Mail station person signed for a package for me. Is that "legal" ?

[EdFNJ]

RELAX! I am not filing a complaint (actually it was more convenient) but just wondering if this is "legal" S.O.P. by postal service employees.

I was sitting home all day (mostly because it was raining) waiting for an important and expensive "signature required" package via USPS. About 4PM I was notified that it was delivered and signed for and I immediately got very nervous since I didn't have it. Got a proof of delivery from USPS online and while I could barely read the scribble it turned out to be the mail employee at the mail center here and it was sitting in my mailbox with a key without any notice of it being there (usually tracking says "left in mailbox" or something like that this just said DELIVERED and SIGNED FOR).

While it actually was more convenient for me since I didn't have to go all the way down to the Lady Lake post office (18 mile RT) which is a pain in the azz to retrieve it I am wondering if that is supposed to happen. First time in 3 years it did. USUALLY a signature required package is physically delivered to my house by someone from our local postal station and if I am not home a slip is left to retrieve it in Lady Lake the following day.

On one hand I like the convenience but on the other it could create a problem under some circumstances. I can understand if I had left a signed signature release as with Fedex or UPS but I hadn't.


EDIT 11/10 9:30PM

This is what concerns me (from the USPS website). If someone from the PO local mail house accepts and signs for my package and puts the key for it in the wrong mailbox I'm SOL.

Recipient Responsibilities
When you sign for a piece of mail, you acknowledge delivery. The Postal Service’s liability ends when you sign for the mail. You may ask the letter carrier for the sender’s name and address before you accept the mail. You may not open the mail, but you may look at it as long as the letter carrier is holding it before you choose to sign for it.

[Bogie Shooter]

RELAX! I am not filing a complaint (actually it was more convenient) but just wondering if this is "legal" S.O.P. by postal service employees.

I was sitting home all day (mostly because it was raining) waiting for an important and expensive "signature required" package via USPS. About 4PM I was notified that it was delivered and signed for and I immediately got very nervous since I didn't have it. Got a proof of delivery from USPS online and while I could barely read the scribble it turned out to be the mail employee at the mail center here and it was sitting in my mailbox with a key without any notice of it being there (usually tracking says "left in mailbox" or something like that this just said DELIVERED and SIGNED FOR).

While it actually was more convenient for me since I didn't have to go all the way down to the Lady Lake post office (18 mile RT) which is a pain in the azz to retrieve it I am wondering if that is supposed to happen. First time in 3 years it did. USUALLY a signature required package is physically delivered to my house by someone from our local postal station and if I am not home a slip is left to retrieve it in Lady Lake the following day.

On one hand I like the convenience but on the other it could create a problem under some circumstances. I can understand if I had left a signed signature release as with Fedex or UPS but I hadn't.

I bet the Postmaster in Lady Lake could answer that question.

[Two Bills]

Since the Covid outbreak, all parcels in UK are signed for by the delivery agent.
Only delivery person allowed to touch the electronic signature machine.
Ring/knock on door, leave parcel on door step, or in safe place if notified before delivery.
Probably same in your case.

[retiredguy123]

In my experience, USPS, UPS, and FEDEX routinely ignore the signature requirement for almost all packages. I waited all day one time for a $1,200 computer to be delivered to my house by FEDEX because the tracking information said it required a signature. The guy left the computer on my front porch and didn't even ring the doorbell. USPS and UPS do the same thing. But, if it is in a locked mailbox, I don't see an issue with legality. It is still under the control of the Post Office.

[EdFNJ]

In my experience, USPS, UPS, and FEDEX routinely ignore the signature requirement for almost all packages. I waited all day one time for a $1,200 computer to be delivered to my house by FEDEX because the tracking information said it required a signature. The guy left the computer on my front porch and didn't even ring the doorbell. USPS and UPS do the same thing. But, if it is in a locked mailbox, I don't see an issue with legality. It is still under the control of the Post Office. Thanks ... that makes sense but ... it wasn't a computer but very similar. I have a RELEASE on file with FEDEX so in that case it would be my problem. UPS has never left a "sig required" package for me. I do agree it was safer and actually more convenient for me but just wondered about someone "signing" my name under their name. My FEAR was what if the package box key was put in the wrong box? Has happened before, it was NOT a sig required pkg but that time it was my neighbor who got it and gave it to me. The PO person had no clue as to what happened to it when I showed him/her the tracking. On THIS pkg I would have been responsible because it said signed and delivered. I would have been out over $1000 because there was no way to prove I did NOT get it.

[EdFNJ]

I bet the Postmaster in Lady Lake could answer that question. Then I might have had to tell the PM exactly where this happened which might have got the person in big trouble IF it was not permitted which is why I put (IN BOLD) in my OP that I did NOT want to report it. But thanks for the helpful suggestion.

[blueash]

Then I might have had to tell the PM exactly where this happened which might have got the person in big trouble IF it was not permitted which is why I put (IN BOLD) in my OP that I did NOT want to report it. But thanks for the helpful suggestion.

You won't have to disclose anything. You can say you read a thread of TOTV and want to know the regulation. It does seem that a mailing requiring a signature should require yours.

From the USPS website Sending and Receiving Mail | Postal Explorer (https://pe.usps.com/text/dmm100/sending-receiving.htm)

Signing for Mail
Some pieces of mail require a signature from the recipient at the time of delivery. This includes items sent with Priority Mail Express (if requested), Certified Mail, Collect on Delivery, Insured Mail (over $500), Registered Mail, Return Receipt, Signature Confirmation, and Adult Signature.

[Dgizzi]

RELAX! I am not filing a complaint (actually it was more convenient) but just wondering if this is "legal" S.O.P. by postal service employees.

I was sitting home all day (mostly because it was raining) waiting for an important and expensive "signature required" package via USPS. About 4PM I was notified that it was delivered and signed for and I immediately got very nervous since I didn't have it. Got a proof of delivery from USPS online and while I could barely read the scribble it turned out to be the mail employee at the mail center here and it was sitting in my mailbox with a key without any notice of it being there (usually tracking says "left in mailbox" or something like that this just said DELIVERED and SIGNED FOR).

While it actually was more convenient for me since I didn't have to go all the way down to the Lady Lake post office (18 mile RT) which is a pain in the azz to retrieve it I am wondering if that is supposed to happen. First time in 3 years it did. USUALLY a signature required package is physically delivered to my house by someone from our local postal station and if I am not home a slip is left to retrieve it in Lady Lake the following day.

On one hand I like the convenience but on the other it could create a problem under some circumstances. I can understand if I had left a signed signature release as with Fedex or UPS but I hadn't.
That is no good. They should not be allowed to sign for your package. These people are worthless. Unreal. I can’t stand ordering online. Never had to do it so much until moving to Florida. I hate it and I try real hard not to order online. Now hearing this I will not order online. Makes me mad.

[Dgizzi]

Thanks ... that makes sense but ... it wasn't a computer but very similar. I have a RELEASE on file with FEDEX so in that case it would be my problem. UPS has never left a "sig required" package for me. I do agree it was safer and actually more convenient for me but just wondered about someone "signing" my name under their name. My FEAR was what if the package box key was put in the wrong box? Has happened before, it was NOT a sig required pkg but that time it was my neighbor who got it and gave it to me. The PO person had no clue as to what happened to it when I showed him/her the tracking. On THIS pkg I would have been responsible because it said signed and delivered. I would have been out over $1000 because there was no way to prove I did NOT get it.
Exactly. It was signed for and said received. If this mail person stoled it you have no way to prove you didn’t receive the package and can’t get a refund. That’s the problem people. These mail people can sign for anything. Surprise they don’t steal medicine that comes through the mail just to see what it is!!

[EdFNJ]

You won't have to disclose anything. You can say you read a thread of TOTV and want to know the regulation. It does seem that a mailing requiring a signature should require yours.

From the USPS website Sending and Receiving Mail | Postal Explorer (https://pe.usps.com/text/dmm100/sending-receiving.htm) Next time I am at the Lady Lake P.O. (which I hope is 2 days after never) I will ask. They have never answered their phone in the past, as the call would roll over to a central call center somewhere in the world last time I called. I did email the USPS from their website to ask. LOGICALLY I would agree with your conclusion but who knows these days.

The highlighted part was my concern:

Recipient Responsibilities

When you sign for a piece of mail, you acknowledge delivery. The Postal Service’s liability ends when you sign for the mail. You may ask the letter carrier for the sender’s name and address before you accept the mail. You may not open the mail, but you may look at it as long as the letter carrier is holding it before you choose to sign for it.

[retiredguy123]

I'm not sure I understand the issue here. If the package was delivered to the postal station in The Villages and placed in a locked mailbox where the only person with access to the key is the recipient, the only thing missing was that the local postal contractor did not actually require the recipient to sign for the package. But, technically, the employee who signed for the package at the Lady Lake office was only signing as an "in transit" signature. There may have been other employees who also signed for it along the delivery route. The people who work at the local postal station are employed by the Government, and they represent the Federal Government Post Office. So, the package was still in possession by the Government until the final recipient took it out of the locked box. Note that, if the package was too large to fit in the locked box, the postal employee may have delivered it to the recipient's house and required a signature there. But, I think the USPS feels that a signature is not required when it is removed from a locked box where the only person with a key is the final recipient.

[Two Bills]

Exactly. It was signed for and said received. If this mail person stoled it you have no way to prove you didn’t receive the package and can’t get a refund. That’s the problem people. These mail people can sign for anything. Surprise they don’t steal medicine that comes through the mail just to see what it is!!

That is no good. They should not be allowed to sign for your package. These people are worthless. Unreal. I can’t stand ordering online. Never had to do it so much until moving to Florida. I hate it and I try real hard not to order online. Now hearing this I will not order online. Makes me mad.

Your comments about hard working service people says more about you than them! :ohdear:

[oneclickplus]

That is no good. They should not be allowed to sign for your package. These people are worthless. Unreal. I can’t stand ordering online. Never had to do it so much until moving to Florida. I hate it and I try real hard not to order online. Now hearing this I will not order online. Makes me mad.

And, let me add that this could result in legal problems if the parcel is actually certified mail involving legal documents. The recipient has the RIGHT to refuse certified mail. Someone else signing for it creates a legal mess.

[oneclickplus]

I'm not sure I understand the issue here. If the package was delivered to the postal station in The Villages and placed in a locked mailbox where the only person with access to the key is the recipient, the only thing missing was that the local postal contractor did not actually require the recipient to sign for the package. But, technically, the employee who signed for the package at the Lady Lake office was only signing as an "in transit" signature. There may have been other employees who also signed for it along the delivery route. The people who work at the local postal station are employed by the Government, and they represent the Federal Government Post Office. So, the package was still in possession by the Government until the final recipient took it out of the locked box. Note that, if the package was too large to fit in the locked box, the postal employee may have delivered it to the recipient's house and required a signature there. But, I think the USPS feels that a signature is not required when it is removed from a locked box where the only person with a key is the final recipient.

The USPS has no right to "feel" a signature is not required by the recipient. The recipient's signature is being required by the sender who paid an additional fee for that service. What if this is a certified package containing legal documents. A person can be legally "served" in a lawsuit by the use of certified mail signature required. No one other than the recipient has the right to sign for that legal document. Putting it in a locked box and providing the key does not address this. The boxes can be opened by anyone in a family for example. This does not prove the recipient received the legal documents.

[Girlcopper]

RELAX! I am not filing a complaint (actually it was more convenient) but just wondering if this is "legal" S.O.P. by postal service employees.

I was sitting home all day (mostly because it was raining) waiting for an important and expensive "signature required" package via USPS. About 4PM I was notified that it was delivered and signed for and I immediately got very nervous since I didn't have it. Got a proof of delivery from USPS online and while I could barely read the scribble it turned out to be the mail employee at the mail center here and it was sitting in my mailbox with a key without any notice of it being there (usually tracking says "left in mailbox" or something like that this just said DELIVERED and SIGNED FOR).

While it actually was more convenient for me since I didn't have to go all the way down to the Lady Lake post office (18 mile RT) which is a pain in the azz to retrieve it I am wondering if that is supposed to happen. First time in 3 years it did. USUALLY a signature required package is physically delivered to my house by someone from our local postal station and if I am not home a slip is left to retrieve it in Lady Lake the following day.

On one hand I like the convenience but on the other it could create a problem under some circumstances. I can understand if I had left a signed signature release as with Fedex or UPS but I hadn't.


EDIT 11/10 9:30PM

This is what concerns me (from the USPS website). If someone from the PO local mail house accepts and signs for my package and puts the key for it in the wrong mailbox I'm SOL.

Recipient Responsibilities
When you sign for a piece of mail, you acknowledge delivery. The Postal Service’s liability ends when you sign for the mail. You may ask the letter carrier for the sender’s name and address before you accept the mail. You may not open the mail, but you may look at it as long as the letter carrier is holding it before you choose to sign for it.
How about you goo the source, the post office and ask

[Marigold]

Not saying that “lightning can’t strike twice” but the Sugar Cane Postal Station in The Villages was broken into January and packages were stolen from “locked boxes.”

[zuidemab]

Think of it as VIP service. Yes it happens for me too :ho::ho:

[joseppe]

RELAX! I am not filing a complaint (actually it was more convenient) but just wondering if this is "legal" S.O.P. by postal service employees.

I was sitting home all day (mostly because it was raining) waiting for an important and expensive "signature required" package via USPS. About 4PM I was notified that it was delivered and signed for and I immediately got very nervous since I didn't have it. Got a proof of delivery from USPS online and while I could barely read the scribble it turned out to be the mail employee at the mail center here and it was sitting in my mailbox with a key without any notice of it being there (usually tracking says "left in mailbox" or something like that this just said DELIVERED and SIGNED FOR).

While it actually was more convenient for me since I didn't have to go all the way down to the Lady Lake post office (18 mile RT) which is a pain in the azz to retrieve it I am wondering if that is supposed to happen. First time in 3 years it did. USUALLY a signature required package is physically delivered to my house by someone from our local postal station and if I am not home a slip is left to retrieve it in Lady Lake the following day.

On one hand I like the convenience but on the other it could create a problem under some circumstances. I can understand if I had left a signed signature release as with Fedex or UPS but I hadn't.


EDIT 11/10 9:30PM

This is what concerns me (from the USPS website). If someone from the PO local mail house accepts and signs for my package and puts the key for it in the wrong mailbox I'm SOL.

Recipient Responsibilities
When you sign for a piece of mail, you acknowledge delivery. The Postal Service’s liability ends when you sign for the mail. You may ask the letter carrier for the sender’s name and address before you accept the mail. You may not open the mail, but you may look at it as long as the letter carrier is holding it before you choose to sign for it.

That was not proper procedure. The sender pays for a signature guarantee that the recipient or his/her Agent will sign for the item being sent. If you did not designate the person at the mail center to be your agent then that was an improper signature. The signature is supposed to be at the delivery address or at the postal facility.

[msilagy]

Some really nasty comments from some people - be glad all worked well for you and you received your $1000 pkg - move on and don't concern yourself with what might happen in the future to others. I realize you are not condemning the event just wanting to know the legitimate aspect..... And for those that discredit the mail people, that's just sour grapes and not necessary when people are making a living by delivering "your mail and packages" in a cramped room daily! Be thankful!

[Sunflower33]

It’s his job to get our packages. So sometimes he brings it to your house and sometimes it’s in your box when you get notified. I’ve been here 11 years and it’s always been done that way

[saw mill road]

The USPS has no right to "feel" a signature is not required by the recipient. The recipient's signature is being required by the sender who paid an additional fee for that service. What if this is a certified package containing legal documents. A person can be legally "served" in a lawsuit by the use of certified mail signature required. No one other than the recipient has the right to sign for that legal document. Putting it in a locked box and providing the key does not address this. The boxes can be opened by anyone in a family for example. This does not prove the recipient received the legal documents.
If there is any legal problem and your signature is not authentic you will not be liable because your signature was forged therefor not legal.

[Ksfirefighter]

Many people put their ballots in the mail and didn’t think about what happened to them or even knew if they showed up.
You are smart in questioning proper postal practices.

They should have said “delivered to mailbox”

[PennBF]

We have a wonderful Mail Person. Many a time she has delivered to our home rather than put in a box. We are thankful we have her. We support any thing she does as we know it is always for our benefit.:bigbow:

[Larchap49]

Hey hey hey, they work very hard. You got your package. The mail contractors are good at what they do. If you don't like the way the mail service works here in the Villages then move to somewhere you do. Jesus.
It sounds like you are one of the impatient grumpy Villagers the loca ppl retail people have to deal with daily. You could do all a favor by lightening up or relocating yourself.

[Marathon Man]

That is no good. They should not be allowed to sign for your package. These people are worthless. Unreal. I can’t stand ordering online. Never had to do it so much until moving to Florida. I hate it and I try real hard not to order online. Now hearing this I will not order online. Makes me mad.

Exactly. It was signed for and said received. If this mail person stoled it you have no way to prove you didn’t receive the package and can’t get a refund. That’s the problem people. These mail people can sign for anything. Surprise they don’t steal medicine that comes through the mail just to see what it is!!

Your comments about hard working service people says more about you than them! :ohdear:

Spot on, Two Bills.

[EdFNJ]

I'm not sure I understand the issue here. If the package was delivered to the postal station in The Villages and placed in a locked mailbox where the only person with access to the key is the recipient, In a perfect world you would be right (but not legally).

Signature REQUIRED is of the RECIPIENT or someone at his/her residence (he doesn't live inside a BOX). I had a PO BOX up north in a "real" post office building with 24/7 employees for over 40 years and anything that had a signature required I HAD TO SIGN for it. Since I wasn't "home inside the box" as warm and cozy as that may be they would leave me the sticker to sign and I would bring it to the front desk to get my package **OR** I could AUTHORIZE WITH MY SIGNATURE to leave it in the box.

Regarding this specific item:
This was a $1000 device in a large box that would not fit into my little 4 x 4 cubbyhole so the agent put a key in a mailbox box and the $1000 package was in the "package retrieval" section box which is fine

***BUT***

what if the agent put they KEY for this $1000 device into the WRONG MAILBOX which happened to me once before. Package said delivered but was nowhere to be found. Turns out the key for the retrieval box was put into the wrong mailbox. Lucky me it was an honest neighbor's box and I got my package ..... but what if it wasn't ????

Signature required means signature OF RECIPIENT REQUIRED.



From USPS:

Recipient Responsibilities
When you sign for a piece of mail, you acknowledge delivery. The Postal Service’s liability ends when you sign for the mail.

[retiredguy123]

The USPS has no right to "feel" a signature is not required by the recipient. The recipient's signature is being required by the sender who paid an additional fee for that service. What if this is a certified package containing legal documents. A person can be legally "served" in a lawsuit by the use of certified mail signature required. No one other than the recipient has the right to sign for that legal document. Putting it in a locked box and providing the key does not address this. The boxes can be opened by anyone in a family for example. This does not prove the recipient received the legal documents.
I mostly agree, but unless the package was specifically designated as requiring the actual named person on the package to sign for it, the recipient could have allowed anyone to accept it and sign for it. A specifically designated signature is another type of USPS package designation and pricing option. It doesn't sound like the OP's package was a legal document with that type of delivery option.

[EdFNJ]

How about you goo the source, the post office and ask Thank you for yet another helpful comment. Aren't "discussions" the reason for forums such as this? Aside from that your comment was answered in the first post.

[EdFNJ]

I mostly agree, but unless the package was specifically designated as requiring the actual named person on the package to sign for it, the recipient could have allowed anyone to accept it and sign for it. A specifically designated signature is another type of USPS package designation and pricing option. It doesn't sound like the OP's package was a legal document with that type of delivery option. The postal employee is not my legally designated signer nor do they reside at my residence. That could open a very large can of worms.

From USPS:

What will I receive with Signature Confirmation™ Service?
You will be provided the following information:


Signature and name of the recipient
Date, time and location of the delivery
Signature Confirmation™ requires that the recipient (or a responsible person at the residence) be present to sign for the item.

[EdFNJ]

Hey hey hey, they work very hard. You got your package. The mail contractors are good at what they do. If you don't like the way the mail service works here in the Villages then move to somewhere you do. Jesus. LOL, the typical "if you don't like it move" response. :1rotfl:

[retiredguy123]

Hopefully, if a package was paid for with a credit card, placed in the wrong mailbox, and not received, the credit card dispute process would rule in the card holder's favor. I think that is how it would be resolved. That is because the sender has the option to select the delivery method, and the responsibility to make sure that the package gets to the intended recipient. Generally, online credit card purchases are not complete until the product has actually been delivered.

[Seve1]

Very unfair comments and grossly derogatory comments. we have lived here 3 years in Fenney, we use Amazon all the time and love it. We have never had a problem with our mail or package delivery.

[EdFNJ]

Very unfair comments and grossly derogatory comments. we have lived here 3 years in Fenney, we use Amazon all the time and love it. We have never had a problem with our mail or package delivery. Oy, This thread has nothing whatsoever to do with getting regular mail without problem for the last 40 years or ordering from Amazon or how good the postal people here are (they are all great) . It is entirely about someone OTHER THAN YOU SIGNING YOUR NAME without your permission claiming you received a $1000 package who is not your legal agent for a very expensive package that requires a proof of delivery from the recipient. This was a delivery that REQUIRED A SIGNATURE FROM THE ADDRESSEE NOT FROM THE POSTPERSON.

[Seve1]

Oy, This thread has nothing whatsoever to do with getting regular mail without problem for the last 40 years or ordering from Amazon or how good the postal people here are (they are all great) . It is entirely about someone OTHER THAN YOU SIGNING YOUR NAME without your permission claiming you received a $1000 package who is not your legal agent for a very expensive package that requires a proof of delivery from the recipient. This was a delivery that REQUIRED A SIGNATURE FROM THE ADDRESSEE NOT FROM THE POSTPERSON.
Hi Ed... Sorry to interrupt your wonderful tread, I agree with what you’re saying but was commenting on another persons ranting about our postal workers. But you should relax about other postings too. Life’s too short and then you die.

[Pairadocs]

In my experience, USPS, UPS, and FEDEX routinely ignore the signature requirement for almost all packages. I waited all day one time for a $1,200 computer to be delivered to my house by FEDEX because the tracking information said it required a signature. The guy left the computer on my front porch and didn't even ring the doorbell. USPS and UPS do the same thing. But, if it is in a locked mailbox, I don't see an issue with legality. It is still under the control of the Post Office.

Trouble is, these "postal stations" do not employ actual US post office people. We've had so many problems over the years (pension statements but in someone else's box, returned to us opened, no envelope, and was put into the slot labeled "Mail NOT yours", but only after opening, reading, and discarding envelope ! Never received grand child announcement gift box.... but signature required tracking said "signed for" ! ! Never got the nice bracelet to announce it was a girl, guess someone else needed it more ? Not saying only actual postal employees are honest and responsible for following the laws, but I think the odds would be greater than just hiring "who ever" to pick up mail and distribute it. Fortunate more things have not happened. After the bracelet incident which I never signed for but which had a "signature", about 3 years later a huge order of special hard to get yarn "disappeared". The company did re-send ALL of my order at no additional charge, but, they had a receipt with signature, they had no idea if it was my name since it was barely a "scribble" they said. Only alternative is what my friends did, rented a box in a REAL post office and go every day. Not that they are perfect, but lowers the changes of people you have no idea of their background handling your mail.

[NavyVet]

LOL, the typical "if you don't like it move" response. :1rotfl:

Tiresome, aren't they.

[KRM0614]

RELAX! I am not filing a complaint (actually it was more convenient) but just wondering if this is "legal" S.O.P. by postal service employees.

I was sitting home all day (mostly because it was raining) waiting for an important and expensive "signature required" package via USPS. About 4PM I was notified that it was delivered and signed for and I immediately got very nervous since I didn't have it. Got a proof of delivery from USPS online and while I could barely read the scribble it turned out to be the mail employee at the mail center here and it was sitting in my mailbox with a key without any notice of it being there (usually tracking says "left in mailbox" or something like that this just said DELIVERED and SIGNED FOR).

While it actually was more convenient for me since I didn't have to go all the way down to the Lady Lake post office (18 mile RT) which is a pain in the azz to retrieve it I am wondering if that is supposed to happen. First time in 3 years it did. USUALLY a signature required package is physically delivered to my house by someone from our local postal station and if I am not home a slip is left to retrieve it in Lady Lake the following day.

On one hand I like the convenience but on the other it could create a problem under some circumstances. I can understand if I had left a signed signature release as with Fedex or UPS but I hadn't.


EDIT 11/10 9:30PM

This is what concerns me (from the USPS website). If someone from the PO local mail house accepts and signs for my package and puts the key for it in the wrong mailbox I'm SOL.

Recipient Responsibilities
When you sign for a piece of mail, you acknowledge delivery. The Postal Service’s liability ends when you sign for the mail. You may ask the letter carrier for the sender’s name and address before you accept the mail. You may not open the mail, but you may look at it as long as the letter carrier is holding it before you choose to sign for it.
USPS FedEx and UPS no longer honors delivery time frame they people pay extra for as well as signature required. The excuse is Convid19 they have a legal department that excludes them. Most people don’t read change of service terms and by avoiding labor time to get a signature they have record profits as well.

[Barborv]

No one under any circumstance should be signing YOUR signature! PERIOD!

[Barborv]

Was just reading over your comments and it never said your signature(name) was on the signature requirement. Was the signature a different name than yours? If the person who delivered it signed their that it was delivered, that's something different.. But if you claim you never received and your name isn't the signature, there shouldn't be problems. But if someone signed your name, that's not ok.

[EdFNJ]

Hi Ed... Sorry to interrupt your wonderful tread, I agree with what you’re saying but was commenting on another persons ranting about our postal workers. But you should relax about other postings too. Life’s too short and then you die. Which is why you should "quote" the post you are replying to which you didn't do on that particular post. That's also why most EVERY thread on this forum (and most any forum) deteriorates so quickly because everyone starts posting unrelated comments. But that's how the internet works and why "quoting" at least makes it slightly easier to follow. ;)

[EdFNJ]

Was just reading over your comments and it never said your signature(name) was on the signature requirement. Was the signature a different name than yours? If the person who delivered it signed their that it was delivered, that's something different.. But if you claim you never received and your name isn't the signature, there shouldn't be problems. But if someone signed your name, that's not ok.

Liability didn't concern me although IF it was a PayPal or eBay purchase I would be SOL. It was PayPal not eBay. TRACKING says is was SIGNED BY ME but proof of delivery had some other scribbled signature with a delivery route on it which was likely the USPS person. According to a close relative who worked for the PO for 35+ years up North and now lives here other than the physical signature everything else is entered on their scanning device. My name was entered as the recipient but was not the physical signature. He said they cannot do that unless the "alternate" physical signature person was physically in the addressee's home. He did say COVID rules MAY have changed this but he didn't know. Next time I go to Sam's I'll check with the P.M. in Lady Lake.

From USPS:

What will I receive with Signature Confirmation™ Service?
You will be provided the following information:


Signature and name of the recipient
Date, time and location of the delivery
Signature Confirmation™ requires that the recipient (or a responsible person at the residence) be present to sign for the item.


Recipient Responsibilities
When you sign for a piece of mail, you acknowledge delivery. The Postal Service’s liability ends when you sign for the mail.


https://i.postimg.cc/MHyV1Cjy/usps1.jpg (https://postimages.org/)

https://i.postimg.cc/9XTd37Nr/USPS2.jpg (https://postimages.org/)

[Dennys37Packard]

It said Signature Required. NOT Your Sig. Req. it was released and signed for by a Federal postal Employee During the performance of their duty and held in a locked box. Doing What Ifs (what if this was a certified document) as this would have been a totally different situation, only muddies the question. If it needed the final recipients signature, it would have stated that. You would not be responsible for it since no one had your signature. As you said, the signature was a scribble. And IF it went in the wrong box, they still don’t have Your signature. You ordered it online via USPS and it was eventually signed for by a USPS person at final destination.

[Dennys37Packard]

Oops

[Dennys37Packard]

Oops

[Neils]

Not your signature then not legally binding

Just a nice courtesy if you want to avoid a trip to the post off just to sign a reciept.

[blueash]

I am trying to understand the contention that all is fine as it was your postal worker who signed the form.

Just a nice courtesy if you want to avoid a trip to the post off just to sign a reciept
it was released and signed for by a Federal postal Employee

That it was signed for by someone other than Ed or a member of his household is a problem. It may be Covid. Apparently nobody, including me, has in these several days called the post office to see if the rules have changed. If I were to go to mail an item, signature required and as I handed it to the postal clerk she signed the form saying the item had been delivered because, after all, it was in the hands of the USPS and that was sufficient proof of delivery to the recipient, no one would say that is ok.

USPS's website is very clear that the recipient is to sign the form. It does get a bit tricky as of course here, the final address is not in fact your home. It is the postal station. But if it were ok for the postal worker to sign we would not have all the reports about having to go to the Lady Lake PO to pick up packages because you weren't at home.

The signature form as posted in the image above seems to say S FitzPatrick in cursive, then printed with some address including a route number. No effort to deceive as apparently the employee did not sign Ed's name. My guess is the rules have changed but if so I'd have hoped the USPS website would reflect the change which makes signature required a meaningless service as there is no proof the package got to the addressee.
That the form posted has recipient's name, with Ed and actual recipient's name with Ed is false. The option for a variation is that someone in a household or business can sign, thus I might sign for a package addressed to Mrs Blueash or a receptionist might sign for a package sent to the Ace Repair Shoppe. The form on Ed's package says Ed signed as the actual recipient. He did not.

[retiredguy123]

I think the value of a signature is way overrated. Have you ever had to sign a touch screen with your finger? I have, and it doesn't look anything like my signature on legal documents I have signed, and it could never be matched or validated by a handwriting expert. So, what is the point?

[EdFNJ]

It said Signature Required. NOT Your Sig. Req. it was released and signed for by a Federal postal Employee During the performance of their duty and held in a locked box. Doing What Ifs (what if this was a certified document) as this would have been a totally different situation, only muddies the question. If it needed the final recipients signature, it would have stated that. You would not be responsible for it since no one had your signature. As you said, the signature was a scribble. And IF it went in the wrong box, they still don’t have Your signature. You ordered it online via USPS and it was eventually signed for by a USPS person at final destination.

Well, the tracking form from USPS says "ACTUAL RECIPIENT NAME" was **ME**, E F**** which is separate and different from "RECIPIENT NAME" although it wasn't my signature for the package and I did not sign it. "ACTUAL RECIPIENT should have been the post person. After sitting home waiting for the package and then suddenly seeing it listed as DELIVERED and signed by ME that is what concerned me considering every other signature required USPS package in the last 4 years has been brought to my door. Even stranger was yesterday I has a very small package from Amazon (no signature required), value about $3 delivered to my door by USPS truck and handed to me. Weird.

AGAIN, just to clarify, I have no problem (only concern) with what happened with this specific package, it saved me a trip to LL, it just doesn't look kosher and can open a can of worms with places like eBay and similar.

[EdFNJ]

I think the value of a signature is way overrated. Have you ever had to sign a touch screen with your finger? I have, and it doesn't look anything like my signature on legal documents I have signed, and it could never be matched or validated by a handwriting expert. So, what is the point? You are 100% correct wrt to the "value" of the signature but at least you know you entered the chicken scratch .... but had it been ME who signed it saying that I received it and not a stranger who was claiming to be my legal agent and receiving my package for me.

I still need to get down to LL PO and find out if this is a new "covid" exception to "signature confirmation." I was more than willing to give them a blanket release but at that time they said they don't do that because I or someone IN MY HOME had to sign for packages. Currently I don't reside inside that 4x4 box. :D