Anyone know how to stop my dad from opening all my mail?

Question

I keep telling him not to but he says since I'm his child it's his parental right.

I wish I can move out but I don't have any money. I am saving up but it'll take years.

I can't get a PO BOX because they won't let me open one without utility bills in my name.

HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

He opens my credit card statements to see what I spent money on. Then he says stuff like why do you buy this or buy that.....

Answer 1

Do you have something to hide? What is the reason he does it? The only way you can prevent it is to get the mail before he does. But I would suggest you look into why he does it and try to resolve that trust issue.

Answer 2

What kind of mail is he opening? Try to keep as much of your correspondence on the internet as possible. If he's looking at your credit card statements or bank statements, you can go paperless with those. Tell your friends to correspond with you through e-mail only and if they want to send you a card, ask them not to enclose a personal message. That would leave him with just the junk mail.

You might want to check to see if the post office will accept a bank statement as proof of address since you don't have a utility bill. Also, look into the private mail boxes at places like the UPS Store or Mail Boxes, Etc. They might be less strict than the post office.

Answer 3

Talk to the post office again about the po box. Tell them the situation and see if there's another form of identification they'll accept. They should be able to use a cc statement with your address.
If that doesn't work have your mail forwarded to a friend or family member you can trust.
Also, many companies will let you cancel paper bills and just email you a statement or give you online access.
There's lost of other options to get around your fathers behavior.

Answer 4

Unfortunately, you are right that he has the right to open your mail. The best I can offer to you is to sit down and talk with him. Explain that you would like to feel more grown up and you believe that allowing you to open your own mail would be a small step towards that goal. After all, he is just trying to keep you safe. And don't be so quick to move out....childhood and young adulthood ends all too quickly and the adult responsibilites will follow. In due time, you will be able to move out on your own. But be patient and enjoy being carefree for the time:)

Answer 5

If you are a minor he has every right to open your mail (because he is protecting you for unwanted and unsolicited mail), if your an adult what he is doing is against the law, you would have to prove he is doing it, and then proceed to file charges on him, so why don't you have a phone put into your room and in your name (if your an adult) and then you would have a utility (to use to open a PO Box)

Answer 6

What kind of mail are you talking about? Personal mail, letters, college apps, credit cards apps??? I feel bad that you have to go through that. I don't even open my hubby's personal mail.You don't say how old you are and if you are not a juvenile delinquent, just a kid trying to have some privacy, I think he is out of line, even if you are under 18.

Answer 7

~He can legally open it, but it doesn't sound like you want to go that route anyhow.
Do you have a relative or friend that you can have your mail sent to? If you do, go to the post office and fill out a change of address.
If that isn't possible, can you check the mail before he does?~

Answer 8

I'm going thourgh the same thing. Just sit down and talk to them about opening your mail. Tell them how you feel about it. Hopefully they'd understand. If not just ask someone you trust to use their address for a while. Thats what I did. It works. good luck

Answer 9

You know what...Let him...
Meet some friends at school and set him up. Have your friends send some emails that you know would bother your dad. After he freaks out, tell him that he was set up and you will continue to tell your friends to do that until he stops invading your privacy.
You need to reassure him though...Make sure that you are aware of the bad things on the internet and that you will ask him when something comes up.

Answer 10

It depends on how old you are. Opening other peoples mail is a federal offense even if he comes to his house, unless they are minors and his children. I am sure that if he was taken to court at least once, he would stop. I am sure it would only be a fine.