How to hold mail at the post office

You are going to be away from your home. Mail sitting in your mail box is a red flag to burglars. You could have someone pick your mail up everyday. The easier alternative is to tell the post office to hold your mail. If you will be away between 3-30 days they will keep your mail safe for you.

Go to www.usps.com. Click on the pull down menu receiving mail and you will see the hold mail option. Click on it and a new page will pop up. Place your zip code in the create a request block and hit go. A new screen for customer information will come up. Fill it in information and hit continue. They will verify your address and then hit next. You now create a request which includes the date to start the hold and the date to resume delivery.You then let them know if you will pick up your mail or you want them to deliver it all to you at one time. You can also give them additional information about how to deliver it to you. Click continue and complete your request.

If you prefer, you can call the postal service to stop delivery. Dial 1-800-275-8777 (ASK-USPS). From the main menu, take prompt #4, delivery service. You will choose the option to hold mail. When you want to have your mail delivered,  you will call them and tell them to resume delivery. It is all very simple, just follow the prompts.

If you are close to your local post office you can visit and stop your delivery in person. Ask the employees for a copy of form PS 8076, Authorization to Hold Mail. You will fill in your name and address , the beginning and ending date and whether you will be picking up your mail or want it delivered to your home when you return. You then sign the form and turn it in. You can also take it home to fill out and mail it in.

The next time you are going to be away, take the worry out of mail delivery and let the post office hold your mail for you.

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