Thanks to its online platform, USPS has made it easier than ever to track packages, change your address, or hold your mail. Even better, all you have to do to access these services is create an account.
But what happens when your USPS account is disabled? Not surprisingly, this is a stressful experience for many. However, we’ve put together a guide to help you get your account up and running again, so read on to find out more!
Why is my USPS account disabled?
A USPS account can be disabled due to incorrect login attempts, multiple user accounts at the same address, prolonged inactivity, or suspicious behavior. USPS’s online platform allows customers to track packages, fill out a change of address form, and create a mail hold, and all of these services require an account with a password-protected login in 2022.
What is the world’s longest friendship?If your USPS account has been disabled and you don’t know what happened or how to fix it, be sure to read this article for more useful facts and tips!
What does it mean if my USPS account is disabled?
Before we dive into why your account might be disabled and how to fix it, it’s a good idea to first understand exactly what the problem is.
If your USPS account is disabled, your credentials are no longer valid (at least temporarily) on the Postal Service’s online platform.
Does stretching break up scar tissue?In other words, you can no longer access USPS online resources or services that require a login, such as tracking packages, changing your address, or starting a mail block.
Why is my account disabled on the USPS website?
Now that you have a better understanding of what to expect when your USPS account is disabled, you might be wondering what caused this frustrating situation in the first place.
It turns out there are multiple reasons why your account might be disabled (whether temporarily or for other reasons), so let’s take a closer look at each one below.
Why Did Ant Farm End?1. Too many incorrect login attempts:
Repeated login attempts with incorrect credentials (username or password) are one of the most common reasons for a USPS account to be disabled.
Like most websites, USPS takes its customers’ online safety very seriously. As a government agency, it might even take it more seriously!
How do you please a Pisces?The USPS website gives you 5 login attempts before deactivating your account, but you’ll likely get a premature warning if you’re near the limit.
Similarly, if someone tries to hack in and is unsuccessful after 5 attempts, USPS will disable your account.
To avoid having your account disabled for this reason, be careful to avoid mistakes such as misspelling or capitalization.
Also, if you’ve tried to log in a few times without success, click Forgot Password instead of trying to remember it yourself.
While it’s a hassle to go through the checks and change your password, it beats the alternative of deactivating your account.
2. Multiple accounts created for a single user or address:
Generally, USPS allows only one online account for each mailing address (or at least for each individual recipient of mail at a given address).
This means that when multiple accounts are created for a single person at a single address, the likelihood of an account being deactivated increases significantly.
USPS has automated systems built into the backend of its website that detect and stop such behavior.
One of the main reasons for this security feature is that USPS is always on the lookout for any type of email scam. You don’t want unauthorized people to have access or control over how email is delivered to third parties.
Occasionally, this fraud protection system produces false positives. For example, if someone with a similar address makes a typo and creates a different account for your address.
While there’s not much you can do to prevent someone else from making a typo, you can check with family members or others who live in your household to see if there are multiple accounts for your address.
If this is the case, consider deleting all but one so you can avoid having your accounts deactivated.
3. Prolonged account inactivity:
USPS is pretty lenient when it comes to account inactivity. In fact, your account could be inactive for years or more before being deactivated.
For this reason, it is very unlikely that inactivity will be the reason for deactivating your account, although this does occasionally happen.
If you use your account on a weekly (or even monthly) basis, there is no need to worry about your account being deactivated due to inactivity.
4. A bug in the USPS backend system:
True, one minor bug or malfunction can be enough to disable your USPS account. In such cases, all you can do is wait as USPS will likely identify and fix the problem as soon as possible.
5. Suspicious Behavior:
A final reason for deactivating your account is for suspicious behavior, whether it’s related to the creation of your account or behavior on the platform.
Unless you are a victim of hacking, you shouldn’t have to worry about your account being disabled if you use the USPS platform for its intended purpose.
How do I reactivate my USPS account?
Although it’s a hassle to deactivate your USPS account, getting it working again is usually not too difficult. In many cases, you can follow the on-screen menus to automatically reactivate your account.
Typically, you’ll be asked to confirm account details, verify your identity, or create a new password.
If you are unable to reactivate your account online, you can call USPS Customer Service at 1-800-275-8777, contact the Online Helpdesk, or ask someone at your local post office for help.
To learn more about USPS, you can also read our posts on whether or not the USPS accepts credit cards, how to cancel a USPS mail hold, and USPS dead mail.
Conclusion
It’s pretty easy to reactivate your USPS account. In many cases, you can take care of this without speaking to a USPS representative.
The USPS online platform is a fantastic resource for almost all of your mailing needs. Unfortunately, that also means having your account disabled is just as devastating.