Wwyd?

[whatsup]

OP-I would've rubber banded the mail together and wrote RTS on each envelope.

With the birthday card, I'd reseal it and send it back to the address it came from. With the $5 inside.

And add additional $20.00 for being nosey!

 

[whatsup]

Since everyone on the DIS has opinions about things, I figure I'd post this situation here and ask my fellow DISsers....WWYD?

We bought our new-to-us home in June (well closed in June). For two weeks we were at the house every day cleaning what the previous residents left behind (they pretty much packed and left and did not clean).

So as we went back and forth from our old house to the new one each day for work, we'd bring a few boxs and misc odds and ends to try and get as much stuff as we could out of our old house before our "big move" day of June 26.

Anyway, during those two weeks, we would get the mail at the new house. Most of the mail was for the previous residents, we set it in a pile to deal with later.....planning to write "return to sender" or "no longer at this address" on the envelopes and put it back in the mail box.

Well, we never did. Today I found the stack (had been moved form place to place as we unpacked) and went through it. Everything that looked "important" I wrote on the outside envelopes "RTS" or "NLATA" but the rest I trashed. Then I saw the card. In the pile was a card -- a birthday card. I thought to myself "Oh man, I should have sent this back sooner so it could have been returned or forwarded to the recipient" I started to trash it, but a voice in my head told me to open it (after all it was very late) in case there was a check in it and I could mail the check back to the sender with a note that the family had moved.

Apparently, the card was for a small child and inside there was a $5 bill.

So I ask......WWYD with the $5.

SHAME on you! You do know that it is illegal to open someone elses mail!

 

[simba20]

Okay let me clarify.....here's what I have done.

All the mail that was pure JUNK I trashed. It was clear that it was junk. Anything that was in a sealed envelope, I wrote "No longer at this address" or "Return to sender" on the envelope. Since we have moved in, the mail for the previous occupants has died down, so I believe that they have made a change of address, but we still get mail for them.

As I also mentioned, we didn't do this right away, as we were tied up in working on the house (painting, cleaning, replacing floors/carpet/ etc...) The mail for them would get moved form place to place as we worked from room to room. Some was stashed in the kitchen, some on our entry table, some in our living room end table -- blame my husband for that I had a distinct place for it, but he moved it around.

Anyway, I was cleaning off my entry table today when I found a stack of their mail. So I went around the house collecting things and writing on the envelopes and trashing what was clearly trash -- I may not have a right to determine what should and should not be trashed, but really does an ad from a local furniture store need to be marked or political ads (we did have a local election in July)?

Anyway, I came to the birthday card, and my first thought was trash. I only said trash, because I didn't realize it was a birthday card, until it left my hand for the trash pile and I said "There's something off about that envelope" Then when I picked it up, I saw that a card was inside, so I placed it in the RTS/NLATHA pile.

However, I got to thinking that cards sometimes have checks. The card was addressed to someone with a different last name than the people we bought the house from so I was puzzled. I got to thinking more about the sender, than who it was addressed to and thought if there was a check inside, that person 1) may not know the family had moved 2) may have wondered why the check had not been cashed 3) Addressed it to the wrong adress entirely.........

So, then, I chose to open the card. Upon taking the card out, the front read "To a wonderful grand-son" and when I opened it, the $5 bill fluttered out.

I placed the money back in the card and set it on the entry way table. And continued on with my cleaning/sorting. I already knew what I was going to do, but I wondered "Would this be a hot bed topic for the DIS?" and also thought that someone could provide some insight into something I had not thought about.

Well, I got my answer. I step away to make dinner and this thread blows up. And of all things, even though I had not posted what I was going to do, I get accused of stealing. At our previous residence we'd get an occasional piece of mail for the previous resident and many times I'd write "No longer at this address" or "Return to Sender" on the envelope, and sometimes, over the 6 years that I lived there, I'd do nothing, let the mail sit and then trash it after it sat in my mail basket for 6 months. It never mattered, mail still came for the previous occupant.

Anyway, what I am doing is mailing the card back to the sender herself and explaining that it came around the time when we were moving in (truth) and we were occupied with moving in, that we didn't take the time to send it back (truth). Mail got moved around in the shuffle as we were unpacking (truth) and I just got around to compling it all (truth). I only opened the card, because I was conerned if there was any money/checks inside and wanted it to be returned (truth) so that the sender could have relief about the money/check (truth).

So there I haven't stolen anything. Haven't claimed anything for myself, and without a doubt LACKED any mailicious INTENT to keep anything for myself. Yes, an offense may have been comitted (opening someone's mail), but was done so with just cause.

 

[smb6]

I have not read all the responses; but yes it is illegal. I have accidentally opened mail not addressed to me before and I taped it shut, put it back in the mailbox- marked return to sender. You should do the same. Easy peasy

 

[Rora]

Okay let me clarify.....here's what I have done.

All the mail that was pure JUNK I trashed. It was clear that it was junk. Anything that was in a sealed envelope, I wrote "No longer at this address" or "Return to sender" on the envelope. Since we have moved in, the mail for the previous occupants has died down, so I believe that they have made a change of address, but we still get mail for them.

As I also mentioned, we didn't do this right away, as we were tied up in working on the house (painting, cleaning, replacing floors/carpet/ etc...) The mail for them would get moved form place to place as we worked from room to room. Some was stashed in the kitchen, some on our entry table, some in our living room end table -- blame my husband for that I had a distinct place for it, but he moved it around.

Anyway, I was cleaning off my entry table today when I found a stack of their mail. So I went around the house collecting things and writing on the envelopes and trashing what was clearly trash -- I may not have a right to determine what should and should not be trashed, but really does an ad from a local furniture store need to be marked or political ads (we did have a local election in July)?

Anyway, I came to the birthday card, and my first thought was trash. I only said trash, because I didn't realize it was a birthday card, until it left my hand for the trash pile and I said "There's something off about that envelope" Then when I picked it up, I saw that a card was inside, so I placed it in the RTS/NLATHA pile.

However, I got to thinking that cards sometimes have checks. The card was addressed to someone with a different last name than the people we bought the house from so I was puzzled. I got to thinking more about the sender, than who it was addressed to and thought if there was a check inside, that person 1) may not know the family had moved 2) may have wondered why the check had not been cashed 3) Addressed it to the wrong adress entirely.........

So, then, I chose to open the card. Upon taking the card out, the front read "To a wonderful grand-son" and when I opened it, the $5 bill fluttered out.

I placed the money back in the card and set it on the entry way table. And continued on with my cleaning/sorting. I already knew what I was going to do, but I wondered "Would this be a hot bed topic for the DIS?" and also thought that someone could provide some insight into something I had not thought about.

Well, I got my answer. I step away to make dinner and this thread blows up. And of all things, even though I had not posted what I was going to do, I get accused of stealing. At our previous residence we'd get an occasional piece of mail for the previous resident and many times I'd write "No longer at this address" or "Return to Sender" on the envelope, and sometimes, over the 6 years that I lived there, I'd do nothing, let the mail sit and then trash it after it sat in my mail basket for 6 months. It never mattered, mail still came for the previous occupant.

Anyway, what I am doing is mailing the card back to the sender herself and explaining that it came around the time when we were moving in (truth) and we were occupied with moving in, that we didn't take the time to send it back (truth). Mail got moved around in the shuffle as we were unpacking (truth) and I just got around to compling it all (truth). I only opened the card, because I was conerned if there was any money/checks inside and wanted it to be returned (truth) so that the sender could have relief about the money/check (truth).

So there I haven't stolen anything. Haven't claimed anything for myself, and without a doubt LACKED any mailicious INTENT to keep anything for myself. Yes, an offense may have been comitted (opening someone's mail), but was done so with just cause.

Sounds like a plan to me.

Now, I'd take a break from the DIS tonight and probably never open this thread again.

 

[whatsup]

Okay let me clarify.....here's what I have done.

All the mail that was pure JUNK I trashed. It was clear that it was junk. Anything that was in a sealed envelope, I wrote "No longer at this address" or "Return to sender" on the envelope. Since we have moved in, the mail for the previous occupants has died down, so I believe that they have made a change of address, but we still get mail for them.

As I also mentioned, we didn't do this right away, as we were tied up in working on the house (painting, cleaning, replacing floors/carpet/ etc...) The mail for them would get moved form place to place as we worked from room to room. Some was stashed in the kitchen, some on our entry table, some in our living room end table -- blame my husband for that I had a distinct place for it, but he moved it around.

Anyway, I was cleaning off my entry table today when I found a stack of their mail. So I went around the house collecting things and writing on the envelopes and trashing what was clearly trash -- I may not have a right to determine what should and should not be trashed, but really does an ad from a local furniture store need to be marked or political ads (we did have a local election in July)?

Anyway, I came to the birthday card, and my first thought was trash. I only said trash, because I didn't realize it was a birthday card, until it left my hand for the trash pile and I said "There's something off about that envelope" Then when I picked it up, I saw that a card was inside, so I placed it in the RTS/NLATHA pile.

However, I got to thinking that cards sometimes have checks. The card was addressed to someone with a different last name than the people we bought the house from so I was puzzled. I got to thinking more about the sender, than who it was addressed to and thought if there was a check inside, that person 1) may not know the family had moved 2) may have wondered why the check had not been cashed 3) Addressed it to the wrong adress entirely.........

So, then, I chose to open the card. Upon taking the card out, the front read "To a wonderful grand-son" and when I opened it, the $5 bill fluttered out.

I placed the money back in the card and set it on the entry way table. And continued on with my cleaning/sorting. I already knew what I was going to do, but I wondered "Would this be a hot bed topic for the DIS?" and also thought that someone could provide some insight into something I had not thought about.

Well, I got my answer. I step away to make dinner and this thread blows up. And of all things, even though I had not posted what I was going to do, I get accused of stealing. At our previous residence we'd get an occasional piece of mail for the previous resident and many times I'd write "No longer at this address" or "Return to Sender" on the envelope, and sometimes, over the 6 years that I lived there, I'd do nothing, let the mail sit and then trash it after it sat in my mail basket for 6 months. It never mattered, mail still came for the previous occupant.

Anyway, what I am doing is mailing the card back to the sender herself and explaining that it came around the time when we were moving in (truth) and we were occupied with moving in, that we didn't take the time to send it back (truth). Mail got moved around in the shuffle as we were unpacking (truth) and I just got around to compling it all (truth). I only opened the card, because I was conerned if there was any money/checks inside and wanted it to be returned (truth) so that the sender could have relief about the money/check (truth).

So there I haven't stolen anything. Haven't claimed anything for myself, and without a doubt LACKED any mailicious INTENT to keep anything for myself. Yes, an offense may have been comitted (opening someone's mail), but was done so with just cause.

YOU ASKED! We responded! You did not ask what to do with the card you asked "WWYD with the $5.00" So it seemed like you were stealing the $5.00.
Since the card HAD a return address YOU should have returned it UNOPENED!
Final line!

 

[GJM]

You do know you don't have to take it to the PO - your mail carrier will take it back if you leave it in your mailbox. When we moved into the our new house, I go thru the mail the old owner I would put right back in the mailbox with a "Return to Sender" note on it so he would pick it up the next day.

You did ask what to do? I think card envelopes are pretty easy to spot and it wouldn't matter what was inside, it never should have been open.

 

[Scurvy]

Because, some parents do take from their children's bank accounts. And think that it is okay. "Oh it's just $50, I'll pay it back" or 'Well, since we put some of OUR money in there, we have a right to use it as we see fit." I, however, see it as stealing from your child. That account is hers (of course it has our names on it and since she is under 18 we are the ones with access and can make decisions for it), but I have it in my head that the money is hers, not for me to touch. If I were to say "Well we put $400 and I want to buy a new coffee table, Oh I'll just use funds from DD" to me that's a no-no and stealing.

That's very ethical of you, but it doesn't seem to have much to do with opening someone else's mail.

I still don't understand why you chose to open the card. If there hadn't been money or a check inside, wouldn't you still have returned it?

ETA - Not a single person responded with what you're going to do? You mean sending the card and money back? I believe several people mentioned just that.

 

[We_Love_Disney]

And um..that would mean it pertains to EVERYONE.

no, it pertains to postal employees.

 

[We_Love_Disney]

I don't think of myself as holier than thou, just someone that understands federal mail regulations and knows better than to open someone else's mail. It's a pretty simple concept. Not yours, don't open it. Open it, possibly face charges. Seems easy, doesn't it?

apparently only from your view

 

[MaryAnnDVC]

The OP asks a simple question about what she should do.....now, not before. She was asking for suggestions.

True to course, the sanctimonious holier-than-tho posters of the DIS boards come out of their ivory towers and bash her with what they, the perfect people would have done.

LOL

It's a pretty simple concept. Not yours, don't open it. Open it, possibly face charges. Seems easy, doesn't it?

Sure does. Black and white.

I may not have a right to determine what should and should not be trashed, but really does an ad from a local furniture store need to be marked or political ads (we did have a local election in July)?

Anyway, I came to the birthday card, and my first thought was trash. I only said trash, because I didn't realize it was a birthday card, until it left my hand for the trash pile and I said "There's something off about that envelope" Then when I picked it up, I saw that a card was inside, so I placed it in the RTS/NLATHA pile.

And what about the card looked like a furniture store flyer or a political ad? And if you had such a difficult time distinguishing between a greeting card and store/political ads, what else might there have been that you decided was trash and disposed?

Between all that work you seemed to have done sorting through someone else's mail and deciding for yourself what gets trashed and what gets sent to the intended recipient, it seems like you should have just saved yourself a lot of time and energy (you know...for all that work in your new house) and just simply compiled a stack of what you had and given it to the PO to determine how to handle it.

Because, some parents do take from their children's bank accounts. And think that it is okay. "Oh it's just $50, I'll pay it back" or 'Well, since we put some of OUR money in there, we have a right to use it as we see fit." I, however, see it as stealing from your child. That account is hers (of course it has our names on it and since she is under 18 we are the ones with access and can make decisions for it), but I have it in my head that the money is hers, not for me to touch. If I were to say "Well we put $400 and I want to buy a new coffee table, Oh I'll just use funds from DD" to me that's a no-no and stealing.

My point was not that it never happens...my point was that it had absolutely nothing to do with the topic. Whether you take any money from your kids' account, or how much is in there (so what?? ) has zero to do with knowingly opening other people's mail.

 

[whatsup]

No! It hasn't arrived yet. However when it does, I'll be sure to open it, to be sure said card is in there, and then I'll send it back to your SIL with a note explaining that even though it was addressed wrong, I didn't want her to be concerned about a lost GC, so I opened it, to make sure the expected GC was inside and explain that she sent the card to the wrong address......

However, MILs b-day just passed and we sent her an oversized card that required extra postage. We mailed it on Monday and Tuesday it was back in our mailbox with a stamp that said "Requires additional postage" so we stuck an extra stamp on it and mailed it again. Inside was a $25 JCPenny gift card. Maybe that was sent to you instead?

THERE YOU GO! You opened mail yet AGAIN that wasn't YOURS!
Just admit you were wrong and should NOT have opened someone elses mail!
What is inside someones mail should NOT concern you. Just sent it on it's way back home. What part of your post didn't you get? You asked, we told and now you are trying to justify WHY you opened the mail.
Goodnight!

 

[RobDoc]

This one is over.

Thanks for playing.