INDIANAPOLIS, IN — The heat is on in Indiana, and thoughts turn to vacation time. Before you go, the Postal Service suggests that for peace of mind why not put your mail on hold. Thieves never take a vacation from crime, and are on the lookout in neighborhoods for accumulated mail in mailboxes. If you’re going away for an extended period, the Postal Service recommends taking advantage of its Request Hold Mail Service. The service is free and we’ll keep your mail safely at your local Post Office until you return. You can schedule up to 30 days in advance and also by 2 a.m. (CST) on your start date. Each address can have one Hold Mail scheduled at a time. A Hold Mail request is not necessary for a PO Box as mail will be allowed to accumulate for up to 30 days.

A Hold Mail request can be submitted in several ways.

• Online Hold Mail request service is available in many areas nationwide. Go to usps.com then go to Hold Mail Service. Enter your 5-digit ZIP Code under “Create a Request,” then click on Go button. If the online service is not available in your area, you will be directed to contact your local Post Office. You can find the address under USPS Locations by entering your ZIP Code.
• At your local Post Office, you can submit a Hold Mail authorization form.
• You can also call 1-800-ASK-USPS (1-800-275-8777) where a USPS representative can assist you.

If you choose to pick up your mail being held at your local Post Office, regular mail delivery will resume the next Postal Business Day. And if you return earlier than expected, the “Hold” is automatically cancelled and delivery will resume on the next Postal Business Day. You can also choose to have your letter carrier deliver your held mail.

The Postal Service receives no tax dollars for operating expenses and relies on the sale of postage, products and services to fund its operations

# # #

Please Note: For broadcast quality video and audio, photo stills and other media resources, visit the USPS Newsroom at about.usps.com/news/welcome.htm. A complete list of the holiday shipping deadlines can be found at usps.com/holidaynews.

For reporters interested in speaking with a regional Postal Service public relations professional, please go to about.usps.com/news/media-contacts/usps-local-media-contacts.pdf. Follow us on Twitter (twitter.com/usps), Instagram (instagram.com/uspostalservice), Pinterest (pinterest.com/uspsstamps), LinkedIn (linkedin.com/company/usps), subscribe to our channel on YouTube (youtube.com/usps), like us on Facebook (facebook.com/usps) and view our Postal Postsblog (uspsblog.com).

For more information about the Postal Service, visit usps.com and usps.com/postalfacts.