What does dead mail/disposed by post office mean

A frustrating situation!

"Dead mail" or "Disposed by Post Office" is a term used by postal services to indicate that a piece of mail has been returned to the sender because it was undeliverable. This can happen for a variety of reasons, including:

  1. Incorrect or incomplete address: The address on the mailpiece was incorrect, incomplete, or illegible, making it impossible for the postal service to deliver it.
  2. Undeliverable as addressed: The mailpiece was sent to a non-existent or invalid address, or the recipient had moved and left no forwarding address.
  3. Refusal to accept: The recipient refused to accept the mailpiece, often due to a high volume of junk mail or unwanted solicitations.
  4. Return to sender: The postal service was unable to deliver the mailpiece due to a problem with the sender's address or the mailpiece itself (e.g., insufficient postage).

When a piece of mail is marked "Dead Mail" or "Disposed by Post Office," it means that the postal service has attempted to deliver it and has been unable to do so. The mailpiece is then returned to the sender, usually with a notation indicating the reason for the return.

In some cases, the postal service may also charge a fee for handling and returning the undeliverable mailpiece.

If you receive a piece of mail marked "Dead Mail" or "Disposed by Post Office," it's likely that the sender will need to update their address records or verify the recipient's address before resending the mailpiece.