Posted: 2/26/2004 12:09:27 PM EDT
| I sent a certified letter to someone two weeks ago tomorrow, return receipt. I haven't seen the card come back in the mail saying it has been delivered yet. How long will the Post Office hold the letter before they return it to me undeliverable? |
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I have sent two certified/return receipt required letters in the past ~8 years where the letters were delivered but the return receipt was either never filled out/returned or lost in the mail. First case was a letter to the Secretary of Public Safety (MA) putting him on legal notice that his office was in violation of Fed Right to Privacy Act and requesting corrective action. USPO refused to even take my complaint until at least 30 days after the mailing, then they said "too bad", no refund but they could send another green card to the recipient (which would have been meaningless if I had pursued the matter in court). Sec. of Public Safety was so stupid and arrogant as to reply to my letter, admitting that he was in violation of the Fed law and had no intention of changing their forms to comply with the law. So green card was no longer pertinent, but I was out $ for "services not rendered". Second case was two years ago with a letter to a company, refuting that my Sister owed them any more money for rent (they claimed a massive rent increase but never sent notice of supposed increase until AFTER my Sister had moved out of the house). Different USPO checked into it and verified that the letter had been delivered but green card never was returned, they gave me back my money for the green card and apologized for the error. So, you might inquire, but be prepared to be told "tough" and ignored. Yes, there is also the possibility that the recipient is refusing to sign for it and thus the item is still at the USPO. [This happened to a landlord who was trying to evict his tenants at will. They refused to pick up the mail, hoping that would prevent him from evicting them. He then hired me as a Constable to serve the eviction papers, so their scheme didn't work but some do try it.] |
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This lady I sent a letter to hit my car and took off. A neighbor caught the license plate. I called the cops and they cited her for no insurance and misdemeanor hit and run. I thought I would give her a chance to settle this out of court, so I sent her a letter. I just wanted to make sure she got it. |
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About 6 months ago, I found one of those yellow slips in my mailbox that was left for a letter that needed to be signed for. I looked over the slip and signed it, printed my name and address, and left it in the mailbox. The next day when I checked for my mail it was gone. I figured the letter would be delivered in a day or so. After waiting almost 2 weeks (forgot about it), I called the post office to complain. After half an hour on hold, the person came back saying she found it, but it required a witnessed signature. Couldn't find the slip I signed, couldn't explain why there was no follow-up, couldn't explain why the box on the slip telling me a witnessed signature was required, wasn't checked, couldn't tell me anything, except to give me the lobby hours. I firmly believe that letter, would still be sitting in my local post office, to this day, if I hadn't pursued the matter. So, as far as how long you might wait until the letter is returned to you as undeliverable, well, hopefully in your lifetime. Do you have any kids, just in case? |