9 replies to this topic

[Old Crow]

Prior to our trip out West this summer, I signed up for the US Post Office's Informed Delivery Service.

 

For those who may not be aware of it, Informed Delivery is a free notification service which tells you what mail is headed to  your mailbox.  Basically, it emails you images of your mail envelopes from the post office's letter-sorting machines.

 

It was useful several times on our trip.

 

- We saw an unexpected bill with a due date a few days before our return date.  We had a copy emailed. The company doesn't accept credit cards so we had to mail a check. Fortunately, there was time for the check to make it across the country before the deadline.

 

- The fraud department of our credit union contacted us to confirm or deny a suspicious charge on my wife's ATM card while we were traveling.  The card was subsequently locked and a replacement was scheduled to arrive at our home within ten days.  When it didn't show up on Informed Delivery, we called and learned the order hadn't been done properly.  It was re-ordered correctly this time and Informed Delivery subsequently showed it had arrived.  Fortunately, my ATM card still worked so it didn't cause us a travel problem.

 

- As we were traveling, I was absolutely sure I had earned a parking ticket based on our license plate.  So we watched Informed Delivery for the citation letter.  I thought this because I had seen a parking-enforcement car pause behind us while I was (perhaps illegally) parked for a quick lunch stop overlooking Lake Michigan.  I was convinced the parking-enforcement car had taken a photo of my license plate and I'd be getting a mailed citation once the photos were reviewed.  That now appears to have been a figment of my imagination.

 

- We also just liked seeing the daily mail envelopes.  It confirmed we hadn't gotten something unexpected and confirmed the ones we had expected to see had actually arrived.

 

Wikipedia description of Informed Delivery

 

USPS FAQ: Informed Delivery - The Basics

 

USPS Informed Delivery page

 

Edited 9/12 to add a link to the FAQ article 'The Basics'

Edited by Old Crow, 12 September 2021 - 03:16 PM.

[ski3pin]

Thanks for bringing this service to our attention! It will be helpful for future trips.

[craig333]

Thanks. I signed up.

[Wandering Sagebrush]

OC, thank you!  We also have been using this service since our move to NE Oregon.  There are times that mail previews are not available, but it is a great service!

[billharr]

I have used Informed Delivery for years. Really helps when gone for weeks at a time. Everyone should have it 

 

Bill

[buckland]

Wonderful service. We live rural with a part time PO and yet they accepted my address. ...this is so cool! Thanks Denny ...again!

[SkyP]

We've had the Informed Delivery for a few years now.

One thing it did was inform us just how screwed up our local Post Office is-  

Some mail shown on it never arrives.

Some mail on it arrives weeks after it is shown for that days delivery.  

[Old Crow]

I just read through a FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) article on Informed Delivery Basics and learned a few things, including...

 

- Only the first ten pieces of mail appear on the email.  But you can view the others by signing in to your account on the Informed Delivery web site (at informeddelivery.USPS.com).  This is called your 'dashboard'.

 

- the message 'A mailpiece for which we do not have an image is included in today's mail' probably comes from a magazine or catalog.

 

- mailers have the option to supplement the grayscale images of your mail with a clickable and interactive color image called a 'ride-along' image.  You can either click on the color image or a 'Learn More' button to see more info from the mailer.  That's what's happening if you see color in the image of your letter.

 

- there's a USPS mobile app for your phone or ipad where you can see your dashboard.  If you decide you no longer want the emails, you can go into Settings and uncheck the 'turn on emails' box.

 

- PO Box holders may have to physically go into the post office to verify identity to get Informed Delivery

 

- if you sign up and don't start getting emails, check spam filters (see the article for details)

 

+ much more.

[smlobx]

Yes thank you. I didn’t know this service existed.

[Mighty Dodge Ram]

Good call, thanks!