PO Box Security??

Gomez · Apr 9, 2004

We received an interesting letter and form from the USPS. They want us to provide two forms of ID (one with a photo) for every person 18 or over that receives mail delivered to our PO Box. There was no explanation as to why this is necessary, but I'm assuming it's Homeland Security related.

Anyone else receive this letter?

Junkman · Apr 9, 2004

I had to provide it when I opened the box and that was long before the Homeland Security Act was passed. That has been a long standing rule with the U.S. Postal Service, however it hasn't been enforced in many small rural areas until recently. Once you have the key to the box, I don't see how they can track who opens the door to the box, so I don't see how they can really enforce the request to any great extent, with the exception of refusing to deliver across the window packages that are too large for the box.

MadReferee · Apr 9, 2004

I keep the same PO Box for several of my small businesses and I also receive some personal mail there. I was recently asked to fill out a form indicating which businesses and people were allowed to receive mail thru the box. Postmaster did not give me an explanation why this info was needed. Anybody can open the box and get the mail as long as they have the key.

BillG_in_TX · Apr 9, 2004

( I don't see how they can really enforce the request )

If mail starts coming in addressed to someone not on the list for that box, they can (and will) "Return to Sender".

Gomez · Apr 9, 2004

Do that mean I won't get "boxholder's" mail anymore if I don't include him on the approved list? /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

Sounds good to me!

AndyM · Apr 9, 2004

We received an interesting letter and form from the USPS. They want us to provide two forms of ID (one with a photo) for every person 18 or over that receives mail delivered to our PO Box. There was no explanation as to why this is necessary, but I'm assuming it's Homeland Security related.

Anyone else receive this letter? 

How recently did you get this letter? I already got my mail today, and haven't seen it yet. I opened my most recent PO box in Nov. 2002 and didn't have to fill out anything like that then...

I've found that some post offices are way behind in the times with things they are supposed to be doing. I just saw in yesterday's paper about a local town where the post office is finally going to quit charging for PO boxes for people who can't get home mail delivery. The law passed in 1997, but that post office has still been charging all these people each year!

They did, however, want to confirm that I wasn't receiving mail any other place (other than the PO box where I used to live) before they would approve my application. I guess it's illegal for a person to receive mail at two different addresses at the same time.

Gomez · Apr 9, 2004

Andy,

I got it yesterday.

I've been paying $40/year since I moved in back in 1997. No one in the area has home delivery except a few that take a different post office as their address. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

I wonder if there is a site with this information. Maybe I can backcharge the post office. /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

AndyM · Apr 9, 2004

I've been paying $40/year since I moved in back in 1997. No one in the area has home delivery except a few that take a different post office as their address.

I wonder if there is a site with this information. Maybe I can backcharge the post office. 

The town where I used to live did not have home delivery, so everyone had a PO Box. They quit charging for them right after the new rule passed, as everyone's boxes came up for renewal (which means 1998 was the first year I didn't pay for a box).

The post office in the town that FINALLY quit charging for the PO Boxes seven years after the rule changed said they will NOT refund the money they incorrectly charged these people since 1997.

It couldn't hurt if you point out the error to the post office where you live though... Maybe they will stop the wrongful charges.