Ask a Mailman (City Letter Carrier) anything

1237 Questions

Last Answer on February 18, 2022

if you were sending mail to someone, and you spelled their street address wrong by one letter (ex. Hamptons but spelled as Hampton) and everything else correct, will it mail to the correct house?

Asked by Aya over 11 years ago

If the mail is addressed correctly otherwise and only off by one letter, it should be delivered to the correct house. It would maybe a problem if there was another street in the same town which had a similar name or suffix (like the town had a 3rd St and a 3rd Av). The most important things in an address would be the # and ZIP code. If the street is spelled somewhat close, you'd likely have the item delivered to the correct house. Thank you for writing.

1014 Votes

do you get another chance to take the road test for rca if you fail the first time

Asked by pink floyd about 12 years ago

I don't know the procedure re: road tests and being able to retake them if you fail the first time. I'd recommend getting in contact with the National Rural Letter Carrier's Association at www.nrlca.org and see if they have any advice. Good luck to you.

1014 Votes

Is it usual for mail carriers to run late on routes? My mail is usually here early in the AM but has not yet got here yet.

Asked by Hello about 13 years ago

Sure it's common to run late. It's possible the carrier had another assignment to do before starting their regular route. Also, if staffing is short, a route may be broken up into several sections and a carrier will do that section for overtime which could vary the delivery time greatly. Thanks for the question.

1014 Votes

Hi. When forwarding requests are no longer active, is there anything at the sorting case/facility that automatically designates the mail as UTF? Also, how are letters with "return service requested" endorsements handled by letter carriers or PO?

Asked by Old Address Follow Up almost 13 years ago

I don't think there is any automation involved after 18 months from when a forwarding order started. At the sorting case, a carrier has pink cards with stickers on them which can say when a particular forwarding order started. I keep those cards for about 2-3 years and once the forwarding order has expired (18 months), I put a line through the sticker and maybe a little marker at the address in the carrier case indicating UTF. "Return service requested" AFAIK means that if the letter was going to be forwarded to a new addrees, the sender would like the letter returned to them with the new address info. The carriers handle them just as they would any forward and the CFS (Computerized Forwarding System) will know that the sender wanted the letter returned. The sender does pay an extra fee for this service.

1013 Votes

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Hi! I've had some mail (along with a battery) sitting in my mailbox for a couple days, my key is missing. Can I leave a note for the mail carrier to deliver the mail to my house? Even though it's a neighborhood mailbox? I'm in Texas, if that helps.:)

Asked by Randy almost 12 years ago

Randy, I dont know the answer to your question. I can see it turning out both ways. On one hand, the carrier may be familiar with you and/or the neighborhood and feel it is safe enough to leave the mail by your door without risk of it being stolen. On the other hand, they may have rules saying that this is forbidden and not be able to verify that you actually wrote the note. you could also call your local PO to find out if they can be of any help, but I'm guessing they will say that you have to get a replacement key and can't risk bringing the mail to your door. I'm being purposefully vague because I have a feeling that there would be different answers from different offices/personnel. I hope you can find your mailbox key.

1011 Votes

If a person lives at 1 address, has certain important mail delivered there & in the same town, use another person's address to have other mail delivered there?

Asked by Tim over 12 years ago

I am not completely sure what is being asked by this question, but here is the general rule that we should follow when delivering mail. Unless there is an official change of address order on file to forward a person's mail from one address to another then the mail should only be delivered to the address which is printed on the envelope as to where the letter should go.

1011 Votes

It is unusual for a mailman to refuse to deliver in 1 to 3 inches of snow if it was not cleared? He is walking across the same amount of snow in neighboring yards after leaving their porch. He grabbed and threw my snow shovel out in my yard today.

Asked by Mike over 12 years ago

I don't know what is common or not for a mailman to do in that amt. of snow. It seems strange that they would do it for some customers and not others. That said, if a carrier feels they can't safely approach a mailbox due to snow, then they may refuse. I think it all comes down to a judgment call by the letter carrier if there is any doubt for their safety in approaching a mailbox. As to the inconsistency of doing one house as opposed to another house which seem similarly cleared or not cleared, I don't know why that decision is made.

1009 Votes

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Mailman (City Letter Carrier)

Ask me anything!

What do YOU do?

if you were sending mail to someone, and you spelled their street address wrong by one letter (ex. Hamptons but spelled as Hampton) and everything else correct, will it mail to the correct house?

do you get another chance to take the road test for rca if you fail the first time

Is it usual for mail carriers to run late on routes? My mail is usually here early in the AM but has not yet got here yet.

Hi. When forwarding requests are no longer active, is there anything at the sorting case/facility that automatically designates the mail as UTF? Also, how are letters with "return service requested" endorsements handled by letter carriers or PO?

Also on Jobstr...

Hi! I've had some mail (along with a battery) sitting in my mailbox for a couple days, my key is missing. Can I leave a note for the mail carrier to deliver the mail to my house? Even though it's a neighborhood mailbox? I'm in Texas, if that helps.:)

If a person lives at 1 address, has certain important mail delivered there & in the same town, use another person's address to have other mail delivered there?

It is unusual for a mailman to refuse to deliver in 1 to 3 inches of snow if it was not cleared? He is walking across the same amount of snow in neighboring yards after leaving their porch. He grabbed and threw my snow shovel out in my yard today.

Mailman (City Letter Carrier)

Ask me anything!

What do YOU do?

if you were sending mail to someone, and you spelled their street address wrong by one letter (ex. Hamptons but spelled as Hampton) and everything else correct, will it mail to the correct house?

do you get another chance to take the road test for rca if you fail the first time

Is it usual for mail carriers to run late on routes? My mail is usually here early in the AM but has not yet got here yet.

Hi. When forwarding requests are no longer active, is there anything at the sorting case/facility that automatically designates the mail as UTF? Also, how are letters with "return service requested" endorsements handled by letter carriers or PO?

Also on Jobstr...

Hi! I've had some mail (along with a battery) sitting in my mailbox for a couple days, my key is missing. Can I leave a note for the mail carrier to deliver the mail to my house? Even though it's a neighborhood mailbox? I'm in Texas, if that helps.:)

If a person lives at 1 address, has certain important mail delivered there & in the same town, use another person's address to have other mail delivered there?

It is unusual for a mailman to refuse to deliver in 1 to 3 inches of snow if it was not cleared? He is walking across the same amount of snow in neighboring yards after leaving their porch. He grabbed and threw my snow shovel out in my yard today.

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