Get closed PO Box back from new customer

Factual Questions
1

I have had a US PO Box in Nevada for about 20 years (same box the whole time). The fee was due July 31st, while I was overseas. They posted notice of the fee due via notice in the box on July 29th. The box was closed August 1st and the box was leased to someone else on September 15. I only just found out about it today as it takes time to get my mail forwarded here.

What are the chances of me getting it back? I have talked to the post office and need to talk to someone higher up tomorrow. Since it is so recent I am hoping they will be able to undo it and give a different box to the recent person who got mine. They do have more boxes available of the same size.

I doubt that will work so I was thinking to send a letter to the new owner asking if they would transfer it back to me and I’d pay for their time and expenses.

Thoughts?

I have had this address for two decades and don’t want to lose it if I can help it. I think the 2-day notice to pay was a bit short.

2

Call, write and email your Congress-critter. This is the sort of thing their staffs live for.

3

That will take a long time to work its way through he system and by then the new owner will have really given the address out to folks. I think something sooner is better.

It looks like I can pay online, but the box is no longer in my name so I think I may be out of luck. This is a huge problem for me… zillions of people have that address.

4

Write the new boxholder a letter and see if he’ll trade you for another one?

Dunno if he’ll go for it, but it is probably your best choice right now.

5

Look at the bright side, you already know what his address is. :smack:

6

I have to make sure the PO will allow box transfers. I am none too pleased about the 2 day notice. I did check with my brother who is handing the forwarding of my mail and only one notice was received… two days before it was closed.

:frowning:

7

This is not an answer you will like.

In the eyes of the PO, this is all you fault and you have no recourse. This is the type of problem that can be fixed fairly easily, but only if you count with the good will of all parts involved. Make sure you realize you are asking for favors, and act super nice. Even if in the end, you manage to prevail by force (unlikely), they can drag this forever and make your life very unhappy.

Yes, the PO can do the changes if both parts agree to it. There is no specific procedure on paper, but it is fairly simple and they will do it. If they feel like it.

You are really racing the clock here. Your cost of getting a new box is the pain of telling everyone your new address. Soon, the cost of the other guy giving back the box to you will be the same and he will have no reason to suffer for you.

Send this guy a letter explaining what’s going on (you know the address). Don’t expect the PO to help you contacting him, of course. It is a privacy issue. Remember that depending on this guy’s diligence in informing correspondents of his new address, you might be asking for a lot.

Meanwhile, get another box and make a temporary change of address. Do this now before they start returning your mail. Talk to the postmaster and explain the circumstances of the change of address. Since it is a change within the same PO, it will be fast and painless. Don’t be surprised to miss some magazines and catalogs, though. They are not supposed to be forwarded and even if they are trying to help you, some might slip through.

If all fails, you already have another box. Remember to make another change of address, this time permanent. Otherwise the temporary one will expire and your mail will begin to be returned.

Best of lucks.

Sapo, married to a letter carrier and former CFS employee (the ones that do change of addresses). Longtime USPS TPMH (owned a UPS store that received mail and rented mailboxes under USPS supervision)