What to do when someone else’s post is delivered to your home
While every effort is made to ensure the right post gets to the right person, now and then incorrect details can lead to mistakes. Here’s what to do.
Incorrect addressee or address details can sometimes lead to post going to the wrong address or the wrong person.
If you find that you’ve received post that’s not for you or you’ve received post incorrectly mailed to your address, here’s what you can do to get things back on track.
Wrongly delivered post?
Wrong address and a different name?
If their address is nearby, just pop it in their letterbox
Otherwise, simply pop it back in the post
The right address, but someone else's name?
Just cross out your address, write 'Not known at this address' on the envelope and repost it
You probably don't need to take this step if receiving the wrong mail is just an occasional or one-off occurrence, but if it's happening often (and especially if the mail is continually addressed to the same person), then it's worth notifying your local post office directly.
The United States Postal Service® will deliver the mail as addressed, but it does not have to be accepted. Without a specific reason to the contrary, mail sent to an address will be delivered. Mail is delivered to residential or business addresses even if the name on the mailpiece is different than the known residents.
A misspelled street or city name can easily be fixed and any missing information can be filled in. However, standardization cannot help with fixing straight out incorrect addresses.
It would be a crime if you open, damage, or hide mail that is not addressed to you. Sometimes you may receive mail with your address but someone else's name on it. It still implies the mail belongs to another person and opening their mail is illegal.
If the mailpiece is delivered to the wrong location: Don't erase or mark over the information, or write any type of endorsem*nt on the mailpiece. Place the item back in the mailbox or hand the item back to your mailperson.
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.
The full address and postal code on the return portion is more important. You do not have to put a name. For the recipient's address, remember to put the full name and address-including the unit number if there is one.
Returned to the sender with the reason for nondelivery “Returned for Additional Postage” if First-Class Mail with a return address. The sender may affix the additional postage, cross out the reason for nondelivery, and remail the piece.
A quick way to inform the mail carrier that the letter doesn't belong to you is to write "return to sender" on the back or front of the envelope. However, you should be careful not to tamper with the letter. Writing with ink is one way of tampering with the letter. To avoid tampering with the letter, use a sticky note.
Go to the USPS Zip Code Lookup tool at https://tools.usps.com/zip-code-lookup.htm?byaddress. Enter the street address, city, and state in the appropriate fields. Note: The more complete and accurate the address information, the more likely the USPS will be able to validate it. Click “Find.”
According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), you aren't legally required to return merchandise that was sent to you by accident. You are within your legal rights to keep it as a gift, and merchants cannot demand that you pay for something you did not order.
Obstruction of mails generally. Whoever knowingly and willfully obstructs or retards the passage of the mail, or any carrier or conveyance carrying the mail, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than six months, or both.
§ 1708. Under the law, it's illegal to:Take mail from any mail receptacle, including a residential mailbox or mail carrier bag; Take mail left for collection; or.
When you receive a mistaken delivery, call customer service for the delivery company and explain the situation. Give them the tracking number on the package, as well as the name and address on the package if it's different from yours. The company will come and pick up the product within a reasonable time frame.
Yes, it is illegal to throw away someone else's mail, a federal crime to be specific. If you've been finding your mail in the trash in your mailroom, there are a few steps you can take to stop your neighbors from messing with your mail. Your first step is to talk to your landlord or building manager.
If you have accidentally opened someone else's envelopes or packages and then plan to return them to the sender, then you have not committed a crime. You can either seal the mail/package again and write “Return to Sender”, or if it is some of your neighbours, you can hand it in yourself and explain the mistake.
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