MailmanDave
17 Years Experience
Long Island, NY
Male, 43
I am a City Letter Carrier for the US Postal Service in NY. I've been a city letter carrier for over 17 years and it is the best job I've ever had. I mostly work 5 days per week (sometimes includes a Saturday) and often have the opportunity for overtime, which is usually voluntary. The route I deliver has about 350 homes and I walk to each of their doors to deliver the mail. Please keep in mind that I don't have authority to speak for the USPS, so all opinions are solely mine, not my employer.
Jessica, I don't know what is legal or not about returning mail to the sender if not addressed properly but it seems that your letter carrier is taking this a bit too far by returning letters that don't match exactly the name on the mailbox. As long as the apartment # is correct and the name matches somewhat the mail should be delivered. I don't know if you want to leave a note saying "please deliver all mail that is addressed to my apartment # even if the name doesn't match exactly." As far as I know names don't need to match at all as long as there is an apt # and the recipient isn't rejecting the mail as "no longer lives here or person doesn't live here". Many carriers, especially substitute or CCA (city carrier assistants), just deliver the mail as addressed which is fine. I am a very detail-oriented letter carrier and always want to make the proper deliveries but would never return something for a spelling error. I would return something sometimes if it is consistently mailed to an incorrect address. Again, the address is the most important piece of information on a piece of mail, not necessarily the name.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=Postman%20at%20our%20apartment%20keeps%20returning%20our%20mail%20to%20sender.%20He%20states%20it%20is%20because%20it%20does%20not%20match%20the%20names%20on%20our%20box.%20Can%20he%20legally%20do%20this.%20If%20the%20name%20is%20misspelled%20or%20off%20by%20one%20letter%20he%20will%20return%20to%20sender%20every%20time.%20Can%20he%20do%20this%3F&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/13912)
I am not sure if you can. An option is to contact the sender by phone or another means and request to not be sent any mail. If the mail is First class you can write "refused" on the envelope and it will be returned to the sender. Generally any mail that is sent as Presorted Standard (bulk mail) will just get discarded at the local PO if you write "refused" on the mail. The sender would never know you didn't want that mail. I'd just recommend that you discard/recycle any mail you don't want. For the most part customers I deliver mail to don't refuse many letters and probably just throw away anything they don't want. If they give it back to me I handle it as above (either discard the PO where I work or return it to the sender).
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=Can%20I%20stop%20receiving%20letters%20from%20a%20particular%20sender%3F&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/16293)
I don't know anything about how a route is established and what it would take to get it changed from a riding route to a walking route. Do you know if they are city or rural letter carriers who deliver your mail? Normally if a carrier is driving in a delivery vehicle and the mailboxes are at the street they should be able to approach and leave the mailbox without having to get out of their delivery vehicle to affect delivery. If a car is parked in the way and the letter carrier can't reach the mailbox without getting out of their delivery vehicle they have the option to skip delivery and attempt it the next day hoping there will be clear access. I am not familiar with an area where some houses are riding and some are walking when they are near each other. Usually it's one or the other. For example, all of my deliveries are to a mailbox which is usually attached to an actual residence so I walk between delivery points. Other carriers stay in their delivery vehicle and put mail in mailboxes which are along a road or curb. This is also known as curbside delivery. My suggestion would be to call the post office and speak to a delivery supervisor or manager about this. I don't know if they will be of any help. Is it possible for you to move your car or even the mailbox so the letter carrier can more easily gain access to the mailbox? You shouldn't have to go without mail delivery but there are certain regulations to be followed so the letter carrier can do their job in an efficient and safe manner.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=i%20live%20in%20a%20rural%20area.%20The%20house%20that%20i%20purchased%20was%20an%20established%20riding%20route.%20The%20mailman%20wont%20deliver%20my%20mail%20stating%20the%20car%20is%20in%20the%20way.%20How%20do%20I%20request%20a%20walking%20route%20when%20all%20other%20stops%20around%20my%20house%20are%20walking%20stops.&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/15571)
I don't think the letter carrier (postman) should be commenting at all to anyone who gets mail in your box. Not that it matters, but it seems quite normal to have a bill sent to another address. Maybe you pay his XFinity bill for him. Either way that doesn't matter with regards to your question. If this comes up again, I would politely tell the manager that it's not his business who receives mail at your address. If you happen to see the letter carrier, you could mention that he shouldn't be giving out that information and as long as you, the tenant, are accepting mail for your son (or whomever) then it should be delivered accordingly by the USPS employee. I am not familiar with any circumstances that allows us to verbally confirm who gets mail at an address.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=Hello.%20I%20live%20in%20a%20apartment%20community%20and%20have%20recently%20been%20asked%20by%20my%20manager%20%22why%20does%20my%20son%20get%20his%20xfinity%20bill%20at%20your%20address%20and%20why%20don%27t%20he%20have%20his%20mail%20go%20to%20his%20own%20address%3F%22%20Basically%2C%20can%20postman%20tell%20mgr.%20who%20gets%20mail%20at%20your%20box%3F&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/15634)
Private Detective
What do you think is the most corrupt industry, city, and State in the country?
Investment Banker
Did you experience the notorious 100-hour work weeks?
Obstetrician Gynecologist
Has being an OBGYN affected your own beliefs about when "life" begins?
Andrew, you may want to email the vendor of the postcards to see the size of the white box. It looks like it would fit in the white box but I can't say for sure as I don't know standard address label sizes. I recommend doing this before ordering the cards because I don't know if they issue refunds. I see there is an area where your card customization needs to be double checked since there are no changes once the order is placed.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=Follow%20up%20question%20i%20was%20the%20guy%20who%20asked%20about%20the%20eddm%20would%20i%20a%20regular%20size%20label%20fit%20where%20it%20says%20local%20postal%20customer%20do%20you%20think%20it%20fit%3F&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/16219)
Yes, I've heard of nothing to the contrary and I know that many of the younger letter carriers have tattoos and piercings.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=Are%20mail%20carriers%20allowed%20to%20have%20tattoos%20and%2For%20piercings%3F&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/15455)
I can't quote the statute that says it is illegal for the letter carrier to discuss with others the fact that your sister was in jail, however it is entirely inappropriate and probably against postal regulations re: sanctity and confidentiality of the mail. I see mail going to/from prison while delivering the mail but never say a word to anybody about it. I'm not sure if you want to discuss it with your letter carrier to tell him how wrong it was to say anything to anybody. I also don't know it it would go anywhere if you complained to the USPS about his behavior. Legally, you may also need proof or witnesses if in fact it is illegal what the letter carrier divulged to others. I know I'd be very upset if I found out my letter carrier was talking about things they should be confidential about, but not sure what avenue I would take to resolve it.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=My%20sister%20was%20recently%20in%20jail.%20Our%20mail%20carrier%20saw%20letters%20from%20us%20going%20to%20her%20at%20the%20jail%20and%20has%20been%20telling%20a%20lot%20of%20people%20about%20her%20being%20in%20jail.%20Is%20this%20legal%20for%20him%20to%20do%3F&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/16156)
-OR-
Login with Facebook (max 20 characters - letters, numbers, and underscores only. Note that your username is private, and you have the option to choose an alias when asking questions or hosting a Q&A.)
(A valid e-mail address is required. Your e-mail will not be shared with anyone.)
(min 5 characters)
By checking this box, you acknowledge that you have read and agree to Jobstr.com’s Terms and Privacy Policy.
-OR-
Register with Facebook(Don't worry: you'll be able to choose an alias when asking questions or hosting a Q&A.)
Browse Jobs
Host a Q&A
Search
Submit Your Question
Host a Q&A
Last 7
