I've ordered two packages from the internet with tracking numbers and both times it had been confirmed to be successfully received by someone else. I suspect it is the house behind mine which also has the same house number but different street names, so the mailman/woman always gets our houses mixed up and i always get his mail by accident so i just return it without a thought. One of the packages has been there for about 6 months, and another for 1 week. The net worth of them is $ 370. It's just sitting there, i know, but they havent made any attempt to return it even tho i have posted up notices for return. Although its the neglegence on behalf of the mailman to give it the wrong person, ive failed complaints with the post office and they dont bother to get my stuff back. So im out 370 bucks. Do u think the police will arrest my neighbour then?
2006-11-26 11:19:11 · 7 answers · asked by Tulip 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Other - Society & Culture
Start with a mail trace with the post office. Most items with a tracking number require a signature. If they have indeed been delivered, you can ask the person or company that sent you those packages who signed for them.
Try not to assume it is your neighbor, unless you have the proof from the mail trace that they did sign for it.
Were the packages sent by something called "Delivery Confirmation"? If so, nobody has to sign for it, all that has to happen is for the postal carrier to scan a bar code on the box when he or she drops it on your door step. If that is the case, then anyone walking or driving by could just pick it up.
First thing to do: File a formal complaint with the Post Office about the constant screw ups with letter delivery. You need to do this each and every time you end up with your neighbor's mail. Stop bringing your mail to your neighbor. Make the postal carrier come and get it and deliver it properly. I know you want to be nice about it, but it sounds to me like your local post office or the individual carrier is lazy or sloppy. After a while, they will get tired of you filing complaints, and they will start doing the job right so they wont' have to keep hearing from you.
Make sure you file a lost mail trace on your missing packages. This will give you the information on where it was actually delivered, and who signed for it.
IF and only if you have proof that your neighbor has signed for or taken in your packages, then you can file a complaint. You will need the proof from the mail trace before your local police will be able to do anything. They can't arrest someone on suspicion.
The local police will also want to brush things off onto the post office, saying the post office is the one with jurisdiction. Don't let them brush you off. Tell then you have already filed a report with the Postal Police, and that the Postal Police told you to ALSO file a complaint with the local police. Once you do that, pick up the phone and do just that...call the Postal Police and report that (whoever it turns out to be) has been interfering with the delivery of your mail. The first thing they will ask you is if you have filed a complaint with your local police (you see now why you need to do both? They aren't trying to weasel out of things, they just want to make sure they are dealing with a real theft, and not just something that is missing). You can then tell the Postal Police that you did, and that the local police gave you a hard time. It will be investigated.
Keep in mind that willfully stealing or holding someone else's mail is a FEDERAL offense. If someone is taking your packages deliberately, it will not be a slap on the wrist punishment they get.
2006-11-26 11:38:02 · answer #1 · answered by devil_bunny_99 3 · 85⤊ 4⤋
What you should probably do it report it to the non-emergency police line, so they will know of the situation in case this keeps happening. This has happened to me before actually...
What I did was require signatures for all of my packages if they are recieved. When the packages was confirmed with the tracking number, I asked for the post office to provide me with the signature and they did- it was signed by my neighbor, who had attempted to sign my name (but had spelled it wrong). I filed a complaint with the police and one day when I came home from work, my package was on my front porch...
We've moved since then, so I'm not sure if the neighbors ever got fined or anything...I don't think they will arrest them, but the police should definitely do something...
2006-11-26 11:26:26 · answer #2 · answered by shutterbug1410 3 · 6⤊ 3⤋
Call the postal inspectors. I am a retired mail carrier. The PO is trying to get all of the people at top salary out & hire cheaper help. You get what you pay for. The postal inspectors should take you seriously.
2006-11-26 11:23:06 · answer #3 · answered by shermynewstart 7 · 4⤊ 2⤋
I'd contact your local post office. Then I would confront your neighbor, after researching delivery receipt, and ask that it be returned. if he refuses after you,ve given proof, I would secure an attorney and pursue it. you could possibly get reimbursed by the neighbor or even the Postmaster.
2006-11-26 11:24:09 · answer #4 · answered by X_YELLOWJACKET_X 3 · 3⤊ 2⤋
You really need to get forceful with the post office. Are you sure they are delivering it to the wrong person? Have you asked that person?
2006-11-26 11:23:34 · answer #5 · answered by sheeny 6 · 2⤊ 3⤋
Doesn't the mailman have to get someone to sign for it? What about the signatures?
2006-11-26 11:21:57 · answer #6 · answered by CrankyYankee 6 · 4⤊ 4⤋
not signed for by you or received by you..
you fail claim against post office..
let them trace the package.....
don't assume neighbor has it...
2006-11-26 11:21:31 · answer #7 · answered by cork 7 · 4⤊ 6⤋