Mailman (City Letter Carrier)

Mailman (City Letter Carrier)

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.

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Last Answer on February 18, 2022

Best Rated

I just shipped a package (USPS Priority w/tracking #) & realized (2 late 2 intercept @ my post office) that I wrote 1 digit in the house # incorrectly on address label.
How can I notify the receiving post office? Don't want wrong person to get it

Asked by Elizabeth about 12 years ago

I would call 1800AskUSPS to see if you can get the phone # to the destination PO or at least get the message to them about the errant address. It is possible that the letter carrier who sees the package at the receiving PO knows where it's supposed to go and will deliver it accordingly. That depends on the carrier's familiarity with the names on their route and/or if they even receive the errantly addressed package at all. That would occur if one street is broken up into 2 or more carriers which is common based on the route layout and size of the street.  I hope it works out for you

I live alone in an apartment complex that has about 40 other apartments. Sometimes I forget to pick up my mail, and my mailbox gets really full. What do you guys do when this happens? Does it happen often? How do I know if this happened?

Asked by C. Davis about 12 years ago

I have rarely come across this situation but I would say that after awhile, the letter carrier could hold the mail at the PO and say "box full" and put in the mailbox has bringing the overflow mail to the PO. we would usually hold the mail for 10 days before  returning it to sender. 

An Express envelope came to my door which was supposed to go to my PO Box. The man who came to my door was not dressed in USPS attire. He asked me if there was anything hazardous in it and had me open the package in front of him. What's up with that?

Asked by David P about 12 years ago

It does not sound legitimate for someone to ask you to open a package or Express envelope in front of them. The employee should have at least identified themselves as a supervisor or postal inspector. It is possible maybe thought there was something hazardous in there, but I don't know the procedure for what is to be done. There are legal rights that come with protecting the contents off Express Mail or First Class Mail.

My mom is 82 and gets curbside delivery. she asked her letter carrier if he could bring her mail to the door. Thepostmaster said no way. Is there a way around this officious little twit?

Asked by Reggie almost 12 years ago

I am not sure what can be done to change the situation re: curbside delivery for your Mom. The only thing I could think of is maybe a dr's note saying she is having trouble walking to the mailbox. I am not sure that it would have any effect on the PMs decision. The USPS is trying to encourage curbside delivery or cluster box units as a more efficient means of delivery.

Mr. Mailman, what if you made a mistake and used a government issued bulk mail permit for personal use? I didn't use town funds to pay for the mailing, there was no monitory cost to the town but I am about to be questioned by a prosecutor

Asked by bulk bum about 12 years ago

I don't believe it is legal to use a bulk mail permit for personal use, especially if it is a taxpayer-funded government account. I am not a lawyer so I can't give you any legal advice in this forum. If it were me in the situation, I'd own up to the mistake, show that you paid for the mailing with your own funds. Again , an atty may tell you something different So if this might result in a legal action against you,consulting an atty may be a good idea. 

SO - I get a lot of mail addressed to previous tenants of my apartment (who I don't know at all). How can I stop this? If I put a note on my box "current residents only" then listing the current residents, can the mailman cooperate?

Asked by TiredOfTheGames over 12 years ago

I would think the mailman would cooperate if you left a note clearly statiNG who the current residents are. Please keep in mind that we would still deliver mail that says "or current resident" even if it still had a previous tenants name. If you get a regular piece of mail with the name of a previous tenant you can right on it "moved" or "doesnt live here" and leave it where the letter carrier can see it. I hope this helps. 

New tenants moved into a house my wife and I rent, and we all share 1 mailbox. The new tenants told our mailman that they were the only people living there, and our mail was returned to sender for 1 month until we corrected it. Is this legal?

Asked by Trevor about 12 years ago

Your new tenants should not have said that as long as you are rcvng mail at that house. i assume you are the homeowner. They should put it aside for you, but not have told the mailman that you don't get mail there. I  am glad that the situation has been rectified. As to whether or not it was legal or not, I am not a legal expert. It seems very inconsiderate what was done by the tenants.