USPS Informed... do you use it?

[deano_hoosier]

I signed up for USPS Informed in November. I have it on my computer and iphone as an app.

What is it???

The Post Office will, on your app, show you pictures of each piece of mail that is delivered to your mail box and will also show you a picture of a package delivered to you (at home or mail box). I get my updated posted usually before 9am each day (except Sunday). Because of the time of day I get the notice, I guess it originates out of the Lady Lake main post office versus the contractors who place the mail in our Mail Station box.

As I understand it, Homeland Security, has for sometime had pictures taken of each piece of mail and the USPS makes these pictures (only for your mail or more correctly your address) available to you.

Since we have our mail "on hold" for several weeks the app is very useful to see what we've been receiving so we stay up to date on Christmas Cards, etc. Interestingly, though, are the number of misdirected pieces of mail that we have awaiting us. One is a Christmas Card (assumed to be card) addressed to someone in Lady Lake whose address starts with the same house number as ours, but very different street. The second piece of mail was to someone in our hometown, but it was slapped with a forwarding mail sticker to our Florida address. Both will have to wait until I return so I can send these 2 pieces of mail on their merry way.

Big Brother's watching me, so I get to watch him/her!

[FlamingoFlo]

I love it. We were away all summer and a neighbor was picking up our mail. There was only one piece I needed her to open to see what it was. There were a couple addressed to a different name at our address but the mailman must have redirected them as we never got them.

[retiredguy123]

I use it. Sometimes it's nice to see your junk mail before you pick it up and throw it away. It also saves me a few trips to the mailbox when I don't feel like driving over there.

[champion6]

I signed up for USPS Informed in November. I have it on my computer and iphone as an app. <snip> The correct name for this free service is Informed Delivery. I have been using it for well over a year and like it.

[kansasr]

I love getting junk mail about my junk mail.....seriously, though, it does sometimes save me a trip to the mailboxes that day.

[JohnN]

I use it and love it.

[simpkinp]

I use and lets me know when to go to the mailbox. Saves me trips

[Northerner52]

I like it

[VillageIdiots]

I use and lets me know when to go to the mailbox. Saves me trips

I use it as well for just that reason. Don't know how many times in my life I have gone to pick up mail in anticipation of getting something I was expecting (checks, little orphan annie secret decoder pin, etc.), only to find nothing but junk mail or nothing at all. It's not perfect, however, as you occasionally see the "Mailpieces that we do not have an image for are included in today's mail", which is super informative and helpful.

[spring_chicken]

I used to look at it until I found that the pieces will not necessarily be in your mailbox that day. I have received numerous pieces 2-3 days later, and they even tell you on the app to allow up to a week before reporting missing mail.

[MikeV]

I use it every day. No unnecessary trips to the mailbox.


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[cordenny]

I use it. I think it's great you can view your mail before you pick it up.

[champion6]

I used to look at it until I found that the pieces will not necessarily be in your mailbox that day. I have received numerous pieces 2-3 days later, and they even tell you on the app to allow up to a week before reporting missing mail.I have also noticed this, BUT it never happens (to me) for First Class mail. This issue seems to be limited to mail which paid Bulk Rate, not First Class.

[Bjeanj]

I downloaded the app and tried to sign up for it, but some5hing happened and it said I have to take it to the post office to activate it (?)

That was 6 months ago, and I haven’t made it there yet.

[deano_hoosier]

If in The Villages, you have to visit the Lady Lake Post Office (sort of behind Sams Club) as the Post Office branch in the Historic Area does not have the activation device that is needed. I had the same problem regarding activating from my iPhone so ended up going to the nearest PO (Historic area) and they shuttled me off to the Lady Lake PO. After doing my thing at the PO it took about a week before I started seeing mail headed to my PO box.

[Bjeanj]

If in The Villages, you have to visit the Lady Lake Post Office (sort of behind Sams Club) as the Post Office branch in the Historic Area does not have the activation device that is needed. I had the same problem regarding activating from my iPhone so ended up going to the nearest PO (Historic area) and they shuttled me off to the Lady Lake PO. After doing my thing at the PO it took about a week before I started seeing mail headed to my PO box.

Thank you for the info!

This past week, I went to check my mail, and boy, were they wasted trips!

[retiredguy123]

I downloaded the app and tried to sign up for it, but some5hing happened and it said I have to take it to the post office to activate it (?)

That was 6 months ago, and I haven’t made it there yet.
I just went to USPS.com and set up an account, logged in and signed up for the service. I don't think you need to visit the Post Office.

[photo1902]

If in The Villages, you have to visit the Lady Lake Post Office (sort of behind Sams Club) as the Post Office branch in the Historic Area does not have the activation device that is needed. I had the same problem regarding activating from my iPhone so ended up going to the nearest PO (Historic area) and they shuttled me off to the Lady Lake PO. After doing my thing at the PO it took about a week before I started seeing mail headed to my PO box.

I'm confused. Informed Delivery is initiated through the USPS website. What "activation device" are you referring to?

[Dan9871]

It's a good idea to sign up for Informed Delivery even if you are not going to use it. If you don't someone else may sign up for your address... There are a number of scams run using Informed Delivery though it probably less of a problem because all of our mail boxes are locked:

U.S. Secret Service Warns ID Thieves are Abusing USPS’s Mail Scanning Service — Krebs on Security (https://krebsonsecurity.com/2018/11/u-s-secret-service-warns-id-thieves-are-abusing-uspss-mail-scanning-service/)

[Ragman]

:coolsmiley:

[Abby10]

I use it here up north. Helps me keep track of things coming in when I'm in TV. Ironically, I first heard about this service right here on TOTV a year or so ago when someone else had posted about it.

[tuctba]

Love it I have it set up for both my NJ and TV homes. For NJ no problem did it all online. For some reason our home in Pine Ridge I needed to go in person to the Post Office with the generated bar code. Could be this was a very new address?


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[Villageswimmer]

I’ve been using it for about a year. I really like it, especially this time of year when tax documents are coming in. If I won a car or am invited to a free lunch, I don’t bother to stop.

[deano_hoosier]

I'm confused. Informed Delivery is initiated through the USPS website. What "activation device" are you referring to?

If for some reason you are rejected on trying to sign up "on line", then you have to make appearance at Post Office. There they should have a device they have to use to set up your account. Lady Lake PO has this device, The Villages PO does not (or at least did not have it a month or so back.)

[Jdmiata]

Yes , I use it and am very satisfied .

[cwhitecat]

I love it. Never had a problem. When it says they don’t have a picture that is always some form of junk or advertising for me.
I always exactly what the pictures show.

[chenault55]

Use it and love it.

[NCbear]

Yes, use it and helpful to know what is being delivered when we are out of town. A great service!

[KsBob]

I love it too - also allows for stop/start of mail (such as when you plan an extended trip) done online. Much easier than calling in!

[peggyb]

I have it for both my residence in NJ and here. It s great to see what comes in the home when I am not there so I can have someone go and put it in the house. And when here I can skip a day or two going to mailbox when I see it is just advertisements and junk mail.

[TJLAMPHERE]

As this is a Mail related thread, thought I would throw this question out: I am signing up to have my mail forwarded to TV while I am there. Renting one villa for the month of February, and another villa for the month of March. Should I forward my mail to my first address from 2/1 - 2/28 and my second address from 3/1 - 3/31? Didn't know if I need to stop the forwarding a day or two early for each location...just didn't want to miss anything. Any tips for those of you that have used the mail forwarding feature before? THANKS !!

[CWGUY]

:ohdear: Maybe it's just me but I would ask my mailman or go to my local post office. They are the people that will be doing the forwarding while you are at your vacation destinations.

At least start a new thread maybe titled "Mail Forwarding." I would think that way someone who knows about it will answer.

[navair4me]

interesting...I didn't know about this.

[renpan]

Love this especially when traveling.

[larcha]

It usually takes a few days for the mail to be forwarded. When We do it I always allow 5 days cushion.

[JohnN]

Informed delivery is great

[John_W]

...

[scotton70]

I Live in Hemingway. The postal depot is continually losing my mail special order packages