How do I return a neighbour's letter that I opened by mistake?
NeighboursI realised the letter wasn't mine when I reached the account name inside. The envelope had been delivered through my door, and I opened it with my own post without checking.
It belongs to the neighbour two doors down. I have seen part of a bill I had no reason to see. I haven't told anybody what it said.
I put the letter back in the envelope and wrote, “Opened by mistake—sorry.” Now I am wondering whether to knock and explain, or leave it through her letterbox with the note. We only know each other enough to wave.
My partner says knocking will make an ordinary error sound suspicious. I worry that a loosely folded envelope arriving with no conversation will look as though I opened it deliberately and hoped she wouldn't notice.
What would be the least intrusive way to be honest? I don't want an apology that demonstrates how much private information I accidentally read.