Canada Post and Returned Mail

[Reaper]

Originally Posted by Displaced Flames fan

Well there's the problem. I wasn't responding to FG, I was responding to the original poster.

Yeah, that's what I thought before you mentioned that my post wasn't on screen when you posted.

[ken0042]

Originally Posted by Reaper

I'd recommend getting a stamp that reads "RETURN TO SENDER: NO SUCH ADDRESSEE."

That may be what I end up doing. It seems to me that pre-made stamps are far less migratory than a pen, and I could keep it in my car.

However the one thing I was wondering is if I am breaking a law by just chucking it in the garbage? In my mind it is technically junk mail.

With the place I moved out of my landlord called me after 6 weeks to say there was some mail for me. I met him for a beer to get my mail. After that I told him to just throw out anything that came for me there.

And one more piece to the puzzle, when I moved in the previous owner came by to say hi, and asked if I could give any mail to my next door neighbour. (The two of them were friends.) About 3 months after I moved in my neighbour said that the old owner's phone got disconnected and he hadn't heard from him since the day after I moved in.

I do appreaciate everybody's input on this, though.

[Displaced Flames fan]

I'm, of course, not certain of the laws in Canada, but it is the addressee's responsibility to get his address changed. After that it is the mailer's responsibility to ensure their records are correct. Finally, it is the post office's responsibility to make sure they give you only your own mail. If you've made every effort to get this stopped like you said I would have trouble faulting you for simply starting to trash the stuff and would have a hard time understanding how you could be liable for anything.

[Flames_Gimp]

if the previous tenants don't change their addresses, after a certain time period, 'finders keepers' should come into play... especially with xmas/birthday cards...

[T I M]

Throwing out or opening someone elses mail is kinda sketchy, it may very well be a federal offense, not entirely sure. What you can do if you have some free time, and its really bothering you, is to phone your depot and/or the Canada post customer service line (potentially long hold time). Explain how much it bothers you, yell a bit, don't stop complaining. Canada post generally caves into complaints, no guarantees. The goal would be to get the depot to stop all mail for the old tenant from being sent out for delivery to you.

Anyways that's all I remember from my days of working at a Canada post outlet.

[Otto-matic]

Originally Posted by Flames_Gimp

if the previous tenants don't change their addresses, after a certain time period, 'finders keepers' should come into play... especially with xmas/birthday cards...

So thats where my money keeps going to