Q&A for How to Return to Sender

It's okay to forward someone else's mail to them as long as you send it to the correct address. Make sure you know where the person lives now so their mail can get to them safely!

Under specific circumstances--i.e., if you are receiving obscene mail--you can file a PS Form 1500 at your local post office to get a Prohibitory Order against mail from that sender. If the mail you're getting doesn't meet that definition, you may simply have to send it back marked "Refused".

If you've already opened the package, you will need to repackage it and put new postage on it. The sender may be willing to compensate you for the postage.

All you need to write on the envelope is "Return to Sender." Make sure it’s written clearly in large letters, so it’s easy to see.

If you return a birthday card, it's likely to hurt the person's feelings no matter what you do, as you're rejecting their kind wishes. If you can make it appear that a third party returned the card (as in, you're pretending to not be at that address), it would be one way to not offend them but then if they later find out you do live at that address, they'll end up being hurt at the subterfuge as well! If you really need to return the card because you don't want anything to do with this person, then you'll need to accept that there will be some level of hurt feelings involved.

You can return to sender mail that is addressed to someone not living at your residence and you can return junk mail as well (see the wikiHow How to Stop Junk Mail by Sending it Back ). If the mail is addressed to you personally, you can still return to sender if you don’t want it but consider the possible consequences first before doing so. For example, if it’s a bill, returning to sender doesn’t remove the necessity that you pay for it. And if you’re trying to send a message to someone whose messages you’re never going to read again (like someone you’ve broken up with), this may not stop them from sending mail to you and you may need to find a more direct way to get them to stop bothering you.

Using USPS, provided you have not opened the parcel, you may refuse its delivery. Write REFUSED on the parcel and drop it off at your local post office for returning. Or, you can ask the sender to cover the postage either via bank deposit before posting or by sending you a prepaid mailing label. Do not try to return an opened parcel without postage as it will end up in the Mail Recovery Center, which places the onus on the owner to claim the item back and they’re not notified it’s there unless you’ve informed them yourself. Rules in other countries may vary, so check with your local post office first.

Contact your local post office directly and explain what you've been doing and that the mail keeps returning. They may be able to put a message on their system to stop returning the mail to you, or they may advise you to do something differently. When something like this keeps happening, it is often best to turn up in person to discuss it, as you can be reassured that you have a contact person to call if something keeps going wrong.

It can help to write "No Longer at This Address" or "Moved" on the envelope as well as "Return to Sender," as this will alert the original sender that they need to update their database. For more help, see the wikiHow How to Stop Mail for Previous Residents , which also includes information on stopping mail for a deceased person.

If it was delivered by the Postal Service, take it to your post office. If the parcel is unopened, tell the clerk to return it (which they will do for free). If the parcel has been opened, you can still return it, but you'll have to pay postage.

That is a matter for negotiation between you and the sender.

Simply call them and ask to be removed from all of their mailing lists. Be aware that to be removed could take a couple of months, as mailings are often automatically created in advance. If they refuse to discontinue and they have included a postage-paid return envelope, tear up the solicitation papers (leaving your information readable) so they know who it is coming from, put it in the envelope and return it. This will cause them to pay for the return, and they should get the picture that you are not interested.

You can't reject them, but in the U.S. you can report them to the FBI. Go to IC3.gov, the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center, and file a report.

Take it to the nearest UPS store, or call them to arrange for a pickup.

USPS does not care about legal residency. They will deliver anything where it is addressed.

Yes. You may refuse any mail. Just write "refused" on it and re-mail it. If it's first-class mail, it will automatically be returned to the sender. (Other classes of mail will be destroyed.)

Just cross out the barcode and write on the front in large capital letters: "RETURN TO SENDER: DECEASED." This is effective with catalogs.

Letters can be sent back if the address is unreadable or doesn't exist anymore, or the stamp is invalid. Also, an addressee is never required to accept mail and may refuse it for any reason, in which case it would be returned to the sender marked "refused."

Yes, this is legal.

No.

Don't worry about a sticker. Write the sender's address on the envelope if it's not already there. Then write "Return to sender" on the envelope. You can return it for free if it hasn't been opened.

Yes, if the package has not been opened.

Yes.

To receive mail in your name at a location is the same as stating that you live there. If there is a lease or rental agreement and your name is not on it, you he no legal right to receive mail there. Property owners or managers have the right to refuse mail to their property address for anyone who is not an authorized resident.

Take it to any post office and explain the problem. They will return it or forward it to the correct address if it is known.

No. You should use the Ebay return/refund process. Simply writing "return to sender" could mean it was sent to the wrong address, and the sender may send it to you again.

If they don't pick it up, you may need to drop it at a FedEx office. FedEx is not the best at customer service when dealing with this kind of situation.

Yes, if the package is unopened it can be returned without you paying the postage. The sender is responsible for charges.

You will need to put it in a new envelope and send it to the correct address.

Put the opened envelope in a new envelope and pay the postage to return it to the sender with a note that it was delivered to the wrong address and opened in error.