Accidently opened another person's post mail?

Question

I've been getting a bunch of mail from the person before us for over 2 years; the post office doesn't listen when we say it's the wrong address.

Anyway, I had accidentally opened a piece of mail I had mistaken for one of my own. It was a Christmas card with two checks inside. Obviously I'm going to return it to the post office on Monday and say it was accidentally opened, but I guess I'm a little paranoid.

I won't get into trouble will I? Honest mistake and am trying to do the right thing now, but I am still curious to what you all think.

Thanks.

thanks for the replies, i just wanted to make sure!

it was addressed to my house, but the old owners moved out over 2 years ago. I just happened to have another similar envelope in the stack and grabbed/opened this one by accident.

Answer 1

Nope, you won't get into trouble...just as long as all of the contents are sealed back into the envelope and you reported it to your post office.

At the same time, you might want to mention that you've been getting these sort of wrong address mails directed to this person for the past couple of years, that way the postmaster can make the proper corrections. If that doesn't work with your local post office.....report it to:

http://www.usps.gov

Answer 2

REturning it to the post office is useless if they don't have the recipients address. If you know their address, you can mail the checks to them and explain what happened otherwise let it be. Checks that are not cashed by a certain months will be nullified and the will try to find out from the recipients why and what happened and they will tell them that they didn't receive the checks. The sender can then re-send the checks to them.

Answer 3

Is the mail from this other person addressed to your address, or is the mail carrier simply delivering it to the wrong address?

I wouldn't worry about it, if it was me I would just put another stamp on it and put it in a regular mailbox and hope it doesn't come back again.

Too bad you didn't open it and find a crisp new $100 Bill :)

Answer 4

just drop it in the out mail (tape it shut) and don't worry about having opened it. I have received mail from the post office that had been opened and never heard of trouble happening. It was an accident so no shame on you.

Answer 5

My daughter was in similiar position and post office said do what she wants to with the mail...I think this is ignorant because some mail is actually important not junk...the other person should have the name address changed to protect themselves from id theft.

Answer 6

I doubt if you will get into any trouble but opening mail is a misdemeanor punishable by $500 fine or no more than 180 days, imprisonment or both. But it was a honest mistake...you wont get into trouble dont worry.

Answer 7

they are for sure utilising your handle to sidestep any county court docket judgements or summonses being linked with their handle. in case you have asked them to give up and that they gained't, return any placed up to the sender marked "no longer familiar at this handle". If the envelopes endure a sprint variety or handle, touch the senders and clarify the area to them. you're able to get greater counsel and help out of your interior reach voters' advice Bureau. i might wager that that's no longer the 1st time that the neighbours have tried this so the next step could desire to be the police.

Answer 8

They've had 2 years to redirect, don't cash the cheques it's a crime.

I still have snail mail coming to my home after 4 years of re posting them as 'return to sender'.

I've given up they now get shredded.

Answer 9

It is an honest mistake and it happens all the time. You're actually nicer than some people, who might just throw it out!

Answer 10

This has happened to me before too. Just be honest and tell them it was opened by mistake.