CHARLOTTE, NC — The U.S. Postal Service has a fairly new system to help you know what mail is supposed to be coming your way.
It's called "informed delivery."
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Every day, it emails you a picture of what mail you should be getting. So, if it doesn't show up, you know.
"It's free. It's pretty quick. I mean, you sign up online. You get confirmation online and in the mail. We have a mobile app," said USPS spokesperson Philip Bogenberger. He said more than 8 million Americans have signed up.
Many viewers have complained to Action 9 about lost mail, stolen mail, and other mail issues. This could help.
"I think it's a good idea. I think people should be able to keep track of their mail, especially if there's something important they're expecting," said Charlotte resident Adam Carpenter.
The Postal Service said it “takes the privacy of customers’ mail very seriously and takes measures to ensure that all personal information is protected.”
It told Action 9 the following:
“Because Informed Delivery gives you increased visibility into both mail and packages being delivered to your address, USPS follows industry best practices to verify your identity, including the use of a mail-based verification letter.
- The scanned mail images are of the external markings, showing only the exterior, address side of letter-size mailpieces. Package notifications do not include images, only information on the delivery status of the package.
- Your mail is protected by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, whose sole mandate is to safeguard the entire Postal Service system, including the employees who deliver and process the mail and millions of customers who use it.
- The Postal Service adheres to the privacy requirements of the Privacy Act established by the federal government which controls when and how the USPS shares personal information and limits the conditions in which that information can be disclosed externally to outside parties.
- The letter explains the benefits of Informed Delivery to digitally preview their incoming mail and manage their packages from a computer, tablet or mobile device.
- Each letter includes the recipient's name and a partially obscured email address or the username for his or her Informed Delivery account. This adds a second layer of authentication and protection for the consumer.
- If someone receives a letter and he or she doesn't recognize the user information, the letter contains instructions on how to deactivate the account."