Still receiving mail for previous resident

[49erinnc]

Long story short: I'm still getting a lot of mail for my ex wife, who hasn't lived there in over a year. She submitted a "change of address" with the USPS a good while back. I don't get all of her mail but I do get a good bit. And it's not all "junk mail." Some of it is personal mail, notices for appointments from her doctors/dentists, statements from a particular credit union, etc.

As the recipient, can I contact the post office? Or do I need to write "return to sender" or "this person does not live here anymore" on the mail I get? Or is there another way to handle this. And no, I am not in contact with my ex so I'm hoping for a solution that can be handled on my end.

Thanks

 

[ModeEngage]

Write deceased on everything that comes in the mail for her, and send it back to its origins. That'll stop it and cause some headaches

 

[TwiceOver]

I'm not entirely sure but I believe the change of address expires after a year. Other than that make up a sheet of labels that says "return to sender no such resident". It may be annoying but the labels will make it easier.

 

[GasX]

mail forwarding via "change of address" only lasts for a few (6?) months. The point of it is to give you time to inform EVERYONE of your new address. Tell your ex to get on the ball

 

[49erinnc]

Originally posted by: TwiceOver
I'm not entirely sure but I believe the change of address expires after a year. Other than that make up a sheet of labels that says "return to sender no such resident". It may be annoying but the labels will make it easier.

Would doing this then just put the responsibility on the person that originally sent the mail instead of the postal office making any changes? I don't see them eliminating all the junk mail I get for her but maybe with the personal stuff. Can't hurt to try the labels though. If it stops the mail from just a couple sources, that's better than nothing but I'm hoping to eliminate 100% of what I get for her.

 

[DnetMHZ]

I still get collection notices from the deadbeat lady who rented my place before me, and I've been here 2 and a half years.

 

[Tobolo]

I kinda like the deceased idea. I guess the question is she a good ex or a bad ex?

 

[49erinnc]

Originally posted by: Mwilding
Tell your ex to get on the ball

Yeah, not really an option given our circumstances.

 

[Tobolo]

Originally posted by: 49erinnc

Originally posted by: Mwilding
Tell your ex to get on the ball

Yeah, not really an option given our circumstances.

Yup go with the STOP IT!!! SHES DEAD!!!!!!!!!!!!!! response.

 

[49erinnc]

Originally posted by: n30
Write deceased on everything that comes in the mail for her, and send it back to its origins. That'll stop it and cause some headaches

Damn, that sounds tempting but I don't think I'm sadistic enough to do that.



Edit: Contacted postmaster at my branch and they said they would contact the carrier to take care of it. Not sure if that works but sounds good to me. Guess I'll see if I notice a difference in the next week or so.

 

[marvdmartian]

Mail forwarding due to change of address is only good for a year, max. And only first class mail will be forwarded, if I remember right (priority too, but I figure you're talking envelope versus package mail). After that, they'll deliver it to wherever it's addressed to.

First class mail simply needs to be marked "return to sender, addressee no longer at this address", and the post office will return it. After a couple times of that, they'll hopefully figure it out at the sender's end, and get it fixed.

2nd class (magazines & catalogs) and 3rd/4th class (slow boat packages, etc) will NOT be returned by the post office. Either keep it for yourself, or throw it out. There's nothing illegal about that, since the PO won't bother forwarding or returning it. However, keeping and/or opening first class mail that's not addressed to you, without the recipient's permission, can be considered a crime.

Pretty much your only other choice would be to re-address the stuff with her new address, and slap a stamp of your own on it, then forward it. Since it's your ex, and you don't have normal contact with her, I wouldn't bother.

Hope that helps!

 

[Lazy8s]

The guy that lived in my apt before me NEVER freakin changed his address for anything. He moved like 6 apartments down and I kept walking his damn mail to him every week or so, I think he just liked the service. So after about 3mo I stopped bringing it to him and he started coming to me asking for it. Finally when his state and federal tax returns came in I threw them away. He came by every few days for a month asking for them and I said I never got them. All of a sudden I didn't get another piece of his mail. Funny how it works sometimes.

 

[Stuxnet]

We've been at our place for 2 years now and we get sh*t all the time from the idiots (and yes, they were definitely IDIOTS) who lived here before us. At first we tried to take note of the important stuff and send it back, but anymore I just grab it and trash it. I get bills for their school lones, credit card statements, etc. Fsck 'em. TRASH.

It's the responsibility of the addressee to update the companies with which they do business. But because retards lived where we are now, we still get their crap.

 

[2Dead]

3 guys used to live in the apartment before I moved in but they moved out a year ago. I used to write "Moved" or something like that since it was at least 3 guys and they all moved without forwarding addresses. Now, their mail just gets left out by the mailboxes and picked up every wednesday for paper recycling. If they don't care, neither do I.

As for the OP and your ex-wife, intsead of saying "She's Dead" since you know she's not, how about just "She's Dead to me"?