Like many organizations, USPS collects personal data from its customers to provide services, communicate with them, and protect their privacy and security.
Understanding why USPS collects personal data and how it is used can help you make informed decisions about your privacy and the services you use.
This article will explore why USPS collects personal data and how it is used. We will also discuss the measures that USPS takes to protect personal data and customers’ rights regarding their data.
Here’s Why USPS Collects Personal Data:
As a logistics provider and shipping company, USPS collects the personal data of its customers so that they can complete shipments, deliver products, and perform tasks needed to provide the expected services.
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What Personal Information Does USPS Have On You?
The USPS only has personal information that you have specifically and knowingly given when you create your online account with them or when you avail of their products or services.
This normally includes your name, contact numbers, email address, mailing address, which can be either a residential or business address, and any other information that they would need to fulfill a service.
All this information comprises details you willingly provided either online or at your local post office. This is essential information so that USPS can deliver a product you purchased or fulfill a service you availed of.
Can The USPS Give Out Your Address?
Since the US Postal Service keeps your mailing address on file, you may wonder if they can give it out or share it with anyone.
In general, USPS does not provide your address to outside parties.
There is a law about this, which falls under the Privacy Act of 1974. According to this law, the USPS is obligated to disclose or inform you of the circumstances in which your mailing address may be shared with outside parties.
However, they do not provide your mailing address to anyone under any circumstances. The USPS will not try to sell products or services to you without you consenting to it. Plus, they would also not share it with companies who will try to sell you something.
Is The USPS Change Of Address Public Record?
Change of Address is a service the US Postal Service offers when people move houses. This lets them change their address on record so that all their incoming mail and packages would be routed to their new address.
This service also lets you reroute your mail and packages to a different address if you are going away, for example, on a business trip or vacation, for a few months.
When you request a USPS Change of Address, you must enter your old address and provide a new one. You also have to indicate if it is permanent or temporary. You must indicate how long it will be effective if it’s the latter.
The USPS Change of Address is not Public Record
When you change your address at USPS, they will only update the mailing address they have on file.
These changes would not reflect on the records of other couriers such as UPS or FedEx. They would also not show on your Amazon records.
Contact them separately if you need to change your mailing address with other logistics companies.
Any changes you made with USPS will not show on the records of other companies.
Does USPS Sell Or Share Your Information With Third Parties?
In this digital day and age, getting other people’s information online can be easy.
Unfortunately, it has been a practice for some companies to sell or share other people’s information with third-party individuals or companies.
Then the third parties would try to sell you something, which can either be a product or service. Some third parties, the sketchier ones, use this information to scam others to extort money or more information from them.
This is why some people normally hesitate to share their personal information.
Whether it was collected online or offline, USPS will not sell or share your information with third-party individuals or companies.
As one of the most reputable companies in the United States, the USPS has a strict privacy policy with three key aspects:
Third-Party Sales/Renting:
The USPS does not sell or rent your personal information to third parties.
The USPS collects personal information from you when you provide it knowingly. The information they collect provides you with specific products and services.
Every piece of information they collect is essential as it is used for successfully delivering or fulfilling the product or service you availed of.
However, there are certain circumstances wherein your personal information may be shared with other entities, which include:
- Ffinancial entities if there are financial transaction issues
- USPS auditors
- Law enforcement officers, if it is required by law or in legal proceedings
- Domestic and international customs
- Contractors and other entities that aid USPS in fulfilling the services
Can USPS use your information to find lost packages? Find out here!
Marketing Products without Consent:
The USPS does not market the products or services of other companies to you without your consent.
The US Postal Service will never sell, rent, or provide your personal information to third-party companies that market products and services.
There will always be an opt-in when providing your personal information to the USPS. If you do not consent to share your information with third-party companies, then you will only receive promotions for products and services offered by USPS and its partners.
If you opt-in to receive marketing or promotional emails, you can change your settings at any time and opt out.
Cookies and Web Analysis:
The USPS also does not use web analysis tools, such as cookies, to identify you personally without your consent.
A lot of websites use web analysis tools that contain small pieces of data. A common tool is cookies, which monitor your website activity and save certain information about you.
The data collected with the US Postal Service is limited to what’s essential for meeting specific business needs. This is to protect your privacy.
The website may use tools to know what specific pages you visit on the USPS website, but it will not store your personal information without you expressing your consent.
How Can You Check What Data USPS Has About You?
If you frequently avail of USPS services, you may wonder what data they currently have about you.
To check this, you can simply go to the USPS website and log in to your account. From here, you can view the personal information that USPS is keeping.
This information was collected when you created your profile on the website. This is information that you have knowingly provided to the company.
Once you are logged in to your USPS account, you can verify if all the details stored there are correct. You can also make any changes.
Can You Ask USPS To Delete Your Personal Data?
Since there are many arising issues regarding data privacy, it is normal to be concerned with companies keeping your information. This may make you wonder if you can ask USPS to delete your data.
There are two common reasons that people would want their data deleted from the records of USPS:
- They keep getting suspicious-looking emails that seem to be from USPS but are not.
- They moved out of the US, meaning they no longer need the services of USPS.
You can ask USPS to delete your data, and there are two ways to do this.
One way is to email them your email ID and request that your account be deleted. The other way is to visit the USPS support center on their website and open a support ticket.
With both options for submitting your request, you must provide your information so they can confirm your identity and complete the request.
You would also be asked to indicate the reason for wanting your USPS account to be deleted.
Sources:
Guide To Privacy, The Freedom Of Information Act, And Records Management