Is my mailman allowed to do this?

SportSavant · Mar 8, 2011

Ive been hopping around from place to place in Las Vegas, so instead of changing my address all the time I have been using one of my friends address.

He lives in a Condo with multiple, mailboxes all in one room.

My friend did not write my name on the mailbox tag, so the mailman decided not to deliver my mail, my friend has lived there for 6 years.

I spoke with the mailman today, and he yelled at me saying I was an idiot for not writing my name on the mailbox, and that it was his job to return mail addressed to that address if the name wasnt on the tag?

Ive had mail delivered to 4 different addresses in Las Vegas, and have received it at all the addresses, however this mailman, in this condo complex, decided he was going to send it all back to sender. Including my social security card which I badly need.

I asked him how he keeps track of all the people moving in and out of places and he says that he just does, he is a good mailman and other mailmen dont care?

This cannot be USPS policy can it?

JakeT. · Mar 8, 2011

I've had mail returned to sender because my name wasn't on the tag. Then again, I've received mail for like 10 different people who don't have their names on the tag. Who the hell knows.

kermit16 · Mar 8, 2011

SportSavant said:
Ive been hopping around from place to place in Las Vegas, so instead of changing my address all the time I have been using one of my friends address.

He lives in a Condo with multiple, mailboxes all in one room.

My friend did not write my name on the mailbox tag, so the mailman decided not to deliver my mail, my friend has lived there for 6 years.

I spoke with the mailman today, and he yelled at me saying I was an idiot for not writing my name on the mailbox, and that it was his job to return mail addressed to that address if the name wasnt on the tag?

Ive had mail delivered to 4 different addresses in Las Vegas, and have received it at all the addresses, however this mailman, in this condo complex, decided he was going to send it all back to sender. Including my social security card which I badly need.

I asked him how he keeps track of all the people moving in and out of places and he says that he just does, he is a good mailman and other mailmen dont care?

This cannot be USPS policy can it?

I'm a retired letter carrier and I hate to say it but yes He can return mail in which the name is not listed on the apt. Directory or on the mailbox. As a Mailman however, I always tried to get the mail delivered so I would almost always leave the letter in the box with a Question mark on it. However it is always best to simply write your name on the mailbox. This is especially true in apt. complexes.

TheRightSide · Mar 8, 2011

Just get a PO box you cheap ass

Doug · Mar 8, 2011

USPS is a fucked up place to work at, I spent 5+ years there, but not as carrier.

Guys like Newman ( Seinfeld) and Cliff Claven ( Cheers) aren't that far out of reality.

Postal workers do what they want, esp. outside ( carriers)....get the route delivered with no to few complaints and you're pretty golden.

A buddy of mine ( carrier) got busted picking up a prostitute ( undercover cop) in the mail truck ( LLV), kept his job !

Complain to the local postmaster, SS.....it won't do much good.

I get mail for tons of previous people at my place ( built in 1986) , and I've lived here 9 years. I still get junk mail for my father ( he died in 1993).

I think this guy is racially profiling you, SS....since you are a bit off-white....I'm not joking !

CujoLatte · Mar 8, 2011

SS your off white??????

CujoLatte · Mar 8, 2011

Bah lol!

SportSavant · Mar 8, 2011

I think this guy is racially profiling you, SS....since you are a bit off-white....I'm not joking !

I dont doubt this might be possible, I had it out with the mailman today, asking him how can he keep track of dozens of mailboxes... but he said the name has to be there.

SportSavant · Mar 8, 2011

kermit16 said:
I'm a retired letter carrier and I hate to say it but yes He can return mail in which the name is not listed on the apt. Directory or on the mailbox. As a Mailman however, I always tried to get the mail delivered so I would almost always leave the letter in the box with a Question mark on it. However it is always best to simply write your name on the mailbox. This is especially true in apt. complexes.

I get that, but I cannot believe the guy would not leave a small note in the mailbox, or make some kind of effort to find out. He claims it was his responsiblity to send it back due to fraud.

Im sure many people move in and out of these apartments, and I doubt that many remember to change the mailbox name tag, are you telling me he returns all this mail?

Akillies · Mar 8, 2011

fukkin w/ u, no doubt

Dante · Mar 8, 2011

TheRightSide said:
Just get a PO box you cheap ass

+1 ... jaysus unreal what is it like 15$ a month for a PO box.... COME ON MAN!!!

Betallsports · Mar 8, 2011

It's usually the norm around here.

I have a friend that leaves in a Nice apt. building , and Their Mailman Won't deliver the mail if the Apt # isn't on the Letter ?????

I've seen his mail boxes, and on each box is a Name and Apt #
also, there's a Glass in-closed Board , with everyone's name and apt #

But he says the mailman Won't look up at the board to see where a letter goes, unless there's an Apt # in the address of the Letter !!

I would Shoot that MF !!

My friend says that sometimes he doesn't get Bills, because there is no Apt #

Wonder if you can sue Them ??

SportSavant · Mar 8, 2011

Dante said:
+1 ... jaysus unreal what is it like 15$ a month for a PO box.... COME ON MAN!!!

some places dont sent to PO Box,

besides,

I shoudnt have to worry about that.

There are dozens of people moving in and out of this complex daily, and I find it hard to beleive everyone remembers to change the name on the mailbox...

this is not a first class condo complex.

In canada even if the name Ronald Mcdonald is written on the letter it will arrive as long as the address is correct.

This guy has fucked me up bad because now I dont have my SS card, I cannot get my license, and cannot get electric and Gaz in my new place. Im pissed.

SportSavant · Mar 8, 2011

BAS, no apartment number is one thing, but in this case everything was addressed correctly? how does the mailman know I havent moved in there? How can he assume just because the tag is not there, that I am not living there or receiving mail there? Its ridiculous for him to make that assumption, especially for male coming day to day.

Betallsports · Mar 8, 2011

SportSavant said:
BAS, no apartment number is one thing, but in this case everything was addressed correctly? how does the mailman know I havent moved in there? How can he assume just because the tag is not there, that I am not living there or receiving mail there? Its ridiculous for him to make that assumption, especially for male coming day to day.

I agree.... But i Know that Condo offices usually let the mailman know if there is a new person moves in.

The guy sounds like a Dick..... But I still heard where they won't deliver mail if the name is not on the Box.

CoolBreeze22 · Mar 9, 2011

Be thankful he didn't put your SS card in the wrong box, just take a piece of paper and put your name on the box. Postmen don't have time to be writing notes and shit all day long, there job is already hard enough as it is.

joebatters · Mar 9, 2011

Been a mailman for over 25 years...as far as 'policies', there are so many gray areas. But the bottom line is that it is up to the carrier how well he wants to treat the people on his route. This happens all the time at apartments and condos, you get all kinds of mail at an address with names you don't recognize. I usually just put a question mark on the letter, or some Saturday when they are more likely to be there, I just knock on the door and asked them who lives here. Plus, you can always go to the office and ask them. Also, there are some things you can just look at and tell that it is important and the person probably lives there..a social security card is one of them. So yeah it sounds to me like he is being a dick. A lot of carriers go on a power trip and send mail back if there is no name, no number etc. instead of making an effort to find out. On the other hand, I've gone into offices and tried to find out who lives where, and they look at me like 'I don't give a f--k why you bothering me with this'. They don't want to take the 20 seconds to go to their computer and look it up. And sometimes, people will come out of their apartment bitching like crazy, throw some letters at me and scream 'this mf'er hasn't lived here for 5 years..can't you read? His name isn't on the box'. But like I said, the bottom line here is how your mailman wants to treat people. Usually if you are cool with them, they will be cool back. Sending someone's ss card back is definitely not cool.

kermit16 · Mar 9, 2011

joebatters said:
Been a mailman for over 25 years...as far as 'policies', there are so many gray areas. But the bottom line is that it is up to the carrier how well he wants to treat the people on his route. This happens all the time at apartments and condos, you get all kinds of mail at an address with names you don't recognize. I usually just put a question mark on the letter, or some Saturday when they are more likely to be there, I just knock on the door and asked them who lives here. Plus, you can always go to the office and ask them. Also, there are some things you can just look at and tell that it is important and the person probably lives there..a social security card is one of them. So yeah it sounds to me like he is being a dick. A lot of carriers go on a power trip and send mail back if there is no name, no number etc. instead of making an effort to find out. On the other hand, I've gone into offices and tried to find out who lives where, and they look at me like 'I don't give a f--k why you bothering me with this'. They don't want to take the 20 seconds to go to their computer and look it up. And sometimes, people will come out of their apartment bitching like crazy, throw some letters at me and scream 'this mf'er hasn't lived here for 5 years..can't you read? His name isn't on the box'. But like I said, the bottom line here is how your mailman wants to treat people. Usually if you are cool with them, they will be cool back. Sending someone's ss card back is definitely not cool.

Being a retired Mailman of 28 years, this post pretty much says it all. Like any profession, there are bad apples in any group. 95 % of the carriers I worked with always tried to get the mail delivered to it intended destination. However if your name is not listed on your mailbox and you're not on the manager's list of tenants ... good luck trying to complain to the Postal Manager. He will simply read you the rules. One thing I always tell my friends ... Your mailman is not a person you want to piss off. I know it sounds hard to believe but I didn't need to even have an address or apt. number on your letter as your regular carrier knows every single customer on his route by name. Sometimes I would get a letter for Auntie Maria with a no such number and I still knew where it went. On a hot day in Vegas, give your mailman a cold drink or coke and you'll get your mail no matter what address it has on it. Call him a jerk and you better have all the t's crossed and i dotted. It's not the way it should be but I'm telling you, it's the way it is . I always treated my customers the way I would have wanted to be treated and I never had anyone calling me a jerk. However sometimes customers can be jerks also.

Hamilbet · Mar 9, 2011

SportSavant said:
This guy has fucked me up bad because now I dont have my SS card, I cannot get my license, and cannot get electric and Gaz in my new place. Im pissed.

It could be worse:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oEm51vnJLGI

SportSavant · Mar 9, 2011

they guy was very defensive, I was just trying to find out the policy....

luckily I went back to social security and they gave me my number today, and are re-sending a card, I went first thing so I didn't have to wait long.