The USPS (United States Mail Service; often known as the Post Office, U.S. Mail, or Postal Service) is an independent agency of the United States federal government responsible for providing postal service throughout the country, including its insular areas and associated states. It is one of the few federal agencies that the United States Constitution directly authorizes. The USPS has 516,636 career employees and 136,531 non-career employees as of 2021.
The United States Postal Service (USPS) dates back to 1775, during the Second Continental Congress, when Benjamin Franklin was designated the first postmaster general; he also held a similar role for the colonies of the Kingdom of Great Britain. With the enactment of the Postal Service Act in 1792, the Post Office Department was established.
In 1872, it was promoted to a cabinet-level department, and the Postal Reorganization Act of 1970 made it an independent agency known as the United States Postal Service.
With the exception of those for expenses related to voting by abroad voters and the disabled, many direct tax subsidies to the USPS have been cut or removed since the early 1980s.
The USPS is bound by a universal service obligation (USO), which is defined across a broad range of legislative requirements, to offer uniform pricing and quality throughout the entirety of its service area. The USPS also has a monopoly on “letter” delivery within the United States.
In the United States, the Post Office has exclusive access to “U.S. Mail” letter boxes and private letterboxes, but it must compete with other private package delivery firms like United Parcel Service, FedEx, and Amazon.
Change Your Address with the Postal Service: How to Do It
There are two ways to notify the post office that your address is changing and that you want your mail forwarded to your new address:
For an online address change, go to USPS.com/move.
- This is the quickest and simplest method, and you receive an email right away verifying the change.
- The cost to alter your address online is $1.10.
A valid email address and a credit or debit card are required.
An identity verification fee of $1.10 will be charged to your card to guard against fraud and ensure that you are the one making the change.
- Be advised: You don’t have to pay a different business to alter your address. Scammers may charge $40 or more for services you may get on the moving page of the legitimate USPS.com website for for $1.10.
Go to your local post office and request the Mover’s Guide packet.
PS Form 3575 is contained in the package. Give this completed change of address form to the postal employee working behind the counter. Or, place it inside the post office’s letter mail slot. In five business days, a confirmation letter ought to arrive at your new address.
File a Complaint with the U.S. Postal Service
Complaint About Mail Service
Have you got a compliment, a criticism, or a recommendation for the US Postal Service (USPS)?
Perhaps you want to learn more about the offerings of USPS.
There are various ways to inform them:
- Use the Email Us form on the USPS website.
Choose a form of inquiry that most directly corresponds to your complaint or question.
You can also submit a claim or ask for a postage refund on the website.
- Dial 1-800-ASK-USPS (1-800-275-8777) or 1-800-877-8339 if you use a TTY.
Speak with the postmaster (station manager) at a neighborhood post office.
- Get in touch with the district-specific postal consumer and industry affairs office.
Find the consumer office in your district.
- Send an email or letter to the U.S. Postal Service’s Office of the Consumer Advocate at:
United States Postal Service
Office of the Consumer Advocate
475 L’ Enfant Plaza, SW
Washington, D.C. 20260-0004
Theft, Fraud, or Waste by the USPS or a USPS Employee
By: Submit a grievance to the USPS Office of Inspector General (OIG).
- Making a complaint online
- Making a 1-888-USPS-OIG call (1-888-877-7644)
- Learning how to get in touch with the OIG.
Mail Fraud or Theft by a Person or Company
The federal law enforcement organization responsible for guarding the postal system is the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.
Inquire with them to report:
- Mail fraud – Submit a complaint about mail fraud online.
- Mail theft – Learn how to report mail theft online.
Comment or Complain About a Policy Change
Contact the Postal Regulatory Commission with any comments or grievances on significant policy changes, such as postage rates (PRC). You can do this by contacting them through their web
USPS Career.
The USPS application process
Searching jobs
- Our application process is known as eCareers, and it is the only site where you can apply for jobs with the USPS.
- Jobs are listed constantly, so keep checking back for more.
- Search online by keyword, area, or functional group.
Create profile & apply
- You must create a Candidate profile in order to apply using our eCareers system. This profile will keep your work in progress and show the status of your application.
- When you apply, USPS will send you a confirmation email.
If required, take assessment
- After doing an employment pre-screen, USPS will get in touch with you through email to let you know what comes next.
You should promptly reply to any email you receive from USPSeServices@geninfo.com or NoReplyNACI@uspis.gov since it is authentic.
- Only a few positions demand an evaluation. The job description will make mention of these specifics.
Success!
Congratulations! The application is finished; check your email for any remaining information.
USPS Tracking
The US Mail Service Tracking Number is a number that the post office employees give to every shipment that is sent.
It also goes by the names label and item number.
A 22-digit number is typically used as a US Mail Service tracking number.
Depending on the service you’re utilizing, the amount of numbers may change.
Different tracking numbers are used by various services.
Please enter your US Mail Service tracking number in the form above to track your delivery.
Use the shipment reference number, which looks like 940****, 927****, 937****, 420****, or Lx000000000CN, found in your shipment confirmation email or on the online store order page to monitor your US Mail Service shipment.
No tracking information is provided, according to US Mail Service?
Check back frequently because information is updated periodically throughout the day if there is no status available or if it hasn’t changed since you last viewed it.
You can use this tool to track the progress of your shipment whether you had it picked up or dropped it off.
Over 250 Processing and Distribution Centers spread across the country are used to sort all mail collected by the US Mail Service.
Mail in a specific area, often within a range of around 320 kilometers or 200 miles, is sorted by individual centers.
The national network of the US Mail Service is connected to each center.
Although personal inspection and sorting may be required when an address cannot be recognized by the system, mail is normally sorted using an automated system. All mail is printed with a bar code that is read as the package travels through the US Mail Service network to determine its destination.
With a label or receipt number, US Mail Service tracking lets you know the status of packages and other mail items. Priority Mail Express shipments come with point-by-point tracking information, while other services just provide the delivery date for mail and packages. Certified Mail, Collect on Delivery, Global Express Guaranteed, Priority Mail Express International, Priority Mail International, Priority Mail, Registered Mail, and Signature Confirmation are some of the services that have labels.
How to track USPS package?
You can monitor a US Mail Service package in a number of methods, including by visiting the US Mail Service website, utilizing a tracking service like parcelsapp.com, or by calling, emailing, or texting.
However, most customers opt to use ParcelsApp.com if the parcel is arriving from abroad or the US Mail website if it is domestic mail.
You can check the most recent status of an item after entering its tracking number on the US Postal Service Tracking page.
You could be able to perform a variety of different actions, if any, depending on the status, origin, and destination, as well as the class and services of the object.
- You may view the services and features attached to the item as well as its tracking history.
- You can ask for emails, texts, or emails with proof of delivery regarding your purchase.
If no one is available to accept your mailpiece, you can also leave directions for the mail carrier on where to leave it.
You can choose to track US Mail Service packages by phone if you don’t like to manually type long US Postal Service tracking numbers.
You only need to dial 1-800-222-1811 to get started.
The customer care agents will assist you in finding your postal item if you call this number.
Simply provide them with your tracking number, and they will respond with the most recent information about your package.
If USPS tracking hasn’t changed after three days, should I be concerned?
No, not always.
While scanning of parcels with tracking numbers is required at each stop from the point of origin to the point of destination, occasionally scans are overlooked or omitted.
There are several potential causes for this, but there is no immediate need for concern.
Reasons for Usps Tracking Not Updating Include:
- Holiday rush
- Carrier delays
- Weather conditions
- Package scan failure
- Packages not scanned at intermediate stops.
How does USPS forwarding work?
Do you need a simple explanation of how mail forwarding functions?
Here is the procedure in detail:
Whether moving temporarily or permanently, individuals must submit a change of address form to USPS.
- You will select a start date for your mail forwarding service and your identification will be validated using a credit card.
Mail sent to your old address will be forwarded to your new address from this start date until your termination date.
- Premium Forwarding Service Residential is an upgrade for those looking for something more than the standard mail forwarding service.
The Post Office claims that this service gives you more freedom and control over how and where you receive mail.
In exchange for your use of this service, USPS will keep your mail, package it, and send it to you by Priority Mail every week.
Enrollment in the program costs $21.90 at the Post Office and $20.10 online.
After that, each additional week of service costs $21.90.
Who else should I inform when I change addresses?
Your bank or other personal records are not instantly updated with your new address when you place a USPS change-of-address order.
You must ensure that you complete this task yourself.
Here are five instances of whom you should move-in-notify.
The IRS
Use Form 8822 to contact the IRS to update your address. Residents can submit their new address on this form at any time. In this way, you can get critical IRS mail at your new address, including your tax refund.
The DMV
You should get a driver’s license with your new address as soon as you relocate to a new state.
The website of your local DMV should be checked for information on what to bring while registering.
Social Security
When relocating, those who receive Medicare benefits, Social Security retirement benefits, or disability benefits must update their address with the Social Security Administration.
Banks and credit card firms
As soon as you relocate, notify all banks and credit card providers of your new billing address.
You won’t miss any important correspondence if you do it this way.
Register to vote at the election office!
Make contact with the state electoral office to inform them of your address change.
To be able to participate in any future elections, you’ll probably be given a new polling location.
Ready to move?
When relocating to a new house, there are numerous more tasks to complete in addition to forwarding your mail.
Luckily, Moving.com’s Move Planner, which includes configurable moving checklists, lists of personal activities, email reminders, and coupons, helps coordinate all of these incredibly busy moving-related tasks.
Do you also need assistance locating a moving company?
Check the vast network of renowned and trustworthy movers on Moving.com to locate the best moving company to manage your upcoming move.
Every moving company in our network is authorized and covered by insurance.
What distinguishes UPS and USPS from one another?
In general, UPS is more affordable for shipping larger parcels internationally while USPS is meant to ship smaller packages and mail quickly and affordably.
Both UPS and USPS are completely distinct organizations.
Their vastly dissimilar backgrounds are the primary source of difference.
The largest package delivery firm in the world is UPS, also known as United Parcel Service, which is a publicly traded company.
The UPS company was established in 1907 and is headquartered in Sandy Springs, Georgia. UPS also provides freight forwarding and logistical services.
United States Postal Service, or USPS, is an autonomous U.S. Federal government agency rather than a business.
Serving as the country’s postal service, it is in charge of sending letters and smaller items both domestically and abroad.
The USPS, with its headquarters in Washington, D.C., was founded in 1775 and reformed in 1971 to become what it is today.
USPS Customer Service
Use these USPS numbers to reach Customer Service
Have a problem with a letter or package delivered by the USPS?
To speak to a representative from USPS Customer Service, call one of the numbers listed below:
General USPS Customer Service
1 800 ASK USPS® (1 800 275 8777)
Hours: Monday through Friday 8:00 am to 8:30 pm ET
Saturday 8:00 am to 6:00 pm ET
When to call? – General inquiries about the USPS’s unique services, pricing, and mail class delivery alternatives.
USPS Package Tracking – Domestic & International
1 800 222 1811
Hours: Monday through Friday 8:00 am to 8:30 pm ET
Saturday 8:00 am to 6:00 pm ET
When to call? – Contact the USPS Package Tracking team if there is a delay in the delivery of your USPS package and the USPS.com website has not been updated recently.
Important Information: The best site to check the delivery status of your shipment is USPS.com.
Agents working in customer service are unable to obtain any extra tracking data.
Free USPS Shipping Supplies
1 800 610 8734
Hours: Monday through Friday 7:00 am to 11:00 pm ET
Saturday 7:00 am to 6:00 pm ET
When to call? – Call if you need free shipping boxes, envelopes, or postal forms or if something went wrong with your order of shipping supplies.
USPS.com Technical Support
1 800 344 7779
Hours: Monday through Friday 8:00 am to 8:30 pm ET
Saturday 8:00 am to 6:00 pm ET
When to call? – Contact the USPS Technical Support team if you need assistance utilizing a web application (such as Click-N-Ship, File a Claim, PO Boxes, The Postal Store (store.usps.com), or USPS® accounts).
Postal Store Orders
1-800-Stamp24 (1 800 782 6724)
Hours: Monday through Friday 8:00 am to 8:00 pm ET
Saturday 8:00 am to 6:00 pm ET
When to call? – Assistance with inquiries regarding purchases made via The Postal Store’s website (store.usps.com).
FAQs
When does USPS mail get slower?
Beginning on Friday, October 1, all mail will be affected by the changes.
What additional shipping choices do I have?
Yes.
Customers can still choose to mail packages inside the contiguous United States using Priority Mail and Priority Mail Express.
Both choices arrive within 1-3 days.
What’s up with the USPS price increase?
Beginning on Monday, October 3, and continuing through December 26, shipping through USPS will be temporarily more expensive due to an anticipated surge in holiday demand.
All domestic packages will be subject to this, however products from other countries won’t be affected.
Why is USPS so slow?
The company is poised to extend the delivery requirements for first-class goods, a change that, according to its regulator, won’t have a significant impact on its financial situation.
Your mail is about to become slower for more of it.
Now that some packages may take longer to arrive, it started with letters.
Why is USPS not updating tracking?
Check to see if you submitted the exact same tracking number if the tracking has not been updated.
You must utilize the correct tracking number, which USPS assigns to every shipment.
If the issue continues, there might be an issue with the carrier.
What is wrong with USPS?
A string of circumstances known as the 2020–2021 United States Postal Service crisis led to backlogs and delays in the delivery of mail by the USPS (USPS).
The modifications Postmaster General Louis DeJoy made soon after taking office in June 2020 are mostly to blame for the crisis.
Should I be worried if USPS tracking hasn’t updated in 7 days?
Waiting a few days to see if your shipment shows up on its own, or (at the very least) starts updating tracking information again, may be a good idea if tracking information hasn’t updated in the past few days but you’re still not sure you’re dealing with an overdue delivery problem.
What are the rules for USPS forwarding?
How long will USPS continue to deliver mail to the new address?
The service can initially forward mail for 15 days to six months, according to USPS (185 days). Customers must prolong the temporary forwarding period if they intend to stay at their temporary address for a period of time greater than six months and wish to continue forwarding mail.
