Need some input regarding US mail legalities and baseball cards

[buymycards]

Your problem is that any mail that is delivered to a business address belongs to the business. An individual is not allowed to file a personal change of address from a business address.

For instance, if I work at McDonalds and I quit, I cannot file a change of address for mail with my name on it that is addressed to the McDonalds business address. All of the mail that is coming to that address is assumed to belong to the business, even if an individuals name is on the mail. That rule is meant to protect the business from employees who may try to get business mail that should go to the business.

If you have a poor relationship with a shady person, you don't have any recourse through the Postal Service.

[hcv123]

Originally Posted by buymycards

Your problem is that any mail that is delivered to a business address belongs to the business. An individual is not allowed to file a personal change of address from a business address.

For instance, if I work at McDonalds and I quit, I cannot file a change of address for mail with my name on it that is addressed to the McDonalds business address. All of the mail that is coming to that address is assumed to belong to the business, even if an individuals name is on the mail. That rule is meant to protect the business from employees who may try to get business mail that should go to the business.

If you have a poor relationship with a shady person, you don't have any recourse through the Postal Service.

The Post office allowed me to submit 3 change of addresses from the business address - my personal name, my former business name and my collectibles business name.

I understand his theoretical "accidental" opening of the cards is not a crime, but isn't his theft of my property (refusal to give me the cards)?

[Exhibitman]

Sue the bastard for conversion and call the other employee as a witness.

[pokerplyr80]

This board seems to have no shortage of lawyers. Hopefully one can offer some advice. Sorry about your cards.

[Tripredacus]

Originally Posted by buymycards

Your problem is that any mail that is delivered to a business address belongs to the business. An individual is not allowed to file a personal change of address from a business address.

For instance, if I work at McDonalds and I quit, I cannot file a change of address for mail with my name on it that is addressed to the McDonalds business address. All of the mail that is coming to that address is assumed to belong to the business, even if an individuals name is on the mail. That rule is meant to protect the business from employees who may try to get business mail that should go to the business.

The important part of the situation seems to be that OP ran a business at that address.

[buymycards]

Originally Posted by Tripredacus

The important part of the situation seems to be that OP ran a business at that address.

He RAN a business. He was no longer part of the business. The local PO should not have accepted the COA cards and they should have explained the rules to you. I have dealt with similar situations hundreds of times. In our area, the change of address cards would have been returned by the mail forwarding unit as invalid. You have to rely on someone at the business forwarding your mail by hand, or calling you and telling you that you have mail.

This is just like someone who has their mail forwarded to a Nursing Home or a Hospital or a Hotel/Motel. Mail can't be forwarded from those entities. It has to be hand forwarded by a current employee. You can have your mail forwarded TO a NH, Hospital or Hotel/Motel, but the PO will not forward your mail FROM one of these places. The same rules apply to a jail or a prison.

[bbcard1]

I am sorry you got cheated, but it sounds like you are investing a lot more than $247 worth of worry in this. Find your peace if you can and move on. I have had things like this happen to me and have been like a dog with a bone. Sometimes I got the items in question, sometimes I didn't, but in the long run, it was never worth it. Good luck!