BS: US Postal Service-new use for Duct Tape

Subject: BS: US Postal Service-new use for Duct Tape
From: katlaughing
Date: 20 Jan 04 - 02:24 PM

Jaysus! I don't know if this is because of Homeland Security of not, but it's pretty bizarro!

My daughter put her stuff in storage in WY and left her house locked up. She wasn't sure if she was going to go back, keep it, sell it, or rent it. She had a friend going by every day to pick up her mail from the mailbox right in front of her house. Said friend was also there almost everyday to work on painting, etc.

Last week, there was a "Vacant Property" notice in the mailbox, from the US Postal Service, with a phone number for my daughter to call. With NO CONFIRMATION from her about HER mail, they took it upon themselves to stop all of her mail. So she called; they couldn't tell her what had happened until another phone call later in the day when they found the carrier. So, they forced her hand, so to speak, and she put in a change of address, no matter whether she was going back or not.

TODAY, her friend who checks on the house called to say they have DUCT-TAPED her mailbox closed!!! Is this excessive? Does it remind the carrier to not leave any mail there? Does it scream to hooligans to break into this house, it's empty??!! A new use for duct tape it seems!!

kat *shaking her head*

Subject: RE: BS: US Postal Service-new use for Duct Tape
From: Amos
Date: 20 Jan 04 - 02:49 PM

IF the mail was being picked up daily, how did they know the property was vacant?

A

Subject: RE: BS: US Postal Service-new use for Duct Tape
From: artbrooks
Date: 20 Jan 04 - 02:53 PM

Just a guess...they may have a fill-in carrier scheduled, and a taped shut box would tell that person not to deliver the reams of junk mail we all get daily.

Subject: RE: BS: US Postal Service-new use for Duct Tape
From: Bill D
Date: 20 Jan 04 - 03:02 PM

might call for a reading of Post Office rules & regulations...if anyone knows where they are...

Subject: RE: BS: US Postal Service-new use for Duct Tape
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 20 Jan 04 - 03:30 PM

Bill D - Most of them are at http://www.usps.com/, but you have to dig around a little to find the ones applying to a particular subject, and they're subject to modification by periodic "bulletins" that have to be tracked for updates if you want the "latest" word.

A (maybe) handy example of how typical fragments look when you find them might be the Rates and Fees (pdf)

John

Subject: RE: BS: US Postal Service-new use for Duct Tape
From: katlaughing
Date: 20 Jan 04 - 03:56 PM

Thanks, John. I've scoured around in there before and found one really has to dig.

Amos, my point egg-zackeetelee! We suspect it was the busybody old lady neighbours, of which there are plenty; some of whom are very blatant. We suspect the carrier may have asked one of them if they knew and they opined.

But, art may be right, too. It is a substitute carrier, but they'd been bringing mail for a couple of months at least while the regular was out for surgery.

The thing that really got to us was when my dau. called them. They told her first they didn't know what happened to her mail; then, when she called back, they'd spoken to the carrier and they said it was because it was vacant. She asked if they had a right to do that to HER mail/mailbox and they said yes, even though it was being picked up daily!

When my brother forwarded his mail to our POB here, they had a fit and sent us all kinds of notices about "alien" mail. I called them and told them is was okay with us. They said because of Homeland INSecurity I would have to come, with my brother and his pictured I.D., to sign papers of authorisation!

So, if they can be that watchful for MY mail, how can they accept anyone else's word but my daughter's that SHE no longer wants to receive mail at a home she legally owns? Who cares if she lives there or not?

I will look through those regs. later, John, thanks, again,

kat

Subject: RE: BS: US Postal Service-new use for Duct Tape
From: katlaughing
Date: 20 Jan 04 - 11:03 PM

Talked to the postmaster, this afternoon. He admitted there is no regulation which dictates the vacant property thing, that it is a "judgement call" and will be calling me tomorrow after he talks to the carrier. He said none of his people should have done the duct tape thing; it's apparently not something they do, but he will have it removed, tomorrow. Interesting, can't think of why anyone else might have done it...maybe Rove and Ashcroft are on to us?:-)

Subject: RE: BS: US Postal Service-new use for Duct Tape
From: GUEST,.gargoyle
Date: 20 Jan 04 - 11:20 PM

Your "postal-hole" is the property of the US govt. It may be in your door, or on a post in the yard.....but the orifice is for the specific..... and sole use of the USPS.

Sincerely,
Gargoyle

Subject: RE: BS: US Postal Service-new use for Duct Tape
From: Bee-dubya-ell
Date: 20 Jan 04 - 11:50 PM

I think you'll find that the Postal Service took the action it did because mail being sent to an obviously vacant house is a strong indicator of possible fraudulent activity. Credit card scammers and other such crooks don't use their own home addresses. They have mail sent to vacant houses and just check the mailboxes.

Bruce

Subject: RE: BS: US Postal Service-new use for Duct Tape
From: katlaughing
Date: 21 Jan 04 - 12:05 AM

Maybe, Bruce, but all of the mail was the usual, in my daughter's name, for the past several years, so no real change. Otherwise, the reason you give would be understandable on their part. Oh well, it's sorted now, just thought the duct tape was a bit weird. Thanks

Subject: RE: BS: US Postal Service-new use for Duct Tape
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 21 Jan 04 - 12:43 AM

That was interesting about crooks using vacant houses for an address. Thanks for posting it, Bruce.

Subject: RE: BS: US Postal Service-new use for Duct Tape
From: GUEST,leeneia again
Date: 21 Jan 04 - 01:25 AM

Re "all of the mail was the usual, in my daughter's name, for the past several years, so no real change."

I've learned from my letter carrier that the person who puts the mail in your box doesn't even look at it. People at the local branch sort the mail, form it into packets, and put rubber bands around them. The carrier walks the route as fast as possible, shoving the packets into mail boxes. In fact, I have tried to catch him a couple times, and between the time I hear my mail arrive and the time I get out my front door, he is gone.

So the sorters don't know the house looks vacant, and the carrier doesn't know whose name has been on the mail all this time.

Subject: RE: BS: US Postal Service-new use for Duct Tape
From: katlaughing
Date: 21 Jan 04 - 01:40 AM

Thanks, I am sure that is so in a lot of bigger place, leeneia. This place, though, the regular carrier has been there for years, it is a smaller community and she knows most people by name, carries treats for the friendly dogs, and stops to visit quite frequently. It's amazing, really, except around the holidays when they have more to deliver. Even the substitute takes his time and visits. I am sure it was one of the old ladies next door who said something; esp. since they must've been scandalised by other recent benign events at my daughter's.:-)

Subject: RE: BS: US Postal Service-new use for Duct Tape
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 21 Jan 04 - 01:59 AM

Now kat,
you go and say something leading like "they must've been scandalised by other recent benign events at my daughter's. :-) "

and then you don't wanna TELL us? !!!!!!

Subject: RE: BS: US Postal Service-new use for Duct Tape
From: katlaughing
Date: 21 Jan 04 - 02:13 AM

LOL...well...she was alone and preggers, then my son moved in, but they didn't know he was related, THEN, we came back, after having lived with her, I was there for a month when she had the baby, my son moved out, then suddenly she and the babe were gone with us..why it's enough to make those old bats' heads spin, doncha know!? Plus, she and my son had various vehicles come and go, belch and breakdown, etc. THEN, her friends were over there every day, taking things away (including the stove at which point one of the nosy parkers asked if my dau. knew they were doing such as though they would tell her if she did not!); cleaning, and painting, and it was just so titillating, I am sure it provided them with all kinds of fodder gossip! She is well shut of them...no one can breathe in that neighbourhood without them knowing about it and speculating ad infinitum.**bg**

Subject: RE: BS: US Postal Service-new use for Duct Tape
From: Kaleea
Date: 21 Jan 04 - 02:27 AM

Perhaps the US Postal Service had been reading the Duct Tape Tip-a-day calendar. They give really great hints & tips for using duct tape to make ones' live easier. For example:
    Trouble getting those dust bunnies out from under your bed? Just grab your little poodle & wrap it mummy-style in Duct Tape, sticky side out. Then send the little bugger under the bed & Voila!   Dust bunnies are all cleaned up.**
**"This tip NOT endorsed by the SPCA."   ****

****Yes, I really do love animals, I am just giving an example from the calendar!!

I don't believe that I've seen any tips about using Duct Tape on Postal Service letter carriers, busybody neighbors or crooks yet, but perhaps we should send it in to the makers of the calendar.

Subject: RE: BS: US Postal Service-new use for Duct Tape
From: JennyO
Date: 21 Jan 04 - 09:08 AM

Has anybody thought of the possibility that the duct taping of the letterbox was done by the busybody neighbours?

Subject: RE: BS: US Postal Service-new use for Duct Tape
From: wysiwyg
Date: 21 Jan 04 - 10:57 AM

The story has a variety of interesting possible explanations, depending on who is cast as the victim.

Think of it this way-- what if the house "vacancy" was due to foul play, with your dau. the victim, and the mail had been getting picked up by Bad People stealing her checks?

Or what if she was away on an emergency and the posties wanted to make sure no one made off with her mail? Easiest would be to suspend delivery and hold the mail pending an in-person pickup or other documented instructions from your dau.

The posties don't know what is happening-- they only know (apparently) that they are not in the business of entrusting mail someone has sent, to vacant houses. What they DO with the mail they stop delivering-- now that I'd be wondering about. Hold it or return as undeliverable? If returned, what does that do to her credit rating as regards unpaid bills, or what does it to to her bank balance as regards unreceived income? If held, how long, and where does it all pile up, and is it secured?

Our snowbirds and others up here do it this way-- they have the posties hold or forward the mail, stopping in to sign a simple form as part of their normal house-closing procedures. You learn this from others who show you the ropes. So, you dau. learned it this way, that's all.

~Susan

Subject: RE: BS: US Postal Service-new use for Duct Tape
From: katlaughing
Date: 21 Jan 04 - 11:41 AM

Oh, please, Susan...she is well-versed in what to do about mail. This is just an extreme example of going over the edge, I mean DUCT TAPE(!) and meant to be fun.

kat