Ask a Mailman (City Letter Carrier) anything

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Last Answer on February 18, 2022

My husband's ex-wife's mail continues to be delivered to our house. We purchased together so there is no reason that she would be on this address. I have done everything suggested to make this stop; it keeps getting delivered. How do I make it stop?

Asked by kingston about 11 years ago

Kingston, I'm guessing that a couple of methods you have tried is to return any mail with her name on it with the marking "person doesn't live here" or "refused" on it. Another method is to ask your letter carrier to only deliver mail with your name and/or your husband's name on it. Since the ex-wife possibly had the same last name as your husband I can see some of that mail getting through. You could discard the mail but I don't think that will have any effect on stopping the mail since a letter carrier has no idea what is done with the mail once it is delivered. If you talk to a supervisor at the PO and tell them you don't want mail for that name, I'm not sure what their response will be, esp. when last names may be in common. I am sorry that I don't have any better information as this situation isn't one that I recall coming across. Most people just refuse delivery of that mail or probably discard it. Thanks for writing.

776 Votes

Is it legal for a postal driver to drive by residence without delivering package shipped express? If not, is it illegal to catch up to postal driver to obtain package, especially when its Veterans medication? Please answer both questions

Asked by Baffled over 11 years ago

If an item is mailed Express, the carrier at the destination Post Office should make an attempt to deliver the package on the day it is received. I don't think they should be driving by the residence and not attempting to deliver the Express Mail package unless there was some safety concern. As to whether it is legal or not, I have no knowledge on that matter. I wouldn't think it was illegal to catch up to the postal driver to obtain the package as long as you can prove you have a right to the item (it is addressed to you and you have corresponding identification). I'm also not sure how you would know if the carrier actually had the express package in their vehicle, but it wouldn't hurt to ask if you thought they might. Thank you for your questions.

775 Votes

Can you ask mail carrier to deliver a letter/envelope with affixed postage to an address that's on her route right down the road that same day? Or does it have to go all the way to the post office 100 miles away to get sorted? Thanks!

Asked by Gracie about 11 years ago

Gracie, you certainly can ask a letter carrier to do what you have mentioned. I don't know if they all would oblige and I don't know the rules concerning this. I have never had this requested of me, but if I did, I probably would do it because it is such a rare occurrence and wouldn't have any measurable impact on my day with regards to taking longer to deliver the route than normal. During my mail delivery I sometimes look at the outgoing mail and see that there are letters/cards going to addresses which are also on my route. This happens more commonly during the holiday season. I don't, however, segregate that mail out for any special handling. I let it all go to our mail processing plant which will usually run the mail through an automated system which will then put the mail in delivery order for the next day's delivery. This is called DPS (Delivery Point Sequencing) Mail and is fairly accurate in my opinion. Humans make plenty of mistakes and machines make mistakes so I wouldn't disparage the use of DPS machines because they really save on a lot of labor costs in sorting mail. To me it is am amazingly efficient technology when it comes to sorting letter-size mail and flats (magazines and catalogs). Thank you for your inquiry.

774 Votes

Also what if that blue mailbox i mailed it to was out of service?Sorry about the double post should had put all in one.

Asked by victor about 11 years ago

Victor, no worries at all regarding your double post. I am not familiar with the blue collection boxes being out of service but still being out in the street and available to be used. I know you didn't find the box when you used the website to look for mailboxes. The only suggestion I would have is to go to a PO that is located near that box or call them somehow to see if that blue collectionmailbox is in use. They might have the answer.

773 Votes

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I am a CCA, and was wondering what the trick is to organization of boxes and mail when you case in the morning. I get confused and end up throwing all the boxes in the truck and end up coming back to deliver.

Asked by Larry over 10 years ago

Larry, congratulations on becoming a CCA for the USPS. It's not an easy position of being given different assignments daily that you possibly aren't familiar with and expected to perform like you are. I don't know of a trick to organizing the mail, but I'll explain what I do. Regarding the mail, when you pull it down from the carrier case, you may want to number the trays in delivery order and then load them in reverse order to the back of the truck. Put the highest numbered trays towards the back of the cargo area (closest to the driver) and the lowered numbered trays towards the liftgate in the cargo area. This is assuming you are driving an LLV and are on a walking route (park and loop). With regards to parcels, if they are small enough to be put in plastic trays, you may line them up in delivery order or at least keep ones of the same street together. For larger parcels I try to load them in by street (or section of street). I make it sound easy, but a large part of that is because I deliver the same route each day. If it was a new route, I would probably just keep the parcels together by street name. I understand that a lot of what I'm telling you is easier said than done, and with time you should become more efficient and familiar with the routes in your office. Be patient and work safely. Thanks for your question and it will be worth the wait to become a regular carrier.

773 Votes

Also, are the mail carrier tests good throughout the U.S. or are they required to be retaken in each individual state? How long are they good for on file once taken?

Asked by jadrian over 11 years ago

I don't believe that the tests matter at all by state, but when you take the test it is usually given by a certain district which is hiring. It has been many years since I've taken a hiring exam so I don't know if the process has changed. Furthermore, I don't know how long the grades are on file once the exam is taken. Good luck to you Jadrian.

772 Votes

Thanks for your reply. I was a carrier with the USPS back in the day. This is a relatively new mailbox, and the carrier definitely broke it as a result of how he opened it each day over the last few years. We'll see what the USPS does for me. Thanks.

Asked by David about 11 years ago

You're welcome David. It's my pleasure to try and assist where I can. It's just that I have so little confidence in the operation at times and how the management can resolve situations satisfactorily. I know it's not a good attitude, but if I worked for a company that focused on the customer and quality of work and one that treated its workers with greater respect, I'd give you a more optimistice answer. It's not that we are a horrible place by any means, but being a quasi-governmental orgnaization, I feel that it's just kind of "eh" at times. Some of us work hard and try our best, while others, it seems, work against the operation it seems. Fortunately it's more the former than the latter overall. Thanks again for writing and feel free to post your results on this Q and A site.

772 Votes

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Mailman (City Letter Carrier)

Ask me anything!

What do YOU do?

My husband's ex-wife's mail continues to be delivered to our house. We purchased together so there is no reason that she would be on this address. I have done everything suggested to make this stop; it keeps getting delivered. How do I make it stop?

Is it legal for a postal driver to drive by residence without delivering package shipped express? If not, is it illegal to catch up to postal driver to obtain package, especially when its Veterans medication? Please answer both questions

Can you ask mail carrier to deliver a letter/envelope with affixed postage to an address that's on her route right down the road that same day? Or does it have to go all the way to the post office 100 miles away to get sorted? Thanks!

Also what if that blue mailbox i mailed it to was out of service?Sorry about the double post should had put all in one.

Also on Jobstr...

I am a CCA, and was wondering what the trick is to organization of boxes and mail when you case in the morning. I get confused and end up throwing all the boxes in the truck and end up coming back to deliver.

Also, are the mail carrier tests good throughout the U.S. or are they required to be retaken in each individual state? How long are they good for on file once taken?

Thanks for your reply. I was a carrier with the USPS back in the day. This is a relatively new mailbox, and the carrier definitely broke it as a result of how he opened it each day over the last few years. We'll see what the USPS does for me. Thanks.

Mailman (City Letter Carrier)

Ask me anything!

What do YOU do?

My husband's ex-wife's mail continues to be delivered to our house. We purchased together so there is no reason that she would be on this address. I have done everything suggested to make this stop; it keeps getting delivered. How do I make it stop?

Is it legal for a postal driver to drive by residence without delivering package shipped express? If not, is it illegal to catch up to postal driver to obtain package, especially when its Veterans medication? Please answer both questions

Can you ask mail carrier to deliver a letter/envelope with affixed postage to an address that's on her route right down the road that same day? Or does it have to go all the way to the post office 100 miles away to get sorted? Thanks!

Also what if that blue mailbox i mailed it to was out of service?Sorry about the double post should had put all in one.

Also on Jobstr...

I am a CCA, and was wondering what the trick is to organization of boxes and mail when you case in the morning. I get confused and end up throwing all the boxes in the truck and end up coming back to deliver.

Also, are the mail carrier tests good throughout the U.S. or are they required to be retaken in each individual state? How long are they good for on file once taken?

Thanks for your reply. I was a carrier with the USPS back in the day. This is a relatively new mailbox, and the carrier definitely broke it as a result of how he opened it each day over the last few years. We'll see what the USPS does for me. Thanks.

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