What to do with this mail?

Question

We just moved into our apartment, and we've been getting mail for the person who possibly lived here before us. We put it back in the mailbox with a note for the postman, but it was never picked up. Some of it looks sort of important, but I don't want to deal with the hassle of driving across town to get this to a post office. Is it ok to just throw it out? I mean, she should have taken care of changing her address, just like I had to do. Any thoughts?

Answer 1

draw one line through the address and write "not at this address" and put it in a post office drop box

Answer 2

If it looks important, than the last thing you should do it throw it away. I too believe it is a federal offense. Write no longer at this address, and put it back into the outgoing mail. If the mail person does not pick it up, call the post office and let them know the mail person is not doing so and ask if you are missing apart of the equation. I live in a house with a mailbox on the side of the house right next to the door. I had to clip my outgoing mail to the outside of the mailbox, as it was illegal for them to look inside to see if I had anything outgoing. This may be a simple phone call to answer the question.

Answer 3

Before I would throw it out, I would call the post office and tell them about the mail that you have left in the mailbox for them, to pick up. The people may realize that they are missing mail and contact the post office, or possibly they some information on file for them.

If that does no good, then just throw it out. At least you made an attempt to give them their old mail, I agree that it is their ultimate responsibility to change their address.

Answer 4

Don't throw it out, it is a federal crime, you could do jail time. and do not redeliver it yourself, that is not good either.
Draw a line through the wrong address, write on the envelope "not this address", do this so it is very visable, and put it out for the carrier. If he does not pick it up, call the post office, and say that you are still getting mail for the former tenant, and could the carrier please pick it up? when they say just put it in the box, say, I did that, the carrier must have missed it.
Don't write return to sender, either, you do not know what is in that envelope, it might delay the person recieving something important by days, weeks, and months, while it goes back and is reprocessed by the sender.
The post office will continue to help a person who has moved get their mail for one year after they move. After that, they do not have to deliver it, but they do have to take it back to the office once it has been delivered in error. They put it in a dead letter file, and wait for the person to claim it, or notify the person that they have mail, if they can find them.

Answer 5

If you throw it out, you will be committing a federal crime. Bundle it together and leave for postman again with a note stating that the person no longer resides there. If that doesn't work, write "return to sender" across front and place in mailbox. Does the manager not have a forwarding address for the final rental payment?

Answer 6

Just write "Please Forward" in dark letters and circle it. Put in back in your mailbox with the flag up, like you are mailing it. The USPS should have a forwarding address and it's possible there has been a mix up with the carrier on your route. If there is a forwarding address, they'll take care of not only getting THAT mail to the right person, but also making sure that all future mail is forwarded as well.

If there is no forwarding address on file, the USPS will make sure the mail is returned to sender.

Answer 7

I agree with you, yes she should have taken care of that herself, however I know from personal experience, occasionally there was one place I forgot to notify, that Christmas job I only had for 3 months at the holidays that was sending me a W-2 for one example. Or just plain and simple caught up in the move and stuff going on she simply forgot to change an address or two
I would give her the benefit of the doubt and drop it in a mail box( with no longer at this address) for her once or twice until she has had the time to have her mail redirected and for the PO to catch it etc. esp if it looks important, besides wouldnt you want someone to do the same for you.

Answer 8

The mailman/woman should have picked it back... whenever we leave anything in the mailbox with a note, usually they take it back... i know it is disturbing... but i agree with mudsud. you should try sending it back to the post office with a remark - not at this address. throwing it wont help, coz it will keep bothering you at the back of your head... hopefully, the earlier tenant will go to the post office to change the address. all the best...

Answer 9

If you have already put it in the mailbox and a note telling the mailman that it is not your mail, it shouldn't be your responsibility to drive across town just to deliver this person's mail. If it were me I would just throw it out.

Answer 10

If it is a PO box type (which is usually how apartments have their mail delivered), just write on it "return to sender, occupant no longer here" and put in a regular mail box. The mail carrier may think that you haven't picked up your mail. They likely don't dip their hand in to see what is in there. So, just write on it and stick in a normal mail box. Yes, the previous occupant SHOULD have taken care of it- so you may want to contact the post office or the apartment and let them know.

-EA

Answer 11

Since you don't wanna drive to the post office, I would look on the Internet somewhere to see if you could find the person's new address and mail it to them....I wouldn't throw it out, what if its a bill or medical information or something...you just never know what is inside that envelope!