Before leaving for vacation, you may wish to stop the delivery of your mail from the United States Postal Service. Mail which piles up while you are away may provide a clue to potential burglars that you are not at home. If you leave mail in an external mailbox, you run the risk of mail theft and possibly even identity theft. Fortunately, the United States Postal Service has made it easy to stop mail delivery from three to 30 days. You can use a simple online form, fill out a form at the Post Office or call an 800 number.

How to Stop Your Mail For Vacation Using An Online Form

Visit the United States Postal Service Hold Mail Service online (See Resources).

Enter your five-digit zip code, and click on "Make a Request." If your local post office allows online hold mail requests, then you can use the Hold Mail online request form.

Fill out your name, address, and phone number on the United States Postal Service Hold Mail online request form.

Specify a beginning and end date for your hold mail request, and choose whether to have your mail delivered at the end of your vacation, or whether to pick it up yourself from your local post office.

Submit your request. Be sure to write down your confirmation number, which you will need to make any changes to your mail hold dates.

How to Stop Your Mail For Vacation Using A Paper Form or the Phone

Try using the online method of stopping your mail, as it is faster and more efficient for the postal service. If your local post office does not allow you to use the online form, then you can submit your hold mail request either using a paper form or over the phone.

Fill out and submit a PS Form 8076, Authorization to Hold Mail, to your local post office. You can download and print the PS Form 8076 online (see Resources).

Call 800-ASK-USPS (800-275-8777), and speak to a United States Postal Service representative about your hold mail request.

About the Author

Ming Tor has been writing for primarily online audiences since 1997. Her websites have won numerous accolades, including Yahoo! Pick Of The Week. Her topics of expertise include Catholicism, household management, and animal husbandry.

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