ComplaintsforOhio State Landscaping. Inc.

• Initial Complaint

  03/07/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Product Issues

  Status:

  Resolved

  More info

  Apparently they do not understand Federal law much less local city law ordinances. If they had gotten a solicitors' permit from the ***** ******** Police department they would have been informed that there is a No Solicitor's registry which we are signed up for. Instead they bent our mailbox flag and mailbox out & jammed their spam onto our mailbox. Here's some Federal law requirements on such postings: Putting Items Into a Mailbox Only authorized USPS letter carriers may insert mail into a residential mailbox. The USPS Domestic Mail Manual is very clear that mailboxes are not to be used for anything other than official mail with postage attached, so you can't go around the neighborhood delivering flyers. It's prohibited to place anything on or around the mailbox, too, so you can't use them for placing stickers. Willfully violating these rules is the federal offense of "mailbox restriction," with fines as high as $5,000 per occurrence. Taking Items Out of a Mailbox It's a federal crime to steal someone's mailbox, to steal mail from a mailbox, or to snatch mail items that are in the process of delivery. It's a separate offense to take a letter in order to pry into the affairs of another person, even if you only look at the return address momentarily. Whether you're charged with mail theft or obstruction of correspondence, you're potentially looking at fines of up to $250,000 and five years' incarceration. The only exceptions are when you have the addressee's permission to handle the mail or you're legitimately dealing with a deceased person's affairs. Vandalizing a Mailbox Vandalizing a mailbox is also a federal crime. Vandalism in this context means any type of destruction or property damage to the mailbox itself or inserting something into the mailbox with the intention of defacing or destroying the mail inside. If you're found guilty of mailbox vandalism, you can expect a fine up to $250,000 and up to three years in a federal prison for each willful act.

  

  Business response

  03/23/2023

  [BBB transcription via email]

   

  This is in response to the letter we had received regarding ***** ********’s complaint. 
  
  My secretary had left a voice message to Mr. ********’s daytime number on 3/18/23.  She had asked to return the call to discuss matters and was hoping he could email a picture of the damage.  We did not receive a call back or email response, as of yet. 
  
  We had flyers put out in the newspaper boxes or on the flags of mailboxes in some areas.  Although we are aware of the legalities of putting things in the mailbox, we were not aware that around the mailbox is off limits, as well.  We are truly sorry for upsetting Mr. ******** and possibly damaging his mailbox, if that be the case.  We would like to see pictures of the mailbox to assess the damage.
  
  Thank you so much for your time and help in this matter.
  
  Sincerely,
  
  **** ******
  
  Ohio State Landscaping
  
  ************    

  Customer response

  03/24/2023

  Better Business Bureau:
  
  I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID ********, and find that this resolution is satisfactory to me.

  We accept the apology from the business. We repaired the bent mailbox flag ourselves. Business must get a solicitor's license from the City of ***** ******** in order to solicit here.

  A few comments:

  We did receive a voice message for Ohio State Landscaping Saturday 18 March 2023 2:30 PM. We had responded to Ohio State Landscaping the same Saturday 18 March 2023 at 4:35 PM. (RE: attached - screenshot pf phone log): ""We straightened out the mailbox. ***** ******** has a no soliciting registry and requires solicitors to get a solicitor's permit. ***** ******** police confirmed you did not have such a permit. USPS ordinances prohibit non-USPS mail from being placed in the mailbox or anywhere on the mailbox or its post. If there is a newspaper receptacle the  advertising would go there. Our mailbox does not have such a newspaper receptacle. Suggest you contact the ***** ******** police at ***** ******** and ask about obtaining such a permit.""

  My complaint does NOT state they "put something in your mailbox ... "
  Quote from my complaint clearly states "Instead they bent our mailbox flag and mailbox out & jammed their spam onto our mailbox."

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