easy guide to forward mail with usps?
Have you been looking for an easy guide to forwarding a postal mail to someone? You are in the right place! But before that, let’s see what “mail forwarding“
means.
let’s go directly to the mail forwarding options:
- forward mail to yourself with usps
- forward mail to someone with usps
- received an email by mistake
- a better alternative to usps mail forwarding service
usps mail forwarding allows you to send received mail to a new address. If you received a new mail and want to send it to another address, that means you have resent the mail.
Also, check here for everything you need to know about a forwarded packet.
many people use this service when they temporarily move away from their residential address. however, other reasons will require mail forwarding to someone else. Dive into this article to find out why and how.
different cases to forward mail:
- You recently moved from your residence and want your mail forwarded to a new address: Forwarding mail to yourself
- a family member or friend moved and asked you to help him get his mail; forward the emails to someone
- you have received an email by mistake and not the recipient – mail received by mistake
The action you should take in each case is different, and if mail is not forwarded correctly or handled carelessly, this can lead to undesirable results.
failure to forward the mail to the correct address could cause inconvenience to the recipient; mail can get lost or, if forwarded to the wrong person, it can lead to identity theft.
To avoid this, here’s how to securely forward emails to the correct recipient:
1. mail forwarding to yourself:
In this case, you received an email at your old address and you want to forward it to your new address. First, you’ll need to make a mail forwarding request. This can be done online through the USPS website or by visiting the post office.
If you request mail forwarding at the post office, you will need to bring two forms of identification. You can apply for a temporary or permanent change of address.
- a temporary change of address allows you to change your mailing address for a minimum of 15 days and a maximum of 1 year
- A permanent change of address allows you to change your address forever. you can order this service online for as little as $1.
However, if you’ve already moved without changing your address, you’ll continue to receive mail at your old address until someone helps you forward it to your new address.
Check out this article on mailbox theft and other signs of why you should upgrade to a virtual mailbox.
2. forward mail to someone:
If a family member or roommate moved out and you still get their emails, you have two options:
If you are the person’s new address, you can use usps mail forwarding to forward your mail to your new address.
- first, you will need to cross out your address on the envelope with a black permanent marker, and then write your new address in block letters. then write ‘move or forward‘ on the envelope and put it in your mailbox or take it to the post office
- secondly, you can visit the post office and request a form ps 3575 to change the address of the person who moved so that they do not have to receive your mail. however, make sure the stamps are valid before mailing them. if they are not, consider buying new ones
- thirdly, you can contact the sender and let them know that the person has moved so they stop sending you their mails
After taking any of the above options, consider contacting the recipient to confirm receipt of your mail and urge them to request a change of address.
However, if you haven’t received your mail after two weeks, you’ll need to contact usps for its status.
3. mail received by mistake:
If you receive mail addressed to an unknown recipient, the sender has made an error in typing the address. just a change of a number can redirect an email to another address, and if the email is important, this can lead to big problems.
When sending or receiving mail, you should be careful with your address and zip code.
if you received mail in error, please contact usps promptly so they can send someone from the post office to pick up the mail. a better alternative is to tell your mail carrier about the problem so that the mail can be taken to the post office’s mail recovery center (mcr) until it is claimed
For more information visit: USPS FAQ page
what is a better alternative to usps mail forwarding service?
but what if there is a way to avoid all these inconveniences that come with mail forwarding? Instead of going through the hassle of changing your address, paying for new stamps, and mailing them to your new residence, why not get a virtual postal mail box?
A virtual mailbox is like a physical post office box, but much better and more sophisticated. here, see the difference between a virtual mailbox and a physical PO box here.
With a virtual mailbox, you can enjoy premium scanning and forwarding services. you sign up with a real address to receive all your mail and packages and forward mail to anyone, anywhere, anytime.
so you will enjoy the versatility of receiving emails wherever you are
how to get a virtual mailbox?
With Scanned Mail, you can sign up for a virtual mailbox and choose a virtual mailing address or PO Box.
As one of the best providers of virtual mail services, we have more than 20 locations throughout the country.
all you have to do is log in to your account and check your mails from the comfort of your room without having to go to the post office.
we also give you options to choose from; you can scan, forward, shred, recycle or archive any of your mail. once the application is mailed, it will be handled.
Even with our $15 starter package, you can forward mail anywhere without going to the post office or spending money.
In Scanned Postal Mail, we provide the convenient mail forwarding service you’ve been looking for. so sign up and enjoy the great features of a virtual mailbox.
ethan hoover photo on unsplash