Almost everyone can attest to the fact that they have received mail that was sent to a former resident or neighbor. If you stay in a rented apartment, it could be really frustrating to always have to sort packages intended for previous tenants.
Many emails sent to you instead of the real owners include vital, confidential, and personal documents. You can drop them in your mailbox and indicate that they should be sent back.
Did you know that over $1.5 billion is spent every year by the postal service as a result of the negligence of people who fail to update their address after relocating? Instead of letting your mail cause headaches and costs for someone else after you move out, always ensure you inform the postal service by filling out a COA form.
Can I send a package without a return address?
The clerk at the office will always insist that you provide your address when you want to use the postal service. Your mail will be quicker to sort and deliver if you write the return address on it.
Mailpieces are handled by machines that scan the return and mailing addresses in order to add a barcode and speed up the procedure. Your envelope will end up in a different box to be trashed if it doesn’t include a return address because the computers cannot sort it and return it to you.
The letter will remain there until a staff member has time to sort it. This implies that it will take longer for your letter to get where it’s going.
Can I trash emails that are not mine?
Even with the fast growth in modernization, which has also helped send documents easily through the use of online mail. People still rely on the service of manual documents, packages, and letter deliveries.
There is a law in the United States that imposes jail time of up to five years and a fine on any person who receives, conceals, buys, and illegally has parcels, documents, mail, and packages intended for someone else.
The law is subject to flexibility, considering intent. To be considered guilty of this offense, you should have known the mail was not yours. You will be free if you open it and discover it was not actually for you. However, if you destroyed or disposed of the package, it is enough proof that you were fully aware that it was not yours and will be charged under the law.
If you receive any parcel that is not yours, you are not expected to dispose of it; in fact, it is considered an illegal act. Trashing someone else’s parcel without making an attempt to return could leave it vulnerable to poachers who steal people’s identities.
How to send a package in mail without a return address?
You can always use any address of your choice when shipping a package or letter. However, if you want to remain anonymous, it is not a bad idea to leave the return address blank. The only disadvantage is that, in a situation where the recipient refuses the package or mail, there will be no way for you to receive it back.
Here is how you can send mail, packages, or parcels without a return address.
- Package them in a box
- Include the relievers address
- Skip the recipient’s address
- Submit your package or mail at the office.
- The staff will assess the package and label.
The only major thing you have to include that is always required from the recipient is the place of origin.
What to do with mail that isn’t yours
Considering the number of packages that are being delivered daily, it is not surprising whenever there is a mistake. Sometimes, these errors do not totally come from the delivery staff. It could also be as a result of the wrong address being used by the sender.
Getting rid of mail that is not your own is easier than you think when done the legal way. The basic thing you have to do is indicate on the envelope “RETURN TO SENDER” and drop it in your mailbox.
When you keep doing this repeatedly, the office recognizes them and automatically stops sending the person’s mail to you. Or else, you can also write a note to the postal staff to inform him or her that the owner does not reside at that address anymore.
You can also go an extra mile by informing your landlord if you have been receiving mail, parcels, or packages for the previous tenants. Whichever way you choose to stop this annoying occurrence, do not opt to apply a change of address to the recipient.
How do I return mail and packages to the sender?
There are many scenarios that could lead to the return of packages sent to your residents. Let’s see how you can send them back if they were actually delivered to the right location but you do not want them.
- Indicate the word “Refused” on the package
- Any type of mail can be refused and returned. You just have a simple task, which is to write “Refused” and hand it over to the carrier as soon as possible. However, once you have opened or resealed the envelope, you are not eligible to do it.
- Mark “Refused” for am accountable mail
- This type of mail requires you to sign for it before it can be dropped. You have the right to refuse it on delivery. All you have to do is checkmark the box that indicates “Refused” when the carrier gives you the paper to sign.
Below are some of the accountable mail you can refuse.
- Certified mail
- Registered mail
- Priority mail express
- Collect on Delivery.
Note: You cannot refuse an accountable message after you have signed and accepted it. If you are just finding this information after already signing, you will simply have to repackage and send it back through the postage with a fee.
How do I report the change of address for someone else?
Instead of always returning packages, it is way easier to report to the postal service that sends the mail to the former residents that they no longer stay there.
It is totally not ideal to fill out a change of address form for another person. This is because during those procedures, you will be required to verify yourself and put in some important information about the person.
As frustrating as it is to always receive packages for your previous neighbor, you should never change their address with or without their consent. What you can do is ask the person to do it personally if you have a way to reach out.
Or simply write to the post office, informing them that the mail they send is for previous occupants. If it still persists, you can also indicate in your mailbox that only emails belonging to you should be dropped. Simply put, write, “Leave mail only for (indicate your name) here.”
How long can mail sit in a mailbox?
Leaving your mail in the mailbox overnight could leave you vulnerable to being targeted. If you are going on a long trip, you can request for your mail to be held at the post office or ask a neighbor to pick it up for you.
If mail or packages in the mailbox are neglected and it gets overfilled, the carrier will drop a notice that your mailbox is too full and stop bringing your packages. They will subsequently be held at the post office for about 10 working days. After the time frame they will be sent back to the senders without a charge if you do not pick them up
Why has my letter been returned?
Your emails will be sent to you for different reasons. It could be that the recipient did not want the package and sent it back as “refused mail.” Other reasons includes;
- Wrong address
- In scenarios where you have inputted an incorrect, or non-existing address it will be sent back to you and cannot be delivered. The same goes for an expired, vacant address or address of a deceased.
- Mail was refused by the recipient
- changed database.
Always confirm the address of the recipient and update it before sending out emails to ensure that you are not sending to a non-existing address. It takes a lot to send packages that end up getting returned.