Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How do I properly address my mail?
A: Proper mailing addresses for the College Houses and Sansom Place can be found with the residence information for each College House.
Q: How can I find my correct mailbox number?
A:. You can log into Penn In Touch and look for your local address. The correct mailbox number associated with your assigned room will be displayed.
Q: My mother sent me a letter with some money in it and it never arrived. Can you trace it or find it?
A: First class mail is only stamped mail. It can't be traced. You can file a report of lost or missing mail through your mailroom, though. Make sure your family and friends do not send money, valuables, or important papers in first class mail.
Q: What about delivery confirmation? The Post Office told my friend that we would be able to track delivery. But the mailroom doesn’t know about my letter.
A: The U. S. Postal Service offers various delivery services which allow you to trace parcels to a final destination point. The most commonly used service is "Confirmation Mail". Delivery of confirmation mail takes place at Philadelphia 30th Street Post Office only. Confirmation of final delivery to Penn's residences is unfortunately not part of this service.
Q: My mail arrived and appears to have been opened. What can I do?
A: Housing Services takes any complaint of mail tampering very seriously. Mail Complaint forms can be obtained from and returned to from your building's Information Center or package room. Housing Services, working closely with our mail contractor, has set up an email address for receiving residents You may also contact the Housing Services at 215-898-3547, or via email to housingmail@lists.upenn.edu and we will investigate the matter.
Mail and packages arrive through many different carriers to Penn's campus. Contacting the carrier that delivered your mail or package to Penn is also recommended.
Q: My boyfriend sent me a letter from Princeton and I haven't received it yet. This is Friday and he sent it on Monday.
A: Mail can take anywhere from 2 days to 2 weeks to travel through the postal system. Official loss reports should be made after two weeks has passed. Datrose performs postmark checks on a periodic basis and verifies that mail travels through the mail stream at a variable rate prior to arriving at Penn..
Q: My dad sent my airline tickets via certified mail. He mailed them on Friday, but they aren't here yet.
A: The only way to securely send articles of value to any addressee is through certified or registered mail. These services take longer, though, because a signature is made at every stop on the way through the postal system. The fastest, most secure way to send mail is to utilize FedEx or Express Mail, or any commercial carrier that requires a signature upon delivery.
Q: I lived in the College Houses last Fall and they stopped forwarding my mail.
A: You should make sure you change your address with anyone who sends you mail, whenever you move. We forward mail for 60 days, and we do not forward mail outside of the country at all. You can update your forwarding address through Penn In Touch.
Q: What are the package room hours?
A: The Housing Services Package Room hours (including any temporary changes) are posted at your building’s Information Center and on the Package Room door. If the Package Room is not open during the hours posted, and there is no note of explanation on the Package Room door, please call the Package Room manager at 215-573-9663, Monday through Friday, 9am-5pm.
Q: Where is the package room?
A: The Information Center Specialist in your building will be able to direct you to your building's package room. The locations of the package rooms may also be found online.
Q: How do I contact Housing Mail Services with a problem or complaint?
A: Email housingmail@lists.upenn.edu.