-Disney Echo forum
+--Forum: Walt Disney World tips, trip reports, comments and questions
+---Topic: Holding Mail started by WebTink
Posted by: WebTink on July 09, 2003 12:38 am/pm
Seeing as how there are a lot of us who got in on the Fairy Tale package, and probably some of us who haven't ever been on a week-long + vacation before, I thought I would share this travel tip.
I knew I needed to arrange to have our mail service halted for our week away, but didn't really know how to go about it. So, I went to the US Postal Service web site and found this < link > for processing the request online. Very handy, but only available for some zip codes, so you have to find that out first.
You don't need to do this too far in advance, but it did allow me to process a request for August dates already.
Just thought you ought to know! Now, about that paper boy....
Posted by: tinkerose on July 09, 2003 4:02 am/pm
That's a good tip, Becky. Now that you mention it, I did hear that you could arrange to have your mail held thru the USPS web site. But I didn't know it was only for certain zip codes.
I have to tell you that I haven't had very good luck with having my mail held by the USPS. Our last two trips, I arranged it by completing the card you can get at the post office. But, just in case, I asked my petsitter to check the mailbox when she came to feed my cats. Good thing! Most days they delivered the mail anyway.
When I went to the post office to complain, I found that they did hold a few pieces, but they delivered about five times that to the house. They actually had no explanation why it happened.
I'd suggest, even if you stop the mail with the USPS, that you also ask a friend or neighbor to check your mailbox.
Posted by: WebTink on July 09, 2003 4:40 am/pm
Government entities being what they are, I guess that's about par for the course. (No offense meant to any hard-working, diligent postal carriers out there!
We have a very tiny locked mail box in our subdivision. I guess once it's full, the carrier will get the hint! Maybe I'll put a note in the box, too, taped towards the postal carrier's side, that the mail is not to be delivered until 8/11! Think they'll follow those directions?
Doubt it!
Posted by: RichKoster on July 09, 2003 6:03 am/pm
Yoo Hoo!
One of the reasons I've heard for having the post office hold your mail, other than having your mailbox overflow or avoid having mail stolen, is that it won't tip off burglars that nobody has been in the house for many days and it might be a good time for them to rob the place.
However, the post office often (always?) has a way they make sure the mail is held - - they put a rubberband around the handle of the mailbox, keeping the mailbox shut.
But... but... but... Don't they think burglars are smart enough to figure out this post office technique and that it means the mail is being held? Kinda negates one of the reasons of holding the mail right there.
Posted by: WebTink on July 09, 2003 6:47 am/pm
Okay, Rich, all I can say to that is SHEESH!
Glad I have a locked mailbox.
Posted by: Tigger58 on July 09, 2003 8:28 am/pm
---------------------QUOTE BEGIN-------------------
Yoo Hoo!
One of the reasons I've heard for having the post office hold your mail, other than having your mailbox overflow or avoid having mail stolen, is that it won't tip off burglars that nobody has been in the house for many days and it might be a good time for them to rob the place.
However, the post office often (always?) has a way they make sure the mail is held - - they put a rubberband around the handle of the mailbox, keeping the mailbox shut.
But... but... but... Don't they think burglars are smart enough to figure out this post office technique and that it means the mail is being held? Kinda negates one of the reasons of holding the mail right there.
---------------------QUOTE-------------------
not only that, I had heard on the news that it is NOT a good idea to get your mail stopped when you are away because the postal workers KNOW this and YES some of them are crooks too and can alert anyone they know that you are not home........ They say its good to have a family member or neighbor you can trust to go pick up your mail and the papers thrown around in your driveway etc so people think someone is there still.......
end