The United States Postal Service (USPS) provides a valuable service that allows you to temporarily stop mail delivery while you are away, ensuring your mail remains secure and doesn’t pile up. This service, known as Hold Mail, can be easily requested through various channels, including the user-friendly online portal at USPS.com. To enhance the security of this convenient online service, USPS is implementing important updates to its online Hold Mail request process.
Previously, customers could initiate a Usps Mail Hold Request Online with relative ease. However, to protect customer information and prevent unauthorized hold mail requests, USPS is introducing a mandatory identity verification step for all online submissions. This change means that when you next attempt to place your mail on hold via the internet, you’ll encounter a new security measure designed to confirm your identity.
This enhanced security protocol requires customers to verify their identity when making a usps mail hold request online. The process is straightforward but crucial for safeguarding your mail. Here’s what you need to know about the updated online procedure:
To begin, you will need to access the Hold Mail section on USPS.com. Once you initiate your request, the system will prompt you to either sign in to your existing USPS.com account or create a new one if you don’t already have one. Having a USPS.com account is now a prerequisite for submitting a usps mail hold request online.
After logging in, the next step involves identity verification using a mobile phone. USPS will send a one-time passcode to your mobile phone number associated with your account. You will then need to enter this passcode on the website to confirm your identity. This two-factor authentication method adds an extra layer of security to your usps mail hold request online.
For customers who may not immediately pass the online identity verification, USPS provides an alternative. If the online verification is unsuccessful, you will be given the option to receive a verification code by mail. USPS will send a letter containing a unique code to your address of record. Upon receiving this letter, you can visit the provided URL and enter the code to verify your identity. This “code by mail” option ensures that everyone can access the usps mail hold request online service, even if they encounter initial verification hurdles.
It’s important to note that these security enhancements only affect online Hold Mail requests. If you prefer, you can still request to hold your mail by visiting a physical Post Office location and filling out PS Form 8076, Authorization to Hold Mail. Alternatively, you can contact the USPS Customer Care Center at 1-800-ASK-USPS to initiate a hold mail request over the phone. These options remain available for those who prefer not to use the usps mail hold request online system.
For users who were already utilizing the online Hold Mail service before these changes, USPS sent out email notifications in mid-September to inform them about the upcoming security updates. This proactive communication aimed to prepare users for the new verification process and minimize any disruption when they next use the usps mail hold request online feature. The email also highlighted the benefits of signing up for Informed Delivery®.
Informed Delivery® is a free USPS service that can streamline the account creation and identity verification process. By signing up for Informed Delivery®, you can complete account creation and satisfy the identity verification requirements in advance. Once your identity is verified through Informed Delivery®, you won’t need to repeat this step for future usps mail hold request online submissions for your current address, making the process even more convenient in the long run.
These updates to the usps mail hold request online system are designed to give you greater peace of mind knowing your mail is secure. While it adds a step to the online process, this identity verification is a crucial enhancement to protect your mail and personal information. For further details about the Hold Mail service, you can visit the USPS FAQ page at faq.usps.com/s/article/Hold-Mail-The-Basics.
