The neighbour across the street won't let us put our mailbox by his and the post office won't deliver our mail

Question

We just finished building our house and went to the post office to ask where our mailbox should go. The postmaster told us across the street next to the neighbor's mailbox. The next day the mail carrier talked to my husband and told him about the neighbor had called the postmaster and was not being very "nice" about it but that we had to put the mailbox there, we had no choice, and we didn't have to ask his permission. On saturday the builder put up our mailbox and a few hours later the neighbour came over ranting and raving about it and threatening to pull it out and all that. That evening, he DID take the mailbox our and leave it next to our house. We spoke to the police about it, they checked on something, I don't know if it was the subdivision plat or what, and said that there was no city easement there and so they couldn't make him let us put the mailbox there. The post office still refuses to deliver our mail unless it's on that side of the street. What to do?

Answer 1

If there is no city easement then you are effectively putting your box up on his property which is illegal without his permission. Check with the post office (not the carrier) to see if mail can be delivered on your side of the street. It may be that the carrier doesn't want to be inconvenienced by having to get out of his truck, turn his vehicle around, or come back down the street. If you can not resolve with your neighbor, try to get the post office to suggest a reasonable alternative to picking it up.

Answer 2

I don't believe the post office can refuse to deliver mail to a registered address unless there's an issue of safety. I think you should try going up the ladder, call the central office.

Or...you could go down the ladder. Talk the the mailman and explain the problem. Assuming we're talking about walking across the street, if you're nice to the fellow he may consent to the delivery regardless.

Otherwise, you'll have to do pick-up at the local post office. I had to do that for some time in a new development until the post office worked out delivery to the new area.

Answer 3

Well, sounds like a good thing you have the fence. Since it is wood you prob. do need to stain or paint the back side. But you are between a rock and a hard place and, assuming the renters are not going anywhere or going to change their mind, you only have two choices. 1) FInd the owner again. Check the county tax roles and get his address and from that maybe his phone. (If you called him via a cell phone wait for the billing statement to arrive and recover it that way). If not, write him and get permission to enter HIS property and treat your fence. (ever consider painting THAT side of it Purple (grin)). Even better see if he will come over for an afternoon to settle things down. Some landlords will. 2) Worst case: You will have to remove a couple of sections of board and reach thru and paint the fence from your side. bit by bit.. sorry. A ladder and long handle roller will let you do a lot of it from the top. You may want to consider paint rather then stain for that side since stain will only protect it for a short time and you will have to do something again. .

Answer 4

Usually, the city or county, has a right of way, so far from the middle of the road. Talk to them about it. The Post Office requires your mail box be in a place where it is not dangerous for the mailman, like parking on the wrong side of the street, etc. Sounds like you have a neighbor like ours.

Answer 5

I t's n ot your neighbors proportion next to the street contact post office and they will send a city worker to dig a hole and even help place the mail box. Then if you neighbor ( the prick ) touches or try to move it it's a federal offense. And if the judge is rain yet he'll only do 90 days like my neighbor solves the prick problems

Answer 6

People do NOT own so many feet back from a road or street.. It's not their property to decide that.. Just put it there and if they touch it call the cops and have them arrested.

When the state, city, town runs the road they own so many feet (I believe it's 10 feet but not sure) on both sides of the road. This allows for poles, guard rails, sewage, mail boxes in this case, and safe walking distance off the road... I'm sure there are other reasons too...

Answer 7

Title 18, United States Code, Section 1705 makes it a crime to vandalize mailboxes (or to injure, deface or destroy any mail deposited in them. The statute says, "Whoever willfully or maliciously injures, tears down or destroys any letter box or other receptacle intended or used for the receipt or delivery of mail on any mail route, or breaks open the same, or willfully or maliciously injures, defaces or destroys any mail deposited therein, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than three years."

Answer 8

If you get something in writing from the Post Office, that should suffice. Anyone who disturbs the delivery of the mail is committing a federal offense.

Answer 9

Your mailbox is property of the US Government. If the neighbor messes with it. Call and report them! Can you say 'Federal Offense?'

Answer 10

Get a P.O. Box since you and your hubby wimped out and let your neighbor rip out your mailbox!