How to Return Mail to Sender

Return Mail To Sender Through USPS

As we’ve briefly discussed above, there are various reasons why a recipient would choose to send a return mail to the sender. Below we discuss the three major circumstances when the receiver of the mail is edged to send out a return mail to its sender. We further take you through the steps you need to take to ensure that the return mail is sent back to its origin.

So, in case you want to Return to Sender USPS, someone you knew is not living at your address anymore.

Also, if you are one of the curious minds and thinking about How to Return to the sender USPS- Well, the process is simpler and involves the following quick steps:

1. Write Down “Not At This Address” On The Mailpiece
2. Return The Mail to Your Carrier
3. Use a USPS Mail Collection Box

Let us now dig a little deeper into these steps!

Correct Address But Wrong Addressee

This often happens when the recipient has recently moved to a new place and ends up receiving mails addressed to the old residents. In such cases, the address on the envelope will be accurate and deliverable; however, the addressee is no longer a resident at the address. The reason why this happens is that the old tenants who resided at the place before you didn’t follow through on the change of address order.

We understand this can be frustrating, especially given the fact that you are forced to clean up after someone else’s mess. That being said, no one wants to receive mail regularly that they have no interest in. Therefore it becomes your need to put an end to it. Thankfully the process is straightforward and can be done in just three simple steps.

Step 1: Write Down “Not At This Address” On The Mailpiece

The first thing you need to do is to write down “Not At This Address” on the envelope. Many people often make the mistake of writing “Return to Sender” or something similar on the envelope, considering that it is, after all, a return mail. However, that is not the right wording that you should be using in this situation. You can follow the same step even if the postal mail in question is a parcel.

Another important point that you should keep in mind when sending a return mail is that you should always ensure that any barcodes on the mail are defaced. If you fail to do so, there is a good chance that the parcel or envelope will end up getting delivered back to your address AGAIN. This is a common mistake made by people who send a return mail and must be avoided every time.

In the meantime, it is also important to NOT cross off the address part because only then can the mail carrier understand that the addressee is no longer a resident at the given address. And if the problem still persists, you need to make your mail carrier aware of the situation. You can also choose to get in touch with the local Post Office to fix the issue.

Step 2: Return The Mail to Your Carrier

The best thing that can happen to you if you receive mail that is addressed to someone else (an old tenant in this case) is if you are home when the mail arrives. This way, you can hand them back the envelope or package straight back to them and avoid any confusion about sending the return mail. You need to ensure that you clearly explain that the addressee is no longer a resident there.

You will still have to complete the first step, which is to write down “Not At This Address” on the envelope before you can give it back to the delivery person. But as luck would have it, we are almost never home when the mail arrives. And that’s okay because even if you are not home when the mail comes, all you have to do is put the mailpieces back into the mailbox.

However, if you do put the mailpieces back in the mailbox for the delivery person to pick up the next time they are there, then make sure that you erect the red flag. The red flag tells the delivery person that there is something in the mailbox that the mail carrier needs to collect when they are out and about doing their rounds the next time.

Step 3: Use a USPS Mail Collection Box

It is not necessary that everyone have a mail carrier to whom they can give back the mailpiece nor is it possible for everyone to have a mailbox at their place of residence either. Under this circumstance, the best option available for you would be to make use of a USPS mail collection box. Once you have completed the first step and put the mail inside a USPS mail collection box, an employee from the local Post Office will come and collect the mail.

Once you have written the right wording on the envelope or package and delivered it to the nearest USPS mail collection box, you have done your part. Now, the USPS employee will collect the mail from the collection box and either forward it to the right address or have the letter returned to the sender of the mail. The USPS collection boxes are almost too easy to find as they are pretty much everywhere, but if you want to find the nearest one, you can always use the “Find Locations” page on the USPS’s official website.

Delivery Made to a Wrong Address

Sometimes, although not often, you may receive postal mails that are clearly not addressed to you or your residence address. This usually happens when the mail carrier places the mail inside your mailbox or pushes it through your door by accident. These accidents are only human, and you probably shouldn’t worry too much about them. Returning such postal mails or packages is pretty easy, and the steps for doing that are given below.

Step 1: Put The Mail Back in The Mailbox

The first thing to do after you notice that you have received mail with the wrong postal address on it is to put the mail straight back inside your mailbox. You’ll also need to make sure that the red flag is up in the mailbox too. The flag will tell the mail carrier that there is outgoing mail waiting for them to be picked up the next time they come to your place for delivery.

However, the returning process will be different if the mail you receive is a Priority Mail Express by mistake, in which case, you’ll have to make a call to 1-800-275-8777. Once you get on the line, ask them to connect you to the Priority Mail Express Reporting Unit. When the linnet gets connected just tell them about the misdelivery, and they will let you know what to do next.

Step 2: Hand The Mail to The Delivery Person

In case you do not wish to leave the mailpiece inside the mailbox, you can always give it directly to the delivery person the next day. However, there is a small catch if you want to do this. You will have to stay home and wait for the delivery person to come to your neighborhood. This can be a problem if you are a working professional, and then there is also the chance of you still missing the delivery person, which can not be ruled out.

But, provided that you are home and you do not miss the delivery person, you can simply hand over the misdelivered mailpiece to him/her. You’d still need to explain that the mail was delivered to the wrong address, and the USPS personnel will sort it out from there. Furthermore, you can even take parcels, packages, and envelopes directly to the nearest Post Office. That way, you could just return them on your way to work or do errands. The method of sending the return mail is solely based on your convenience.

Step 3: Do Note Write/Tamper The Envelope or Package

When mail is mistakenly delivered to your address, you need not write anything on the envelope or package. In fact, writing on the envelope or package which is already addressed correctly can only raise confusion and prevent the mail carrier from delivering it to the right address. So, it is best if you don’t write anything on the mailpiece that could disrupt the delivery process. In the case of a misdelivery such as this one, the mistake was made by the mail carrier, and the onus is upon them to sort it out.

Therefore, you don’t have to write the standard “Return to Sender” message on this particular return mail type. This also means that you should not cover or cross out the address, nor should you tamper with the mailpiece in any way. However, you can paste a sticky note on the mailbox to state what’s inside and also mention that it was delivered to the wrong address as it can be greatly helpful to the delivery person.

Mail You do Not Wish to Receive

The last type of mail that we USPS return to the sender is the one that you simply do not wish to receive. In this case, both the address and the addressee are accurate on the mailpiece, but the intended recipient has the choice not to receive it and have it returned to the sender. Below we discuss the steps to return mail to the sender and how to do it right, so you don’t have to go through it again.

Step 1: Write Down “Refused” On The Mailpiece

As the recipient, you have the right to refuse pretty much any postal mail that is sent to you and have them returned to the sender. However, there are a few steps involved in this, and the first one is to write down “Refused” on the envelope or package you receive. Once you’ve written it down on the mailpiece, you can then give it back to your mail carrier as soon as you can.

One important thing that you need to know and remember is that you must not open the mail if you intend to return it. And no, carefully resealing the envelope will not work either. The package or envelope needs to be intact at all times. Compromising the integrity of the mailpiece would mean that you have taken responsibility for it, and it becomes no longer returnable.

Step 2: Mark The “Refused” Box For Accountable Mail

Not everyone is familiar with the term “Accountable Mail”. They are mailpieces that require you to sign in order to receive them. Although accountable mails are often important, you should still be able to refuse them depending on their content. If you do decide to return an accountable mail, you need to place a checkmark in the “Refused” box on the notice that will be given to you by the delivery person.

Some of the most common kinds of accountable mail that you may receive are certified mail, registered mail, priority mail express, and so on. However, it would be best if you kept in mind that you can not refuse mail once you have received and signed for the mail. If you do receive the mail and sign for it but then decide that you want to have it returned, then you will have to place it into a new envelope or package and then pay the postage for having it sent back.

Step 3: Repackage The Mailpiece if You Have Opened it.

There are many instances when we let our curiosity get the better of us and tear open our postal mails as soon as we get our hands on them. It is an understandable mistake that we all make but, regardless of our intentions, once a mail has been opened, you can return it, at least not in its existing state. You will need to put the opened mail in a new envelope or package before you can return the same to the sender.

Packaging the open mail in a fresh envelope or package means that you will obviously have to treat the mail as a new one, and this means paying for the fresh package. That being said, you may be able to send the mail for free in case you are returning unwanted or damaged merchandise. The sellers usually provide you with a prepaid shipping label in case you receive an unwanted or damaged product. If they don’t provide a prepaid shipping label, then they will most likely pay you back for the postage.