Mailman (City Letter Carrier)

Mailman (City Letter Carrier)

MailmanDave

17 Years Experience

Long Island, NY

Male, 43

I am a City Letter Carrier for the US Postal Service in NY. I've been a city letter carrier for over 17 years and it is the best job I've ever had. I mostly work 5 days per week (sometimes includes a Saturday) and often have the opportunity for overtime, which is usually voluntary. The route I deliver has about 350 homes and I walk to each of their doors to deliver the mail. Please keep in mind that I don't have authority to speak for the USPS, so all opinions are solely mine, not my employer.

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Last Answer on February 18, 2022

Best Rated

I lost my mailbox key and soon after that was evicted from my apartment (losing the key wasn't the reason). My bank statements still go to the apartment address. Will submitting a forwarding address get my mail redelivered? If not, how do I get it?

Asked by Bri almost 10 years ago

I don't know that submitting a forwarding order will result in your mail getting rede liveried from your former apt to your current address. You can submit a forwarding request for any future mail to be delivered to where you now reside or receive mail. As far as how you get the mail that has already been delivered, I don't know. You could contact the landlord or apartment management company to see if they have access to the mailbox and could send you your mail, but it's possible they don't have access to the mailbox or don't really care to assist you much now that you are no longer there. I'd recommend changing your address with your bank ASAP, and consider electronic banking so you can receive statements via email or online access. Banks are usually quick about updating addresses once they can verify the person requesting it is allowed to do so.

Mailman, My son mailed a letter to a bank and forgot to put a stamp and sender's address. Please, how do I get back the letter so I can mail it properly.

Asked by Emem almost 11 years ago

The letter will not get to the bank because there is no way for the USPS to know where the intended address is. The fact that there was no postage on it also doesn't help matters. I don't know how you will get the letter back unless you put your return address on the envelope. If that is the case the letter should eventually be retuned to you for an address and proper postage. I can't guarantee how long it will take to get the letter back, but you should get it returned eventually. There is no way to track where that letter is. Thanks for writing.

My mailcarrier is also my neighbor. She bypassed my mailbox during her normal delivery. Then went home stay in her apartment for less than 20 mins. She went out by her garage then came back with my mail then deliver it on my mailbox? Is that legal?

Asked by Cj about 11 years ago

I won't comment on what is legal or not as to the order a carrier delivers the mail or where they take mail before or after a lunch break (if this was a lunch break.) The legality of what a carrier does is not something that I'm well versed on. I think that with their normal delivery they shouldn't be bypassing your mailbox without a logical reason. Is this an every day occurrence, or just once? If it is every day and you don't feel comfortable with what they are doing you certainly can inquire at the PO or ask a delivery supervisor as to why this may be happening. As a carrier I strive to maintain the highest level of professionalism and deliver mail in the prescribed order as to not appear to be doing anything wrong. I would never bring anybody else's mail into my apartment. I am not just not completely sure what, if anything, you are complaining or concerned about. I don't know the relationship that you have with your neighbor/letter carrier and whether or not you could ask them about this. Thank you for your inquiry. 

I have read a lot of comments over mail men not delivering if there is obstruction impeding safe delivery without getting off the truck. But can the mailman leave my mail on the windshield of the car impeding access to my mailbox?

Asked by Sergio almost 11 years ago

That is true Sergio. When a letter carrier is delivering from their truck and they can't access the mailbox due to a vehicle in the way or garbage cans blocking the mailbox, they can opt not to deliver the mail. I don't think they can just leave the mail on the windshield of the car impeding access to the mailbox. If there is a note on file saying explicitly that they can do this,maybe it would be allowed, but I wouldn't count on it. Generally, however, mail must be delivered to a mailbox or doorslot.

I mailed an document from new york to china by global express guarantee service via USPS. But it said my destination address was wrong. However the shipment wasn't even sent oversee, how could they tell the address was wrong?

Asked by Daniel over 10 years ago

I am not sure how the global express guaranteed product works. I am not sure if there is a database that the USPS uses to know this. The transportation and delivery is provided by FedEx Express so it's possible they also know that the address was wrong. Hopefully you will get the document back, but I'm not sure that you qualify for a refund. That information can be find on the website about.usps.com and do a search for money-back guarantee for GXG.

Can a mail carrier write my house number on the outside of my mailbox with a sharpie?

Asked by Steven over 10 years ago

I don't know if they can do that, but I would do it if it weren't clearly posted on the house or on the mailbox. This is important so that the letter carrier can deliver the mail properly. I am very big on communication so that anybody can fill in on any route and deliver the mail properly. As far as marking the house number on the outside of the mailbox, I don't know that it is necessary. A sticker on the inside lid or inside the box that clearly states a house number should be fine.

If you notice a broken mailbox what do you do with the mail and how do I get it as soon as possible

Asked by Heem about 10 years ago

I usually will continue to deliver the mail as long as the mail can be sheltered from the rain and other elements and hope that the customer will fix the mailbox in a reasonable amount of time. Some letter carriers will not deliver the mail to a mailbox that has fallen to the ground or is broken in some way. I suppose that is their option. If the mail isn't being delivered, it is likely being held at the PO for a certain amt of time (I don't know how long). You can probably go and pick it up there as long as you present identification that matches your address and if the clerk can find the mail that is being held.