New US Postal Rules

[nortonh]

We currently pick up our mail at the US Post Office. New regulations, or newly enforced old regulations, state only the person to whom the mail is addressed can pick up the mail. So, if you were picking the mail up for your spouse, that ship has sailed!!!

I'd rather be a wise ass than a dumb ass!!!

[Seeb]

Thats just General Delivery right?

[kani-lehua]

um? when does/did this take affect? the postmaster at the mountain view office required a letter from me stating that a designated person could pick it up the mail for me.



"a great many people think they are thinking when they are merely rearranging their prejudices."

w. james

[Rob Tucker]

I'm going to bet that kani-lehua has this one right. A written permission to authorize another person to pick up makes sense. There are too many families with elderly and infirm to require in person pick up only.

[PaulW]

I was told the same thing - as of January 1st you can only pick up your own mail.
Before Jan 1st they always just asked if I was authorized.

[JerryCarr]

The letters and forms that all the boxholders got were not particularly clear. (Imagine that. The Post Office not being clear.) As long as the primary boxholder has been properly identified and has appropriately designated alternate recipients, those designees will be allowed to pick up mail. From a practical standpoint, anyone to whom you give your box key could pick up the mail. It would only get sticky if something needed to be signed for or certified, and one wonders how thoroughly the postal clerks would check even then.

[Lin W]

I'm all for it - last month I didn't get to the Kea'au PO to pick up a parcel right away and they apparently put the second notice in the wrong box then gave my package to that boxholder. Of course they have no idea which box or who and I apparently have no recourse other than to go to the USPS website and fill out a form - would've been nice if they'd required some sort of ID in that instance.

use it up, wear it out, make it do, do without

[Carey]

It sounds like you (or the people sending you the mail) are getting restricted mail service for free!

I'm gonna take a wild guess that this is happening at the Keaau Post Office. Post Master Wayne retired late last year & the newbie is trying to do things her way, seems to be playing hardball & maybe not exactly doing things the USPS way (may get her in some union problems & has irritated a few customers...)

Probably best to note to the postmaster & above that this post office is adding this high $$ value added service, and that it is being handed out for free at the post office.... (it seems that this one postmaster responds to that type of handling & recoil at most other ways...)

For the USPS rules & REGS, they are online at www.usps.com



USPS site on General Delivery:
http://www.usps.com/receive/choicesforde...places.htm

Restricted Mail Delivery Link:
http://www.usps.com/send/waystosendmail/...ervice.htm

[mdd7000]

It has been happening at the Pahoa post office as well.

[kani-lehua]

we still have our mail sent via GENERAL DELIVERY even after being here a little over a year. the postmaster at the mountain view office said that there's still a waiting period. we have not received any type of notice that only the addressee can pick up their mail. one thing about the mountain view office is that they know everyone by name. sorta helps with not mixing up parcels. i'm sure, though, that it could/would have happened.



"a great many people think they are thinking when they are merely rearranging their prejudices."

w. james