What to Do With a Mail That Isn’t Yours? Guide 2023

Do you know what to do with a package that isn’t yours? It’s probably simpler than you think to dispose of mail that isn’t yours legally if you’re unsure of what to do with it. All you need to do is write “RETURN TO SENDER” on the front of the envelope and put it back in your mailbox.

All of us have probably experienced this at some point: you go to your mailbox, grab the stack, sort through it, and discover that one or more pieces of mail aren’t actually addressed to you. Learn what to do and what not to do when receiving mail that is not yours by continuing to read.

What to Do If You Get Mail Addressed to Someone Else

Ideally, you experience this problem infrequently rather than frequently. In either case, though, taking the right measures can help decrease the amount of UAA mail you eventually receive, putting the responsibility back on the post office (and away from you) to ensure that the correct people receive the right mail.

Here’s what to do.

1. Label It and Stick It Back in Your Mailbox

The next best course of action is to properly label the piece of mail and then place it back in the outbox if it’s not as easy as just leaving it in your neighbor’s mailbox or at their front door. This means:

• Cross out the barcode
• Write “Not at this Address: Return to Sender” on the envelope

This makes sure that your mail will be marked as undeliverable whether it is processed by a scanner or a real USPS employee.

2. Talk to Your Landlord, If Applicable

The mail you are receiving if you are renting is almost certainly for a previous tenant. Contact your landlord and let them know what’s going on; then, ask them if they knew where the letter should be sent. Your landlord should have gathered a forwarding address when they moved out. You can replace your address with theirs if they have the right one, then affix the letter to an outbox after crossing out your own address.

3. Notify Your Postal Carrier

If you only occasionally or occasionally receive mail addressed to the wrong person, you probably don’t need to take this action. However, if it happens frequently (especially if the mail is frequently addressed to the same person), it may be worthwhile to contact your local post office.

When you get a wrongly addressed letter, leave it in your mailbox with a sticky note on top that says “At this address, So-and-So doesn’t reside.” You could also visit your post office and speak with a manager there. Ask if you can fill out a Change of Address form for the person whose mail you are receiving, and on the line for the forwarding address put “left no forwarding address when they moved.” You can then sign the form with your name and “Current resident.”

Correct mail continues to arrive? If you’ve tried the aforementioned steps without success, you can complain to your post office. To do this, get the procedure by contacting your local postmaster by phone or email. Depending on the situation, you might be able to file a complaint over the phone or via email without needing to schedule an appointment.

Read More: What To Do If Amazon Package Is Stolen?

What Not to Do When Receiving Other People’s Mail

Here are some thing you should avoid.

Don’t Open the Mail

The first reaction when receiving mail in your mailbox is to open it without first looking at the intended recipient. The sender and the contents of the letter are highlighted. It is illegal in the US to open another person’s mail, though. The letter has been tampered with when you open it. You may receive a five-year prison sentence or significant fines, according to US Postal Code 1708.

Don’t Tamper With the Envelope

Never tamper with an envelope containing mail that isn’t yours, despite your desire to know what is inside. In order to avoid going to jail or paying a fine for tampering with the envelope or package, you should handle it carefully. Keep your writing off the envelope.

It’s important to send the mail back in good shape. Suppose you want to write a message like “Not at this Address” or “Return to Sender,” then use a sticky note. By doing this, you will avoid being charged with tampering with other people’s mail.

Don’t Try to Fill Out a Change of Address Form for the Recipient

Receiving someone else’s mail could make you irate. especially if you have already made vain attempts to stop people from sending you mail that is incorrectly addressed. You might decide to submit a change of address form for the recipient out of rage. But it’s illegal to do this.

Sending someone else’s mail on purpose to a different address is against the law. If the recipient has given you permission, you may only change the address. This is due to the likelihood that you’ll give inaccurate information. All you can do is remind the recipients to update their addresses or use the methods mentioned above.

Don’t Cross Or Block Out the Recipient’s Name

It’s tampering if you use a pen or marker to cross out or cover the recipient’s name. It’s an offense, per US Code 1708, to do that. When a name is crossed, it makes it difficult for the station manager and postal workers to identify who the mail is addressed to.

Additionally, it might be challenging for the post office to update its mailing lists. The sender will struggle to know who to contact if it is returned to them. Never cross out the recipient’s name to avoid fines and receiving other people’s mail.

Don’t Throw the Mail Away

It doesn’t necessarily follow that the mail is irrelevant to the intended recipient just because it isn’t relevant to you. Do not dispose of it with your other junk mail if you are tempted to do so because doing so would be mail theft. The likelihood that the letter’s intended recipient will ever discover what was written is reduced by throwing it.

The law is strict regarding purposeful mail tampering. Since you are aware that the mail was sent to the wrong address in error, throwing it away counts as tampering with the address. If found guilty, you risk a five-year prison sentence or a $10,000 fine.

Why Are You Getting Mail That Isn’t Yours?

Some of the reasons your mailbox is full of mail are:

Misdelivered Mail

Mail delivery personnel are human and subject to error. Your neighbor’s mail could accidentally end up in your mailbox due to a lack of focus. Additionally, there will be some confusion regarding the street and house numbers, and mail will be misplaced.

Previous Resident Mail

It’s very likely that some of the previous tenants’ mail is still being delivered to their old address. They most likely neglected to give the post office mail forwarding addresses.

Due to Fraud

Fraud is a popular form of behavior that people enjoy engaging in. Regular mail addressed to the same person being received is a red flag for potential fraud. You must inform the post office of this situation.

Did You Know That Tossing Out Someone Else’s Mail is a Felony?

The handling of mail is covered in U.S. legal doctrine. Code § 1708. The law enables a fine and up to five years in jail for anyone who “buys, receives, or conceals, or unlawfully has in his possession” any piece of mail that isn’t theirs. Since this is a federal law, some individual states have their own detailed penalties that they may impose. In Texas, for instance, tampering with mail from 50 or more locations is considered a first-degree felony punishable by five years in prison and a $10,000 fine while mishandling mail from fewer than ten locations is only considered a misdemeanor.

It’s crucial to remember that the law demands intent; in order to face criminal charges, you must be aware that the mail doesn’t belong to you. You’ll probably be fine if, while checking your mail, you unintentionally open an item that wasn’t addressed to you. It is evidence enough that you knew the mail wasn’t yours if you destroy or otherwise dispose of it because it was addressed to someone else. This more than suffices as justification for intent.

Bottom Line: What to Do With a Mail That Isn’t Yours?

Receiving someone else’s mail is bothersome, but the consequences of throwing it in the garbage aren’t worth breaking the law. Returning wrong address mail legally is as simple as writing “RETURN TO SENDER” on the envelope and sticking it back in your mailbox.

To prevent your mail from becoming someone else’s problem, make sure to pay it forward by submitting a change-of-address form when you move.

Also Read: How To Refuse A USPS Package?

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