Letters from previous residents of your household or someone you never knew could pile up for years if you ignore them. Fortunately, most delivery services will take the letter back for free if you write “Returned to sender” and place it in your post box. Hopefully the sender will update his address book, but to stop the influx of unsolicited mail from arriving, you'll need to talk to the delivery service employee or come to the post office.
Step
Method 1 of 2: Returning Mail and Packages to Sender
Step 1. Write “Returned to sender” on the envelope or package
If you receive a letter or package that was not addressed to you, write it in large and clear size on the envelope or package box, without covering the address of the sender. You can do this with letters that are addressed to you, and it is legal to throw them away or keep them, unlike letters that are addressed to someone else.
If you have opened the letter or someone has signed a package that has been received, you must wrap it in a new package and pay for the delivery. However, the delivery service may send the letter or package back for free if you do this before the specified time limit
Step 2. Write “Wrong Address” or other reason (optional)
Add a note so the sender knows why it was returned. If you returned the wrong mail or changed address, try writing “Change address” or “Not this address”.
- If you know the address of the person, you can write “No longer at this address, please forward to (“write new address here”)” instead of “Returned to sender”.
- Large businesses usually use a bulk address list, and it won't be as effective if you write it on an envelope. Try using the form below.
Step 3. Cross out your own address
This will make it clear that the letter is not sent to your address again.
Step 4. Leave the letter in or near your post box
The courier will pick up the letter or package and return it to the post office for processing. Raise a flag on your post box if you have one, to let him know there's a letter to pick up. If not, place the letter somewhere easy to find.
If the courier doesn't notice, post a note in your post box that says "Letter to be returned". If your letter is still not picked up, take it to the post office
Method 2 of 2: Reporting a Change in Someone's Address
Step 1. Inform your courier in person or by written message
If you receive a letter for someone who used to live at your current address, tell the courier who delivered your letter or leave a message in your post box. If you get letters from multiple people who have lived in your home, write a message saying “leave a letter ONLY for (“name of current occupant”) and then tape it and cover it with masking tape to make it permanent in your post box.
Step 2. Visit the post office to fill out the change of address form
If the steps above don't work, visit the post office. Request a change of address form for each person who no longer lives at your address.
Online forms usually require you to find out the new recipient's address
Step 3. Fill in according to the instructions given
If you don't know the person's new address, this information can help you:
- In the “new address” section, write “Moved, did not tell the new address” or “Never lived at the previous address, the correct address is unknown.”
- Sign the document, then write “form filled out by current occupant, (“your name”).”
Tips
- If the letter arrives in your post box and the address listed is not yours, the delivery courier made the mistake, not the sender. Write “Wrong send” instead of “Returned to sender”.
- Letters from overseas take longer to return, and often don't reach the sender.
