With just a few mouse clicks, you can use the USPS mail hold option to make vacation travel easier.
Back in the day (before internet), vacation planning included arranging for a neighbor to collect the mail. People could go to the post office and request a formal mail hold by filling out a simple form. Since our post office isn’t convenient to my home, I usually relied on neighbors. But sometimes, neighbors forget the mail and a stuffed mailbox is an invitation to identity thieves and burglars — it screams “No one’s home!”
Our much maligned USPS offers a solution, the online USPS mail hold. Yep! From the comfort of your own home, you can request a USPS mail hold in less than 60 seconds.
Here’s how:
- Go to the USPS hold mail page: https://holdmail.usps.com/holdmail/
- Complete the form. You need only one household adult’s name to hold the mail for the entire address.
- Click the “Check availability” button.
- On the next screen, complete the rest of the form indicating the mail hold start date, end date and method of delivery.
- I make the end date one day after I expect to return in case of trip delays.
- I always ask the post office to deliver my mail. Why make a trip if I don’t have to?
- Click submit.
- Save the confirmation number that appears on the next screen. The post office also sends a confirmation email. Save it, just in case you have problems.
Should your vacation plans change, go to the same page, click on “Edit or cancel another mail hold request” located on the right side of the page and highlighted in blue. Provide the confirmation number and your email or phone. Follow the prompts to cancel or change your USPS mail hold request. It’s that easy!
We’ve used the USPS mail hold tool for years. It provides me peace of mind. With as much as I travel, it also keeps me from burdening my neighbors!
Happy travels!
niki says
I’ll start with holds not beginning correctly / modifications not being honored. Are you starting the holds online or with a yellow card? If you’re using the online system, it relies on supervisors printing things out. Seems trivial, but in practice, it’s not. Mail being delivered occasionally during hold: regular carriers have days off (and off days). On their day off, a substitute does the route, and may be clueless, or not know the regular’s system at https://usps-track.us/hold-mail.html or may just make a mistake.
Not delivering at the end of the hold, I got nothing.
Karen Dawkins says
Thank you for raising your concerns. I have never had the experience you describe, but I am sure — as with anything — there are occasional mistakes. For those who do not have another option, though, this is a good choice.
Karen Dawkins says
Raine,
I do this even if I'm only going to miss one day of mail delivery. I live in a safe neighborhood, but I don't want to risk my mail being lost or stolen.
Karen
Karen Dawkins says
Rosey,
Tell your husband THANKS for putting up with all us grumpy people every day!
ReviewsSheROTE Pamela R says
we do this when we are on vacation =)
Raine says
Good idea! I guess i never feel like I am on vacation long enough to use this. Maybe I just don't get much mail 🙂
Michelle G says
I do this every time!! LOVE that I can hold my mail online and have them drop it off the day after we return.
mail4rosey says
My husband is a mailman, so anyone touting the USPS gets a huge hurrah! from me. 🙂
We use the online hold service too…just keep that confirmation number because if you DO have to make an online change they won't let you do a thing w/o it (said from that wretch called experience).
prototype mama says
great info! I always forget to this– it's always mayhem in our box when returning from vacay
Kathy Radigan says
Thanks for the tip! I did not know you could do it via internet, so cool! I always learn something when I pop over here Miss Karen! xo
Susan says
This is a brilliant idea! We were away for 5 weeks this summer…not sure how all that mail fit in that tiny little box. 🙂