I recently learned about the USPS service called Informed Delivery. If you choose to sign up, you will then receive notifications when mail and packages arrive, but they’re not just blank notifications; you actually get a picture of the letter(s). That means I can see who my letter is from. Note: it does not provide an image of items that are not “letter-sized,” such as magazines or advertising. Depending on the security of your personal mailbox, this could be a great reassurance that no one has taken any of your mail. OR if an important piece of mail is scheduled to be delivered, it may allow you to plan ahead and make sure someone is there to pick up the item immediately.
Informed Delivery also confirms package delivery, so it could protect you against “porch pirates” who might steal your packages. It also allows you to leave specific delivery instructions if you won’t be home to receive a package on a certain day.
Preventing mail theft is valuable — if certain pieces of mail end up in the wrong hands, they could leave you susceptible to identity theft and other types of fraud. I see it as a nice convenience too. I’m thinking about my adult children, both of whom live in housing complexes where they have to walk outside to get to their mailboxes. This service would let them know whether it’s worth going after the mail on any given day!
The notifications arrive by email; additionally an app is available for either I-phones or Android devices. Learn more!
A big thanks to my friend Janel, who has family connections in the postal service, for sharing this tip!
Very nice! As a user of Informed delivery, it is a valuable tool. Usually spot on, once in a while it may be a day or two of depending on the weather or staffing.