I suddenly remembered something.
I've already mentioned that I lived here for four and a half years (since November, 2014). But I had completely forgotten that this place was empty for three years before I bought it.
This means that the guy who previously lived here hasn't been at this address for over SEVEN years!
Now I am extremely suspicious about why he is suddenly getting mail delivered here.
One thing is certain:
I'm done playing postman. Any future mail addressed to him is going to be returned to sender.
I don't know exactly what's going on but I smell a skunk.
As for my new fancy "smart" phone........
I finally activated it yesterday and it turned into a total disaster.
It's worse than the cheap Alcatel Tracfone was!
On the Alcatrel I couldn't text, but could at least make local phone calls.
I can't text or make any calls on the new smart phone. No signal at all.
I was online with customer service for over an hour and got absolutely nowhere.
My old cell phone worked fine up here in the boonies. The two new ones are completely worthless. I'm wondering if the local signal around here has weakened or vanished. ???
Anyway, I'm returning the "smart" phone next time I go to town.
To hell with cell phones.
If I have an emergency, I'll send up smoke signals.
If it's not raining.
I kind of gather your phone doesn't work properly and there's nothing worse than having a phone that doesn't work. My phone thinks it's smart but I beg to differ. At least in my case it works better than the land line. Don't give up, Jon!
ReplyDeleteWhen I first moved here my cell phone worked perfectly. During the past few months I've tried two new phones and neither of them work. I think the phone signal in this area has weakened - - or is non-existent. It's frustrating.
DeleteWhoa ... now that's extremely odd since the guy hasn't lived there for seven whole years. I smell a skunk too. Return to sender works with any future mail should there be any - or open it to see if it's junk mail. Maybe he's sending the mail to your place in hopes of spooking you into selling. Maybe he's just been released from prison and he's back to dig up the stolen loot. You can't trust anyone, so stay sharp just in case the guys a nutter.
ReplyDeleteI initially felt safe and peaceful here, but ever since he showed up I'm admittedly more nervous and much more cautious. I'm thinking - as you said - that perhaps he was in prison. This sudden surge of mail coming to my address is extremely suspicious.
DeleteI will stay alert.
That sucks about your phone service. Is there a way to google and find out which service is actually supposed to be available where you are? I used to have a land line up until I moved here four years ago.
ReplyDeleteEven more suspicious of that guy! I'd put--not at this address or return to sender on them and mail them back--yes!
The three main carriers here are AT&T, Verizon, and Sprint. I did some research and discovered that there are lots of recent complaints about phone service in this area - even from people who live right in town.
DeleteI plan to return any future mail that arrives in his name - and I hope I won't see him again.
Ya, I'm not liking the way this business with the prior owner is going. With so much public access to records, can't you do some digging via the internet? I think even Ancestry.com contains criminal records; every now and then they offer a free 30-day trial. Stay sharp, indeed!
ReplyDeleteI already did some online research and was surprised to discover that at least a dozen people have his exact same name (first, middle, and last)- - including a doctor, an attorney, a businessman, and three criminals (in New Hampshire, Texas, and Kentucky)!! Heck, I don't know what to think.....
Deletebut I plan to remain cautious and alert. Hopefully my fears will be unfounded (?????)
Yes, there is something odd about the mail, for sure. Were you ever tempted to open any of the mail? then you could see what it was all about. Maybe he has been writing serious political stuff somewhere and sending it off to magazines but just didn't feel like putting the jail as his return address. :) That's lousy about your phone service. I suppose you'll go back to the old fashioned type of phone again, or maybe just a different service provider (though I don't know what I am talking about here, since you probably have a different system there than here).
ReplyDeleteYes, I was very tempted to open his mail but never did. Some of it was "official" things from the state of Tennessee, one was from the Department of Safety, others were from insurance companies, etc.
DeleteFortunately, I do have an old fashioned landline phone - but I really liked having a cell phone for texting and possible emergencies. Phone service for cells was never great in this rural area - but it seems to have gotten worse.
Maybe unbeknownst to anyone, his family buried millions and gold under the house?
ReplyDeleteI always wondered if there might be a stash of drug money buried on this property. With my "luck", there are probably only bodies buried here....
DeleteJon, be careful. Do install secondary locks on entry doors. 7 years hiatus indicates several unfortunate possibilities re. previous inhabitant: Someone is trying to assume his identity; someone is capitalizing on previous owner's demise --7 years=death legally in absentia in most countries --possibly a relative of past owner; someone who considers the property price incidental to some reward concealed there. Contact Post Office --they've doubtless received a request to have this other person's mail delivered to your address. Go see the local Sheriff and describe the situation. Our Sheriff's office uses retired law-enforcement volunteers to advise us through such things and they love doing it. Maybe your law-persons do too. This has gone quite beyond the dismissive stage --what's happening is not an accident. Get local help, John. Please. I repeat, Be Careful!
ReplyDeleteExcellent advice, Geo and many thanks for your concern!!!
DeleteBTW - I changed the locks on all the doors when I first moved here.
DeleteI too am extremely suspicious about why he is suddenly getting mail delivered there especially after he paid you a visit. be careful.
ReplyDeleteAt first I wasn't suspicious, but the more I thought about it the more concerned I became. It's very odd. I plan to return any future mail that he gets at my address and also notify the post office about it.
DeleteDear Jon, in afterthought I decided to convey a personal experience. About 15 years ago, our county began widening our road to accommodate increased traffic caused by a housing development. It explained safety improvement by imminent domain and wanted us to sell our front drainage ditch for $6000. This would include a new front fence 12 feet back from the one I built 20 years before, with no adverse impact on our property. I gladly agreed. Then our elderly neighbor-lady called and invited Norma to hear a spiel from a "contractor" who offered $26,000 for the same thing next door. Norma was skeptical and attended the presentation. Norma showed me a copy of the contract and I was appalled. Its survey dimensions described the entire 3/4 acre lot on which our neighbor lived. I had other neighbors drop by and show me the same thing. I told them to ignore it and deal only with the county. They did so. My elderly neighbor did not. It took Norma's advocacy and several months of the flim-flam man's mail delivered to her home --yes, like what's happening to you-- before he wheedled out by signing a "quit-claim" returning our neighbor's property. Afterwards, everybody on this side of the road got modest sums from the county in exchange for their ditches. We used the money to send Daughter to study theatre and costume design in Moscow. Don't feel compelled to post this comment unless you think it might help others from being defrauded. Best wishes, Geo.
DeleteGeo, thanks for taking the time to relay this unnerving experience. I'm posting it as a warning to others and a reminder to myself. Unfortunately, it is surprisingly easy for these things to happen. Most victims of these charlatans never bother to use common sense and gut-instincts. I'm glad you used yours.
DeleteKnow the feeling. My neighbor told me she saw someone in my yard so I bought 2 cop cameras and hid one facing the driveway & one facing my kitchen door. So I don't have to worry when I go to work. Both are in the house so they can't be tampered with. Hope that guy stops bothering you. Take his mail to the post office and tell them because I kept writing does not live here on my granddaughters x husbands mail & it still keeps coming.
ReplyDeleteNancy, it's amazing how trouble always comes to innocent people who never go out looking for it. I'm glad you got the cop cameras....but I wonder who was in your yard?? Do you think it was Ashley's "ex"??
ReplyDeleteYou're right about taking the mail yo the post office. I used to get someone else's mail CONSTANTLY when I lived in TX. No matter how many times I wrote "Not at this address" it still kept coming. I hope you're doing OK and hanging in there.
It may have been the next door neighbor who's tree fell in my yard & knocked the fence down. Its fixed now but I still feel safer with the cams. If you need me call. Am still working 7 to 4 & sometimes 7 to 3
DeleteI'm glad you have the cameras. It's so frustrating that I can no longer text. I can't seem to get a cell phone signal out here anymore. But my landline phone is still valid.
DeleteI'm glad you still have the landline so you have some contact in an emergency. Just be careful up in your mountain :-) Wendy
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