Getting mail meant for someone who used to live at your place is pretty common. But even if you feel like just tossing it out, don’t do it — throwing away someone else’s mail can actually get you in legal trouble. According to U.S. law (Code § 1708), messing with or destroying mail that isn’t yours can lead to big fines or even jail. The good news is, there’s an easy and clear way to handle it if you get mail that doesn’t belong to you.
What to Do with Mail That Isn’t Addressed to You
Getting someone else’s mail by mistake happens all the time. Sometimes, it’s just a wrong address written down and your neighbor’s mail ends up in your mailbox. Usually, you can just hand it over to them and let them know about the mix-up. But for people who’ve just moved into a new home, it can be a bit more annoying to deal with.
If the previous owner hasn’t changed their address, you might keep getting their mail for years—like coupons, magazines, catalogs, political ads or donation requests. Here’s how you can deal with it:
- Write “RETURN TO SENDER.” This tells the mail carrier to send the letter back to the person or company who mailed it. You can also add “NOT AT THIS ADDRESS” to make it clear that the person doesn’t live there anymore.
- Cross Out the Barcode. At the bottom of the envelope, there’s a barcode that helps the post office sort and deliver mail quickly. But because of this system, mail carriers often don’t look at the writing on the envelope. So even if you mark it “RETURN TO SENDER,” it might still end up back in your mailbox. To stop that from happening, cross out the barcode—this makes the letter undeliverable and gets it out of the mailing system.
- Talk to Your Landlord. If you’re living in an apartment, the person who lived there before you might’ve given their new address to the landlord. If so, just cross out your own address on the envelope, write their new one and put the letter back in the mailbox.
- Reach Out to the Post Office. If nothing else works, go to your local post office and ask for a change of address form. You can use it to let them know that the previous resident moved out and didn’t leave a new address.
What Not to Do
A lot of important and private information is sent through the mail—like legal papers, medical records, bank details or even personal messages and money. Because of this, messing with someone else’s mail is a big deal. The U.S. government treats it as a serious crime. If you steal, throw away, damage or mess with mail that isn’t yours, you could face up to five years in jail or a $10,000 fine. To stay out of legal trouble, here’s what not to do with mail that doesn’t belong to you.
- Throwing It Away. Throwing out mail that isn’t yours is like stealing—it keeps the real owner from ever seeing what was sent to them.
- Opening It. Opening someone else’s mail on purpose is a serious crime. Try your best to return it without damaging it. If you opened it by mistake, don’t worry—it’s not a crime if it was an accident. Just tape the envelope closed and write “DELIVERED TO WRONG ADDRESS” on the front.
- Don’t Cross Out the Recipient’s Name. The post office uses both the name and address to make sure mail goes to the right person. If you cross out the name, they won’t know who it was meant for. This counts as tampering and can lead to serious trouble.
- Don’t Fill Out a Change of Address Form Without Permission. You’re not allowed to change someone else’s mailing address. Never fill out a change of address form for a former resident unless you’ve spoken to the post office first. Once they understand the situation, they’ll let you fill out a form to show that the person doesn’t live there anymore.
How to Update Your Mailing Address
If you’re getting mail that isn’t yours, it might mean your own mail is going to the wrong place too. To prevent this from happening, make sure you update your address with the U.S. Postal Service at least two weeks before you move. Here are three ways to do it:
- Online: Go to the USPS website and fill out the change of address form. It’s easy to do but they’ll charge you $1.00 to confirm your identity.
- By Phone: Call 1-800-ASK-USPS to update your address over the phone. You’ll still have to pay the $1.00 fee, so keep your payment info handy.
- In Person: Visit your local post office and fill out Form 3575 (Change of Address). It might take a little more time but there’s no fee when you do it in person.
The Postal Service only forwards your mail for six months. After that, they stop sending it to your new address. So before that time runs out, make sure you’ve told everyone about your new place. This includes:
- Utility Companies (Gas, Water, Electric, etc.)
- Internet Provider
- Doctors & Other Healthcare Providers
- Your Bank & any Other Financial Services
- Insurance Company
- Phone Company
- Your Employer
- The IRS
- Your Kids’ Schools
- Your Old School or College
- Any Magazines You Subscribe To
- Friends & Family
Help Moving to Your New Home
Moving cross country can be a lot to handle. On top of changing your address, you’ll need to plan everything out—like getting moving supplies, packing your stuff, taking apart furniture, possibly booking storage and renting a moving truck. It can feel like too much. Hiring a moving company can make things a lot easier.
STI Moving & Storage is a full-service moving company that can help with every step of your move—from planning and packing to shipping, storage and delivery. Let our team take care of the hard work. Get in touch with us today for a free quote!
