Friggin thieves are breaking into cluster mailboxes in our area again. Friggin USPS is doing shit - maybe just replacing the common lock but nothing to make it harder to prevent theft. A class action suit would be nice. USPIS provides a nice little note to contact them if financial or identify theft occurs related to the break-ins. Yea, that sounds real helpful. Won't hold my breath in that leading to any resolution.

There is something called informed delivery. Doesn't help prevent theft but at least you know you had mail and what it was? Not sure how it works and how well it works. But at least it sounds free.

PO box or UPS box - doesn't sound viable w/o some tedium. First, need to update all entities who might send mail. Sigh. Second, I think there are entities that won't send mail to a PO box. Third, it may delay delivery which may not be desired (especially for UPS box). Forth, what happens when a pkg gets sent that doesn't fit into the box? I think UPS will accommodate but doesn't like USPS will. Fifth, it ain't cheap for someone w/o income. $300-400 a year? Just to receive mail? And then I need to drive there to pick it up - 15 minutes each way.

Sigh. There should be special circumstances for mail theft - automatic 10 years, no parole allowed.

Informed delivery is free. I have had a PO Box for forty years. It is not cheap and my mail stays dry. If the package is too big they put a slip in your box and you pick it up at the counter. The chances of theft are minimal. OR you can go the UPS route as Vtail suggests.

Thanks. Still looking into it. I can't figure out what mail is excluded from this service. Looks like international mail is excluded which is a big part of the need for me. Also, some important docs that get sent periodically (that the entity will not just email) - these 'letters' are usually different size than regular mail envelopes (letters). If the service only works for actual letter size envelopes, then that's maybe half of what I need.

Still sighing..... And researching. Also, not sure how they verify identity online. What if the thieves have stolen mail that now allows them to spoof me, at least for online identity verification? Does seem like I can go into the PO for identity verification though. Spaghetti links to figure out details of this.

If the service only works for actual letter size envelopes, then that's maybe half of what I need.
^^^^^^^^
It scans enough of the junk mail so you know what it is. At the present time it DOES NOT offer informed delivery at my PO BOX or office address.

I need the service to recognize non letter sized envelopes coming from financial, legal or insurance entities.

I have Informed Delivery . It shows me a pic of the individual pieces. Small packages are not shown but you are notified if there is one in your box . It works pretty well about 90% of the time .

good to know. there seems to be some expressions of concern re: hackers. if they hack the system, they can presumably find when a letter from, say financial institution, possibly with private info or a check, is on it's way to you.

Not sure how to perceive this level of risk. Theoretical? Or some real risk? If there is some real risk, I wonder if that's how cluster boxes are being targeted. Someone in the neighborhood has the service and thieves break in. Everyone gets affected.

quote:

Originally posted by konata88:

I need the service to recognize non letter sized envelopes coming from financial, legal or insurance entities.

Informed Delivery will show you a picture of the mail piece. Try it. It's free.

Only letter mail that is auto-sorted (photo-scan sorted) has photo of USPD Informed Delivery.

"Flats"- magazines, news papers, "large letter", and such typically are not "photo scanned".

Nor are packages.

(this is not an official USPS response)

quote:

Informed Delivery will show you a picture of the mail piece. Try it. It's free.

We have had several of times where it took the item up to a week to show up after they pictured it.

I rent a Mailboxes Etc through a UPS Store. $50/month. They accept any carrier, not just UPS. Oversized items are kept in the back room until I pick it up.

I have the smallest USPS box/ Almost 200 yearly. Packages that don't fit are placed in a parcel locker and the key is left in your box. If no parcel lockers available, package is picked up at the desk.
My mailbox gets run over yearly. We also have questionable people walking the street.