Should you bother forwarding mail for someone else not living in your house if it's obviously junk mail?

Question

I keep getting mail for people who used to live in my house, all of which is obviously junk--credit card applications, requests for money from charities, mail made to look like real letters, but are actually advertising (I know because I get the same mail addressed to me.) I almost always forward them but my mailman seems to still be clueless (after 3 years) that these people don't live here anymore, and it seems like a waste of taxpayer resources to constantly return junk mail to sender.

I know I'm obligated to send the mail to where it belongs since these letters are not addressed to me, but lately, I'm thinking it's better just to trash them. What do you guys think?

Answer 1

Just write "not at this address" on it and stick it back in your mailbox for the carrier to pick back up. You are not obligated to put postage on it, but it IS a crime to open it or throw it away.

If it says "John Smith or Current Resident" then it's OK to do whatever you like with it.

Answer 2

Sadly while it is a bother for you, it is a Federal Crime to throw someone else's mail away. There are a couple of things you can do.
1. Get a stamp that says wrong address, or does not reside here.
2. Check with your local post office about who is listed for mail at you house.
3. You can do like me. I got a P.O. Box and refuse to have mail delivered to the house. This way when I get the wrong mail I can return it right there, and with the change, less junk mail for other people end up in the box.

Answer 3

If you know their new address, you can ask the Post Office to automatically forward their mail to them by filling out a form. After a few months, the post Office will stop forwarding their mail and just trash them (or return to sender). If the Post Office can trash junk mail, I suppose that it is alright for you to do so also.

Answer 4

Just write on the letter: return to sender adressee unknown. Eventually when they get too many letters back, they will stop.

Answer 5

I THINK YOUR BEST BET IS TO KEEP FORWARDING THEM TO THE RIGHT OWNER AND LET THEM DETERMINE IF IT IS JUNK MAIL OR NOT. I ALSO BELIEVE THAT YOU SHOULD LET YOUR POSTMAN KNOW THAT THIS IS A CONTINUING OCCURRENCE AND SEE IF THERE IS SOMETHING THAT CAN BE DONE ABOUT IT. GOOD LUCK. I KNOW JUNK MAIL FOR ONE PERSON IS MORE THAN ENOUGH TO GET IN A HOUSEHOLD. MUCH LESS TO GET TWO PEOPLES.

Answer 6

Let your good common sense be your guide as long as you recycle!

Answer 7

no. they don't need it.