# What should I do with misdelivered mail? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 18, 2011, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-i-do-with-misdelivered-mail/568109 "2011-01-18T19:42:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2011, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-i-do-with-misdelivered-mail/568109/1 "2011-01-18T19:42:00Z")
The mail isn’t very reliable anymore. I get letters and magazines addressed to someone else. example Pete Jones 33 Fartmore Place and I live at 33 Belchmuch Drive. I have been dropping Pete’s mail in the mailbox at the Post Office. Hoping their sorter will do better next time. Someone at work mentioned the stamp on that mail was canceled. Same with the magazines. Will it still get redelivered? Is there a Post Office rule for this? What if the letter has my address? 33 Belchmuch Drive? I know the neighbor lives at 39 Belchmuch Drive. Can I correct the address with a pen and drop it in the mail? ---
**Author:** ![Alice\_The\_Goon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ed8c4c/32.png) [@Alice\_The\_Goon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alice_The_Goon)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2011, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-i-do-with-misdelivered-mail/568109/2 "2011-01-18T19:43:29Z")
I just write “addressee does not live here” and put it back in my mailbox. They won’t redeliver junk mail, though, so that I throw away. ---
**Author:** ![UncleRojelio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/unclerojelio/32/3160_2.png) [@UncleRojelio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleRojelio)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2011, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-i-do-with-misdelivered-mail/568109/3 "2011-01-18T19:44:00Z")
Write “Not at this address” on it and leave it in your mailbox. ---
**Author:** ![robert\_columbia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e79b87/32.png) [@robert\_columbia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robert_columbia)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2011, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-i-do-with-misdelivered-mail/568109/4 "2011-01-18T19:46:25Z")
I personally write something like “Incorrectly delivered to \. \ \.”, and underline the part of the address that the postman goofed up on, e.g. if I am at 123 Main ST, and the letter says 124 Main ST, I would underline the 4. Then I drop it off in a post box. ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2011, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-i-do-with-misdelivered-mail/568109/5 "2011-01-18T19:47:29Z")
I just stick it back out on the mailbox, unless I live at 1234 Anystreet and I get 1236’s mail. Then I just wander over and stick the mail in the correct mailbox. Technically, this is illegal. Since this keeps happening, though, you might want to drop a line to the local postmaster. ---
**Author:** ![robert\_columbia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e79b87/32.png) [@robert\_columbia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robert_columbia)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2011, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-i-do-with-misdelivered-mail/568109/6 "2011-01-18T19:48:18Z")
> [@UncleRojelio](#): > > Write “Not at this address” on it and leave it in your mailbox. To me, doing this implies that there is no person with that name at the address specified, which isn’t necessarily the case. If you are at 123 Main ST, and the mail was to John Smith, 124 Main ST, you can’t just say there is no one by that name at this address without specifying WHICH address they aren’t at. ---
**Author:** ![Rumor\_Watkins](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d9b06d/32.png) [@Rumor\_Watkins](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rumor_Watkins)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2011, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-i-do-with-misdelivered-mail/568109/7 "2011-01-18T19:48:46Z")
> [@Lynn\_Bodoni](#): > > I just stick it back out on the mailbox, unless I live at 1234 Anystreet and I get 1236’s mail. Then I just wander over and stick the mail in the correct mailbox. Technically, this is illegal. what is technically illegal about your act? ---
**Author:** ![Kolga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e56c9b/32.png) [@Kolga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolga)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2011, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-i-do-with-misdelivered-mail/568109/8 "2011-01-18T19:51:05Z")
I was snarkily told by a mail carrier several years ago that writing anything on an envelope is illegal, so if I got someone else’s mail and wrote “misdelivered,” they’d just stick in BACK in my mailbox without doing anything. Surely, this was the statement of a single unhappy person, right? ---
**Author:** ![UncleRojelio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/unclerojelio/32/3160_2.png) [@UncleRojelio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleRojelio)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2011, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-i-do-with-misdelivered-mail/568109/9 "2011-01-18T19:57:30Z")
> [@](#): > > To me, doing this implies that there is no person with that name at the address specified, which isn’t necessarily the case. If you are at 123 Main ST, and the mail was to John Smith, 124 Main ST, you can’t just say there is no one by that name at this address without specifying WHICH address they aren’t at. This is for mail that it is misdelivered to my address which I leave in my own mailbox. The letter carrier can figure it out. > [@Rumor\_Watkins](#): > > what is technically illegal about your act? Putting anything into any mailbox that is not your own is technically illegal. (Well, against postal regulations) ---
**Author:** ![Rumor\_Watkins](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d9b06d/32.png) [@Rumor\_Watkins](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rumor_Watkins)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2011, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-i-do-with-misdelivered-mail/568109/10 "2011-01-18T19:58:47Z")
> [@UncleRojelio](#): > > Putting anything into any mailbox that is not your own is technically illegal. > > (Well, against postal regulations) cite? ---
**Author:** ![Giles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giles/32/60_2.png) [@Giles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giles)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2011, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-i-do-with-misdelivered-mail/568109/11 "2011-01-18T19:59:50Z")
> [@Rumor\_Watkins](#): > > what is technically illegal about your act? In the U.S., your mail box is the property of the USPS, and only authorised people can put mail into it or take mail out of it – the relevant authorised people being the mail deliverer and the owner/occupants of the house. So you are not allowed to put anything in your neighbour’s mail box. That’s why people delivering advertising (but not through USPS) don’t put it inside mail boxes, but just dump it next to the mail box. And it’s different in other countries: for example, in Australia, there’s no legal problem with anyone putting circulars into other people’s letter boxes. So, a lot of them in Australia have signs on them saying “No junk mail” or “Australia Post mail only”. ---
**Author:** ![Rumor\_Watkins](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d9b06d/32.png) [@Rumor\_Watkins](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rumor_Watkins)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2011, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-i-do-with-misdelivered-mail/568109/12 "2011-01-18T20:01:48Z")
> [@Giles](#): > > In the U.S., your mail box is the property of the USPS, and only authorised people can put mail into it or take mail out of it – the relevant authorised people being the mail deliverer and the owner/occupants of the house. So you are not allowed to put anything in your neighbour’s mail box. > > That’s why people delivering advertising (but not through USPS) don’t put it inside mail boxes, but just dump it next to the mail box. And it’s different in other countries: for example, in Australia, there’s no legal problem with anyone putting circulars into other people’s letter boxes. So, a lot of them in Australia have signs on them saying “No junk mail” or “Australia Post mail only”. again, cite? i can go and buy a mailbox from home depot. I’m not so sure sticking it on my property and having the postman put mail in it converts it over to government property. ---
**Author:** ![muldoonthief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldoonthief/32/3188_2.png) [@muldoonthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muldoonthief)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2011, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-i-do-with-misdelivered-mail/568109/13 "2011-01-18T20:06:37Z")
> [@Kolga](#): > > I was snarkily told by a mail carrier several years ago that writing anything on an envelope is illegal, so if I got someone else’s mail and wrote “misdelivered,” they’d just stick in BACK in my mailbox without doing anything. > > Surely, this was the statement of a single unhappy person, right? According to the USPS FAQ: (not linking because the [USPS.com](http://USPS.com) link does crazy things to this post) > [@](#): > > If the mailpiece is delivered to the wrong location: > > Don’t erase or mark over the information, or write any type of endorsement on the mailpiece. > Place the item back in the mailbox or hand the item back to your mailperson. > If the mailpiece is delivered to the correct location but the recipient on the mailpiece does not reside at the address: > > Write"Not at this address" on mailpiece. > Don’t erase or mark over the address. > Provide the mailpiece to your mailperson or drop into a Collection Box receptacle. ---
**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2011, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-i-do-with-misdelivered-mail/568109/14 "2011-01-18T20:11:27Z")
So the OP’s action was correct–items addressed to somebody else, _somewhere_ else, just go back in the mail. ---
**Author:** ![Giles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giles/32/60_2.png) [@Giles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giles)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2011, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-i-do-with-misdelivered-mail/568109/15 "2011-01-18T20:11:28Z")
[From this page:](http://www.usps.com/receive/mailboxstandards.htm) > [@](#): > > Our regulations cover what can and can’t be placed in a curbside mailbox or mailbox outside of your house, which generally includes only mail that has been sent through the USPS. However, our regulations don’t govern what can be placed in a mail slot on your door. [From regulation DMM 508](http://pe.usps.com/text/dmm300/508.htm): > [@](#): > > 3.1.1 Authorized Depository > > Except as excluded by 3.1.2, every letterbox or other receptacle intended or used for the receipt or delivery of mail on any city delivery route, rural delivery route, highway contract route, or other mail route is designated an authorized depository for mail within the meaning of 18 USC 1702, 1705, 1708, and 1725. [From 18 USC 1725](http://codes.lp.findlaw.com/uscode/18/I/83/1725): > [@](#): > > Whoever knowingly and willfully deposits any mailable matter such > as statements of accounts, circulars, sale bills, or other like > matter, on which no postage has been paid, in any letter box > established, approved, or accepted by the Postal Service for the > receipt or delivery of mail matter on any mail route with intent to > avoid payment of lawful postage thereon, shall for each such > offense be fined under this title. ---
**Author:** ![Rumor\_Watkins](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d9b06d/32.png) [@Rumor\_Watkins](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rumor_Watkins)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2011, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-i-do-with-misdelivered-mail/568109/16 "2011-01-18T20:13:07Z")
> [@Giles](#): > > [From 18 USC 1725](http://codes.lp.findlaw.com/uscode/18/I/83/1725): **with intent to avoid payment of lawful postage thereon** is the important bit. and i’m free to put any non-mailable matter in there, whatever the hell that means, to boot (of course, there are tresspassing issues, but we’ll just imply away that consent) ---
**Author:** ![muldoonthief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldoonthief/32/3188_2.png) [@muldoonthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muldoonthief)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2011, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-i-do-with-misdelivered-mail/568109/17 "2011-01-18T20:14:17Z")
> [@Rumor\_Watkins](#): > > again, cite? > > i can go and buy a mailbox from home depot. I’m not so sure sticking it on my property and having the postman put mail in it converts it over to government property. From the USPS FAQ: (which I’m again not linking because the link is huge and does strange things to the board) > [@](#): > > If you have a curbside mailbox or a mailbox on the outside of your house, Postal Service regulations govern what can and can not be placed in them. Generally speaking, only mail that has been sent through the USPS may be placed in these types of receptacles. Conversely, USPS regulations do not govern what can be placed in a mail slot on your door. This means that if a local business wants to put a flyer in the mail slot, they can do so. So no, the mailbox doesn’t magically become government properties, but there are laws regarding who can put what in your mailbox. Interestingly, it appears from that FAQ that putting your neighbors misdelivered mail back into his own mailbox is OK - it’s mail that has been sent through the USPS. If you want to see the site, go to [faq.usps.com](http://faq.usps.com), enter “mailbox” in the search field, and click on the first link. Has all the rules about mailboxes. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2011, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-i-do-with-misdelivered-mail/568109/18 "2011-01-18T20:14:17Z")
I always refer to Elvis for mail that has the wrong name and my address (unless it’s neighbor with a name I know). _Return to Sender_ Address unknown So, putting mail back in the mailbox with a canceled stamp isn’t a problem? ---
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2011, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-i-do-with-misdelivered-mail/568109/19 "2011-01-18T20:14:31Z")
> [@Rumor\_Watkins](#): > > again, cite? > > i can go and buy a mailbox from home depot. I’m not so sure sticking it on my property and having the postman put mail in it converts it over to government property. [cite.](http://www.ehow.com/list_7410994_penalties-destroying-mailboxes.html) > [@ehow](#): > > Mailboxes are receptacles designed for the delivery of personal or business mail and are considered government property (as opposed to personal property). Other than the intended mail recipient, the only other individual or entity that is permitted to access federally approved mailboxes are employees of the United States Postal Service. It’s a weird thing, but yes, you put up the mailbox, and it becomes the property of the federal gubmint. Google it, and you will find many more cites. ---
**Author:** ![Giles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giles/32/60_2.png) [@Giles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giles)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2011, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-i-do-with-misdelivered-mail/568109/20 "2011-01-18T20:15:38Z")
> [@Rumor\_Watkins](#): > > **with intent to avoid payment of lawful postage thereon** is the important bit. Yes, you’re right. I think that probably means that you could put the misdelivered letter into your neighbour’s mail box, but you can’t put anything in there that could go through the USPS, e.g., a Christmas card or party invitation. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-i-do-with-misdelivered-mail/568109.md?page=2)