Us postal service and hold mail
The United States Postal Service (USPS) offers a service called "Hold Mail" that allows you to temporarily suspend mail delivery to your address while you're away. Here's how it works:
How to request Hold Mail:
- Go to the USPS website (www.usps.com) and click on "Hold Mail" under the "Mail & Ship" tab.
- Fill out the online form with your name, address, and the dates you'd like to hold your mail.
- You can also request Hold Mail by calling 1-800-275-8777 (1-800-ASK-USPS) and speaking with a customer service representative.
- Alternatively, you can visit your local post office and ask to speak with a postal clerk. They can assist you with requesting Hold Mail.
What happens when you request Hold Mail:
- The USPS will hold your mail at your local post office for the specified dates.
- You can choose to have your mail held for a specific number of days (up to 30 days) or until a specific date.
- If you're holding mail for an extended period, you may need to provide a forwarding address or a contact person to receive your mail.
- You can also request that the USPS hold your mail at a different post office or a post office box.
What happens to your mail while it's being held:
- The USPS will store your mail in a secure location at your local post office.
- You can pick up your held mail at the post office during business hours.
- If you're unable to pick up your mail, you can arrange for it to be forwarded to a different address.
Tips and considerations:
- Requesting Hold Mail does not affect your mail delivery schedule or your mail carrier's route.
- If you have a package delivery, you may need to make special arrangements with the sender or the delivery carrier to hold the package.
- If you're holding mail for an extended period, you may want to consider setting up a mail forwarding service to ensure your mail is delivered to the correct address.
- Keep in mind that Hold Mail is not the same as Mail Forwarding, which is a separate service that allows you to redirect your mail to a different address.