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If you’re not sure what to do with mail that isn’t yours, it’s probably easier than you think to get rid of it legally. All you need to do is write “RETURN TO SENDER” on the front of the envelope and put it back in your mailbox. Your postal worker will take care of it for you from there.
What do I do if I keep getting someone else’s mail?
What do I do if I keep getting someone else’s mail? If returning the mail to sender doesn’t take care of the problem, notify your local post office directly. You can do so by leaving a note for (or talking to) your postal carrier, or by making a visit to your post office.
Can I throw away mail not addressed to me?
Yes. It is a federal crime to open or destroy mail that is not intended for you. The law provides that you can not “destroy, hide, open, or embezzle” mail that is not addressed to you. If you intentionally open or destroy someone else’s mail, you are committing obstruction of correspondence, which is a felony.
How long do you have to return mail that isn’t yours?
If the intended recipient needs to be home at the time of delivery, it will take a long time for the item to arrive back to the sender. In these cases, the mail person will leave a note and the envelope or parcel will be kept at the Post Office for 15 days for the recipient to collect.
How do I stop mail from previous tenants USPS?
Don’t Fill Out a Change of Address Only the former resident themselves or the authorities can do that. Doing this in any other situation may end up causing a lot of problems. Instead, the USPS (United States Postal Service) recommends that you simply write “no longer at this address” and return the envelope.
How do I sue someone for opening my mail?
If you are stating that the USPS is opening your mail, you need to file a complaint with the USPS. The best way is USPS.com. Also if it’s someone in your neighborhood or building that is opening your mail, then you need to TALK TO THE POLICE first about how to approach this.
Can you sue someone for throwing away your mail?
Can I sue someone who intentionally threw my mail away? – Quora. Yes, of course you can. You can sue just about anyone for pretty much anything.
Is it illegal to forward someone else’s mail?
It is the illegal and unauthorized request to change someone’s mailing address, without their consent. Going in person to a post office location is the easiest way for someone to follow through with this form of identity theft.
Is it illegal to send junk mail back?
Originally Answered: Can you return unwanted mail to the sender? You can if the sender has paid the proper return postage – ONLY first class mail has return/forward postage paid! NOTE: Marketing/junk – presorted STD – “or current resident” mailers do NOT have return postage. They have paid a reduced postage rate!.
How do I file a complaint with USPS?
Call 1-800-ASK-USPS (1-800-275-8777) or TTY: 1-800-877-8339.File a complaint with the USPS Office of the Inspector General (OIG) by: Filing an online complaint. Calling 1-888-USPS-OIG (1-888-877-7644) Finding more information about contacting the OIG.
Can I get in trouble for opening my husbands mail?
Under the law, tampering with, hiding or opening mail addressed to someone else, even if to your spouse or ex-spouse, is a Federal crime. You may open mail addressed to your spouse or ex-spouse when: You are given explicit authority by your spouse or ex-spouse; or. The letter or mail is also addressed to you.
Who investigates stolen mail?
The United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) investigates: Mail Theft.
What if someone throws away my mail?
If someone is removing the mail from your mailbox and throwing it away, you will need to report it to the postal inspectors.
Is it illegal to keep someone else’s package?
“Most people understand that it’s illegal to open mail that’s not addressed to them. Intentionally opening, intercepting or hiding someone else’s mail is the felony crime of mail theft. It comes with some heavyweight penalties, including five years’ incarceration in a federal prison.”Oct 9, 2020.
What happens if someone takes my mail?
One obstacle not mentioned in the motto is a mail thief, perhaps because when someone steals mail, the federal government steps in. Theft of mail is a federal crime, a felony that could result in prison time, the loss of the right to vote or hold public office, and significant fines.
How do I report someone using my address?
For that, you’ll need to call your local U.S. Postal Inspection Service office, which you can locate here. You can also call the general number for the U.S. Postal Inspection Service at 877-876-2455 (press option “4” to report mail fraud), or file a report online.
Does Return to sender work?
Returning wrong address mail legally is as simple as writing “RETURN TO SENDER” on the envelope and sticking it back in your mailbox. Just make sure to pay it forward by filing a change-of-address form when you move so that your mail doesn’t become someone else’s problem.
How do I call USPS and speak to someone?
When a customer calls 1-800-ASK-USPS (1-800-275-8777), the customer service telephone number for the U.S. Postal Service® (USPS®), they will hear a greeting, then a language choice option (press 2 for Spanish).
Can you contact USPS?
+1 800-275-8777.
