agency. When my
> friend called up the phone no. provided in the letter, the
> representative stated he was suing or registering a
> complaint at that moment, because she committed a crime by
> opening a mail addressed to another person. Can this
> person do it? Does he have standing to register the
> complaint? shouldn't it be the addressee who has the right
> to complain?
>
> regards,
> Naina

A collection agency's number one tool is fear. I doubt they
will actually lodge a formal complaint and even if they do,
your friend should claim that he/she was authorized by
his/her father to open mail for him. It will be very tough
to disprove that claim unless the father joins in the
complaint.

If they call your friend back, just say that the person they
are trying to reach is not there and hang up.