Misdirected & Misaddressed Mail

Misdirected Mail and Mail Addressed Incorrectly

When departments receive a piece of mail that is not for them, they usually assume the piece has been misdirected and Mail Services has missorted the mail piece. While this occasionally occurs, many times there simply needs to be a clarification of the difference between misdirected and mail that has been addressed incorrectly.

Mail Services has two key identifiers to sort your mail. The first and primary sort is by the plus 4 number in the zip + 4. If a piece does not contain a zip + 4, we sort by the PO Box (the last 2 digits of ASU's unique zip code and the + 4 which matches to your department's + 4 number). If neither of these is present, the piece is sorted by the first department name listed on the mail piece. Because department names change, are often abbreviated or there are multiple departments on campus with the same name, this is the least preferred method of sorting for accuracy reasons.

Mail addressed incorrectly is handled by the department

What is mail addressed incorrectly?
A piece of mail which contains your zip + 4 will be delivered to you. A piece of mail which does not have a zip + 4 and lists your PO Box will be delivered to you. A piece of mail that does not list a zip + 4 or your PO Box but your department name is listed first on the mail piece will be delivered to you. This is the proper sorting procedure of incoming mail for ASU. If the mail piece does not belong to your department, it has been addressed incorrectly by the mailer. The mail piece has not been misdelivered by Mail Services.

• Place mail in an intercampus mail envelope.
• Enclose a brief note informing them their mail was delayed and to notify the sender of the correct mailing address.
• Address intercampus envelope to appropriate department and place back in the mail.
• Do not write directly on any mail piece.

Misdirected mail is handled by Mail Services

What is misdirected mail?

• Mail that is addressed to another department's zip + 4 (mail code).
• Mail that has no zip + 4 but is addressed to another department's PO Box.
• Mail that has no zip + 4 or PO Box and has another department's name listed first on the mail piece.
• Mail addressed to some other business other than ASU.