5 Things to Check Before You Sign a Mailbox Contract

Most CMRA (Commercial Mail Receiving Agency) contracts are short, plain English, and fair. The handful that aren't can quietly cost you $30/month in storage fees, $5 per forwarded letter on top of postage, or even your right to receive mail from certain government agencies.

Here's the 5-minute checklist to read any mailbox contract.

1. USPS CMRA certification

The provider should be a USPS-certified CMRA. This is non-negotiable — without it, USPS won't deliver mail to their address. Ask to see their CMRA registration with the local postmaster.

Red flag: any provider who can't show you their PS Form 1583-A on file with USPS.

2. Package storage / oversize fees

Most CMRAs accept packages from UPS / FedEx / DHL / Amazon. The catch: how long do they store packages free, and what does "oversize" mean to them?

• Standard storage: 10 days free is industry standard. Some charge $1–$5/day after that.
• Oversize: packages over a certain size (usually 18" on any side, or over 30 lbs) often have an upcharge — $5–$25 per package.
• Holding fees during travel: if you're away for a month and miss pickup, charges can stack.

3. Mail-forwarding pricing

If you travel or live abroad, mail forwarding is the killer feature of a real CMRA. Pricing varies wildly:

• Best in class: postage cost + small flat fee per forward ($3–$5)
• Mediocre: postage cost + 25–50% markup
• Bad: per-piece flat fees ($10–$15) plus postage

4. Form 1583 process

Form 1583 is required by USPS to authorize the CMRA to receive your mail. Ask:

• Do they notarize Form 1583 in-house, or do you have to find your own notary?
• Is the notarization free, or extra ($10–$25)?
• Do they file the form with USPS for you, or do you have to drop it off?

5. Exit clause

What happens when you cancel? Read for:

• Refund policy on prepaid months
• Mail-forwarding period after cancellation (most do 30–60 days, some none)
• Notice period required (1 day vs 30 days)
• Whether your security deposit is refundable

Bonus: who answers the phone

This isn't in the contract, but it matters. If you call during business hours, do you get a person or a phone tree? When something goes wrong with your mail, the difference between a real human and a ticket queue is whether you get it solved that day or that week.

Our contract in plain English

We have one standard agreement. It's public — at /terms. Free notary on 1583 for Business and Premium plans, postage + $5 forwarding, 10 days free package storage, refundable security deposit, 30-day exit clause. Walk in any time during business hours and we'll go through it with you.