# Someone changed my address **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [February 20, 2023, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/someone-changed-my-address/980113 "2023-02-20T23:24:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2023, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/someone-changed-my-address/980113/1 "2023-02-20T23:24:35Z")
I got a notice from the post office last week saying I had put in a change of address form. I didn’t move and I have no intention of doing so. I called them and they were supposed to fix it, but I still wasn’t getting mail. I finally went down in person and supposedly, they fixed it. I’ll know tomorrow. I talked to the bank and they told me that mail from financial institutions is not forwarded. Good news if true. I hope I don’t miss any bills, though. ---
**Author:** ![Fluffy\_PickleSniffer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/77aa72/32.png) [@Fluffy\_PickleSniffer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fluffy_PickleSniffer)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2023, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/someone-changed-my-address/980113/2 "2023-02-21T00:36:34Z")
That’s a little scary. I hope they get it fixed for you. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2023, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/someone-changed-my-address/980113/3 "2023-02-21T00:38:47Z")
Dang. That’s scary. You would think there would be a way the P.O. could check documentation to prevent this. Like a driver’s license with your address on it, maybe? ---
**Author:** ![Ranch\_Dip](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranch_dip/32/5238_2.png) [@Ranch\_Dip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranch_Dip)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2023, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/someone-changed-my-address/980113/4 "2023-02-21T00:54:20Z")
You might want to put a hold on your credit til you get this sorted out. ---
**Author:** ![Ynnad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/4491bb/32.png) [@Ynnad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ynnad)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2023, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/someone-changed-my-address/980113/5 "2023-02-21T00:56:17Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > … I talked to the bank and they told me that mail from financial institutions is not forwarded. Good news if true. … I wouldn’t count on this. It would only happen if the mail is endorsed “Return Service Requested.” Here is a link to get you started if you want to learn all about this: [https://pe.usps.com/text/DMM300/507.htm#ep1113167](https://pe.usps.com/text/DMM300/507.htm#ep1113167) ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2023, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/someone-changed-my-address/980113/6 "2023-02-21T00:58:17Z")
As much as possible, I opt for paperless billing from financial institutions, so I receive email when a new bill is posted and then can go to the website to download it. So at this point, very little paper mail is important. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2023, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/someone-changed-my-address/980113/7 "2023-02-21T00:58:46Z")
Did they tell you what it was changed to? ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2023, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/someone-changed-my-address/980113/8 "2023-02-21T01:21:53Z")
> [@Beckdawrek](#): > > You would think there would be a way the P.O. could check documentation to prevent this. Like a driver’s license with your address on it, maybe? Not if you do it on line. Just have a credit card. > [@Czarcasm](#): > > Did they tell you what it was changed to? 123 Fake Street, Springfield XX ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2023, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/someone-changed-my-address/980113/9 "2023-02-21T01:30:34Z")
When you spoke to someone at your PO, did you explicitly report it as attempted mail fraud? If not, I think I would be inclined to do so, to ensure that it gets their attention. If it turns out to be a genuine mistake, I don’t see that there’s any harm done. There’s a central PO number shown here where you can do it, or apparently you can also do it online. > U.S. Postal Inspection Service at 1-877-876-2455. > Press option “4” to report mail fraud. [Change-of-Address Scams: Why Scammers Want Your Address](https://www.aura.com/learn/change-of-address-scam) (This is a promotional site, but the information looks genuine and helpful) ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2023, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/someone-changed-my-address/980113/10 "2023-02-21T01:48:29Z")
> [@Ranch\_Dip](#): > > You might want to put a hold on your credit til you get this sorted out. I have one as a matter of course. I don’t often apply for credit. > [@Beckdawreck](#): > > You would think there would be a way the P.O. could check documentation to prevent this. Like a driver’s license with your address on it, maybe? You’d think so, but I suspect the issue is that you probably don’t have any ID for your new address. I had to give ID to cancel it, though. > [@Czarcasm](#): > > Did they tell you what it was changed to? Only that it was an out-of-state address. > [@Riemann](#): > > When you spoke to someone at your PO, did you explicitly report it as attempted mail fraud? If not, I think I would be inclined to do so, to ensure that it gets their attention. If it turns out to be a genuine mistake, I don’t see that there’s any harm done. I talked to the postal inspector and they’re looking into it. I already paid this month’s credit card bills before they changed things, so the bills won’t go to them. I do get some quarterly checks that won’t go to direct deposit, but they won’t come until April. There is one bill that’ll probably come next week that I can’t pay online. The USPS says they blocked the change of address. I’ll know tomorrow. ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2023, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/someone-changed-my-address/980113/11 "2023-02-21T01:51:31Z")
I thought there was supposed to be a time lag on change of address notices for just this reason, to give the notification to the original address time to arrive. Did it arrive when you were away? If you responded promptly, I think the redirection should not have started. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2023, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/someone-changed-my-address/980113/12 "2023-02-21T02:46:03Z")
I was thinking more like photo I.D. Why would you need a C.C. to change address? I admit I haven’t done it in a 100 years or something. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2023, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/someone-changed-my-address/980113/13 "2023-02-21T02:48:31Z")
> [@Beckdawrek](#): > > Why would you need a C.C. to change address? They charge $1.10 for changing your address online. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2023, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/someone-changed-my-address/980113/14 "2023-02-21T02:55:15Z")
TY. Did not know that. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2023, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/someone-changed-my-address/980113/15 "2023-02-21T03:16:35Z")
> [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > 123 Fake Street, Springfield XX But which Springfield? That’s the major question. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2023, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/someone-changed-my-address/980113/16 "2023-02-21T14:42:23Z")
> [@Riemann](#): > > I thought there was supposed to be a time lag on change of address notices for just this reason, to give the notification to the original address time to arrive. Did it arrive when you were away? If you responded promptly, I think the redirection should not have started. I got the notice after the COD started. ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2023, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/someone-changed-my-address/980113/17 "2023-02-21T15:58:55Z")
It looks like I was mistaken. My memory of them telling me there might be a delay was not for security reasons, just processing time. So apparently for online changes the only verification is that they check that the credit card used has the same billing address as the address that is changing. Have you checked your credit cards for a $1.10 charge to USPS? ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2023, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/someone-changed-my-address/980113/18 "2023-02-21T20:07:53Z")
No charge. Good news, though. I started getting mail again today, including a letter to reset my informed delivery emails. I hope that’s the end of it. ---
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2023, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/someone-changed-my-address/980113/19 "2023-02-21T20:20:19Z")
> [@Northern\_Piper](#): > > But which Springfield? That’s the major question. XX, duh. 😁