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

Is there any way to send a letter to be "forwarded" without ever being delivered to the original address? I don't know the new address and don't want the letter mistakenly left at the delivery point.

Asked by "wondering" almost 13 years ago

If there is a forwarding request on file for a certain name at a certain address, it is possible that the letter would be automatically forwarded to the new addrEss. We have an automated system that does this. The problem is that it doesn't catch every forwardable letter. it is possible that the letter gets accidentally delivered to the old address. One option is to write the letter to the old address and write "please forward" somewhere on the envelope. That may alert the carrier that the letter needs to be forwarded. 

I was just told as a CCA that my POOM has called for all CCAs to not report to work until further notice. They have work for me. I have been there 8 months and worked almost 5 days ever week. Can he just drop us? Will the union fight that?

Asked by Mm over 12 years ago

I'm sorry to hear that regarding the POOM requesting that CCAs no longer report to work especially since you say they have work for you on most days. I have no idea what the reason would be for them requiring a stoppage in work. I don't know what legal protections you have as a CCA in opposing this. I also don't know how much the union will fight for your in this matter. I hope that they would fight for you. I just read a blurb in my local union newsletter (Long Island, NY) that a CCA has been converted into a regular employee for the first time in our district. I wish you well and hope that any work suspensions are short-lived.

Our mailbox has no names on it, the other day on one of our letters was written "do they live here"

Does that mean the mailman has not been delivering that persons mail? Would the missing mail be held at the post office or sent back to sender?

Asked by Meg almost 13 years ago

The Missing mail would likely be returnEd to the sender and not kept at the PO. if I were the carrier and I saw mail with a name I wasn't familiar with, I think I would deliver it and if each time the letter was not returned to me with a notice saying "not here", I would assume it was a valid delivery. Unless you live on a rural route, there is no obligation that I'm aware of to notify what names are valid at a specific address. I generally deliver it until told otherwise. 

Can I ask the Post Office to hold a piece of registered mail I am expecting tomorrow (Monday) so I can pick it up there instead of waiting for my usual delivery at 5pm

Asked by Dianne about 13 years ago

I would generally say no, but it wouldn't hurt to try. In our office, I don't believe they usually allow this.

Ok I receive ssi but the apt I have my cheek going to is vacant now so will my check go back to the post office?

Asked by meicy almost 12 years ago

As long as the letter carrier knows that the unit is vacant and doesn't deliver it there, the SSI ck will eventually find its why back to the issuing govt agency where it will probably stay until they get a valid address from you as to where to send the SSI cks in the future.

If I don't empty my mailbox for a week or two, but it is not full, is my postal carrier allowed to post notes on my door demanding I empty it and threatening to send it back?

Asked by jordan almost 12 years ago

Jordan, first of all, thank you for writing in to this Q and A board. I don't know the rules as far as sending back mail because you haven't emptied your box for a week or two and your box is not full. If I were the letter carrier, I would just continue to deliver mail until the box is full and then probably return any future mail endorsed "box full" to the senders (or discard the mail if it is unendorsed Standard Class mail.) I don't recall ever coming across this situation in my postal career, but if it came about I'd probably ask my supervisor for direction. It is not in my nature to leave any notes (esp. threatening ones) for the most part.

I am expecting an envelope that was shipped via First Class Mail with Delivery Confirmation. Will it be delivered to my mailbox or to my door? I am asking because I would like it to be delivered to the mailbox because I won't be home. Thanks!

Asked by TomT about 12 years ago

Generally if the item fits in your mailbox and doesn't require a signature it would be put in your mailbox. This includes First Class Mail with Delivery Confirmation (which rarely would require a signature unless the sender requests it). I hope that is what happens in your case. You may not have read my other replies on this forum but I do a lot of hedging in my answers due to the lack of consistency in delivery and procedures which I hear about both where I work and other places around the country. Also, I don't like to give misinformation or mislead anybody. As much as I know how things should be done with regards to mail delivery, the reality is it doesn't always work out that way. Thank you for writing.