Does forwarded mail go to the old address first? As a person who has had a P.O. Box for as long as I’ve had an apartment, I have gotten used to dealing with forwarded mail. Everyone needs a break sometimes, and my current apartment is no exception. But do you know how much stress that causes me? Every time I get a piece of mail at my new place, I worry that the old one will stop receiving my mail soon afterward. Is it even possible for your new address to become your primary address? Let’s take a look at whether or not forwarded mail goes to the old address first!
Does Forwarded Mail Go to the Old Address First?
No, forwarded mail does not go to the old address first. If you forward an email, the forwarding address will be added to the email message and will appear in the ‘To’ field. The original sender and original recipient will not be affected by this change.
What Is Forwarded Mail?
The forwarded mail is mail that has been sent to an address other than your current address. Sometimes it is sent to an entirely different place, like a P.O. Box, or a relative’s house. Other times, it is sent to the same place, but a different employee at the same facility receives it. This is called internally forwarded mail. When you are dealing with forwarded mail, it is very important to know the difference between internally forwarded mail and externally forwarded mail. Forwarded mail happens for a variety of reasons, but it is usually because the sender’s systems have outdated information. This could be because you’ve moved within the same city, or because you’ve moved to a different one. It could also be because you’ve switched jobs, or even because you’ve changed your name after getting married!
How To Tell If Your Old Address Will Stop Receiving Mail?
1. Check your junk mail: You can do this by using a junk mail filter that catches junk mail before it even reaches the mailbox. Also, check with your post office to see if there are any other ways to stop junk mail from reaching you.
2. Check your old mailbox: Your local post office may no longer keep a record of the last-known address for each customer. Therefore, you will need to check with your local post office to see if they still have records of the last-known address for you. If so, then you can contact them and ask them how long it will take for the change in mailing addresses to become effective, and how long it will take for them to update their records in their system so they are aware of the change. Of course, all this depends on whether or not you can get a hold of someone at the local post office who speaks English and can help you. If you are unable to obtain this information, then you can check your junk mail and call the post office to see if there is anything they can do.
3. Check your credit report: You can get a free copy of your credit report from the three major credit reporting agencies (Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion) by visiting their websites at www.mycreditreport.com, www.experian.com, and www.transunioncreditreport.com respectively, or by calling toll-free 1-877-322-8228 (1-877-FACT) for a free copy of your TransUnion Credit Report or 1-800-916-8800 for a free copy of your Experian Credit Report.
4. Check with the USPS: You can call the 800 number on their website at www.uspsmail.com to find out how long it will take for the change in mailing addresses to become effective, and how long it will take for them to update their records in their system so they are aware of the change. Of course, all this depends on whether or not you can get a hold of someone at the USPS who speaks English and can help you. If you are unable to obtain this information, then you can check your junk mail and call the USPS to see if there is anything they can do.
5. Check with the credit bureaus: You can get a free copy of your credit report from the three major credit reporting agencies (Equifax, Experian, TransUnion) by visiting their websites at www.mycreditreport.com, www.experian.com, and www.transunioncreditreport.com respectively, or by calling toll-free 1-877-322-8228 (1-877-FACT) for a free copy of your TransUnion Credit Report or 1-800-916-8800 for a free copy of your Experian Credit Report.
6. Check with the IRS: You can call the 800 number on their website at www.irs.gov to see if they have any record of you and what they can do to help you. Of course, all this depends on whether or not you can get a hold of someone at the IRS who speaks English and can help you. If you are unable to obtain this information, then you can check your junk mail and call the IRS to see if there is anything they can do.
7. Check with your bank: You can call the 800 number on their website at www.mybankusa.com to find out how long it will take for them to update their records in their system so they are aware of the change in mailing addresses, and how long it will take for them to process a new address change request form that has been submitted by you (if applicable). Of course, all this depends on whether or not you can get a hold of someone at your bank who speaks English and can help you. If you are unable to obtain this information, then you can check your junk mail and call your bank to see if there is anything they can do.
8. Check with the credit card companies: You can call the 800 number on their website at www.mycardaccount.com to find out how long it will take for them to update their records in their system so they are aware of the change in mailing addresses, and how long it will take for them to process a new address change request form that has been submitted by you (if applicable). Of course, all this depends on whether or not you can get a hold of someone at your credit card company who speaks English and can help you. If you are unable to obtain this information, then you can check your junk mail and call your credit card company to see if there is anything they can do.
9. Check with the utilities: You can call the 800 number on their website at www.myenergybill.com to find out how long it will take for them to update their records in their system so they are aware of the change in mailing addresses, and how long it will take for them to process a new address change request form that has been submitted by you (if applicable). Of course, all this depends on whether or not you can get a hold of someone at your utility company who speaks English and can help you. If you are unable to obtain this information, then you can check your junk mail and call your utility company to see if there is anything they can do.
10. Check with the telephone companies: You can call the 800 number on their website at www.mytelephonebill.com to find out how long it will take for them to update their records in their system so they are aware of the change in mailing addresses, and how long it will take for them to process a new address change request form that has been submitted by you (if applicable). Of course, all this depends on whether or not you can get a hold of someone at your telephone company who speaks English and can help you. If you are unable to obtain this information, then you can check your junk mail and call your telephone company to see if there is anything they can do.
Conclusion
If you’ve ever wondered whether or not forwarded mail goes to the old address first, the answer is yes. The post office will always deliver forwarded mail to the old address before they deliver it to the new one. That’s not to say that you shouldn’t worry about your old address. The longer you go without changing your address, the more likely it is that your old address will stop receiving forwarded mail. That’s why you’ll want to change your address as soon as possible. To do that, you’ll need to fill out a Change of Address form. Make sure that you do it as soon as possible after you’ve moved, and you’ll be just fine.
