Thanks to Free Sample Freek for this info. Luckly I have not ever had this problem, I guess I have just been lucky. But just in cause you have had trouble with missing mial I thought I would pass this along.
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I get questions all the time from readers asking what do you if you think your mailperson is stealing your mail: freebies, magazines, coupons, cards, etc. This happens far to often with the USPS and it is a sad thing. However, the USPS does take this very serious. Tampering with someone’s mail is a federal offense! So, what do you do?? There are several areas that you should consider if you think that this is happening to you. The forms and info I am providing below can also be used for issues regarding your mail being “tampered” with: open, torn, package/letter with all or some documents/items missing. If you make a report they WILL investigate and hopefully all of your problems will be solved. I have heard of people who have gone as far as installing a camera and literally catching mailmen or even neighbors stealing their mail. I would suggest trying the options below first and if nothing changes then installing a camera is another option. I personally would complete every form and make every complaint listed below and follow up on them as well. Keep all documents and records regarding your complaints.
- Contact your local Post Office and put in a complaint. They will need your info (name, address, etc.), they can’t help you otherwise.
- Contact your Regional Post Master. You might have to get the contact information from your local post office.
- Call 1-800-USPS and file a complaint.
- File a complaint via email at the USPS website
- File a complaint online with the United States Postal Inspection Service
Also, read:
How to protect against theives
Follow these steps to protect your mail
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I am just starting to realize that I have not recieved many items that I have requested. I am starting to contact the companies that I remember requesting from. I am pretty forgetful as it is, so when an item comes, I remember I ordered it.
I am not the only one that is having problems with the mail delivery. My neighbor is constantly having her mail returned even after refiling out the change of address form.
I have started checking my mail box about every half hour. Simple because of my suspesion. I have asked family to let me know when they send us mail so I can watch for it.
I just had to laugh at the idea of getting a camera set up in your mailbox due to missing cereal samples! Any tampering with or stealing of anything in your mailbox, addressed to you, is a federal offense! Can you really picture your carrier risking, a job in this economy, and a few years in prison over a free sample?
My husband works at the distribution site in Boise, and a lot of items come through torn, and damaged from the company and due to the processing machines. Please call the company the sample is coming from and verify it was sent, ask for another, do something other than accuse your carrier.
I have not got a lot of my freebies I signed up for. I just figured they never really got sent to me.
Thats very true what Rene is saying. I was missing things from my mail at my previous apartment. I got my mother to send me a “Greeting Card” when actually it was an old card with an expired giftcard in it because my personal mail was the prime target. In the letter my mother wrote “I know you are stealing the mail, this is the last warning”. All of the missing mail stopped soon after. It was my neighbors in the building. The USPS workers take a lot of pride in their job and I doubt they want to get fired over a free diaper sample. If this happens to you I recommend the fake tempting mail. I would have loved to see the look on the theives faces when they opened that.
I work as a mail carrier and would like to offer a few words before people get all worked up and start sending in unnecessary complaints. Before blaming your carrier or neighbor make sure the item was sent. I have had numerous people complain that they haven’t received something, they are sure it should have been there. It almost always shows up a few days later. The Post Office gets blamed sometimes because the sender has been a little slow in getting their mail out. Just because something does not arrive does not mean your letter carrier is stealing your mail. Often times I see mail come through that is not sealed. We receive it that way. Many times bulk mailers send letters through a automated system that does not properly seal the item. An item can run through the postal sytem machines and be torn open, or it can get caught on another piece of mail and be torn open. Just because a letter or package is torn does not mean your letter carrier is peeking at your mail.
As a letter carrier I take my job seriously. I try to always act in a professional manner. Stealing mail or even just reading someones mail could land me in jail, cost me my job and cost me much embarrassment. I have a good job and would not risk it for somebody elses free samples.
The other carriers I know feel this way also.
By all means, if you are sure your mail carrier is stealing your mail, contact the post office. But don’t fly off the handle because you didn’t receive something on the day you thought you would.
One other note I know that their has been a problem with people driving by and stealing mail out of the mail boxes. If you see this happening try to get a description and license plate number.
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