Post Office Box Types of identifications?

Question

Hey, I was going to open a PO box, but I needed two forms of identification. One will be my driver's license. The other one, I asked if it could be a bank statement or something, but the office guy said no, and it can't be social security card, nor birth certificate. So I'm not sure what I could provide as the other proof of identification. What did you guys provide or what would you suggest?

Answer 1

birth certificate, passport, naturalization certificate, utility bill with your name and address.

Answer 2

Misspellings and grammatical errors aside, not to mention that I suspect your question was designed to make the Post Office appear ignorant of their own rules or unhelpful toward you, both of which I seriously doubt, the following is from the USPS's POB application form:

"Two types of identification are required. One must

contain a photograph of the adressee(s) [sic]. Social

Security cards, credit cards, and birth certificates are

unacceptable as identification."

I have rented many POB's in my time,

and have had no trouble giving my photo driver's license

and/or my photo work badge,

along with my lease signed by both parties

and/or my passport (though I've had problems using this on some occasions)

and/or my local library card

and/or a utility bill

and/or a common credit card,

all of which have my name and, in some cases,

physical address on it.

Since the vast majority of people have such ID's at hand,

I don't understand why you claim to have had trouble,

unless you misunderstood the clerk's instructions

(this reminds me of the woman who came

into my local laundromat to clean two heavy blankets

in the standard washing machines,

when clearly posted signs indicated that doing so

could damage the blanket and the machine;

the attendant clearly and patiently explained

how to use the larger, albeit, more expensive, machines,

which were designed for such loads,

but the woman left in a huff;

obviously, she was either illiterate, unintelligent,

embarrassed, or cheap

(the difference in price between the two machines

was all of $1.50)).

P.S.  In the future, don't use the word "hey";

it is unnecessary and makes you appear less intelligent.

Also, the "office guy" is referred to as a "clerk".

Answer 3

If you don't have a passport;

The secondary identification can be a government/military, voter registration,  work or college id, vehicle registration, home or auto insurance card. Credit cards are not acceptable. If you have none of the above, utility bills in your name might suffice.

All of the acceptable forms of id are listed in the DMM (domestic mail manual) which the clerk should have had at the counter.  

If you still have questions, I'd call 1-800-ASK-USPS as they have the DMM regulations at their fingertips

Answer 4

I'm surprised they said a bank statement wouldn't be allowed. If I remember correctly, when I opened my P.O. box I just had to show my driver's license and then something else that showed I lived in the town -- I used a piece of mail addressed to me. I think it was either a phone bill or an electric bill.

You should just call the post office and ask them what they need.

Answer 5

If your state uses voter registration cards, they might accept that. They might also accept your car registration, as long as it's got your name and address on it. They might also accept major credit cards.

I had to have two forms of ID once to open a bank account -- one had to be my drivers license and the other forms were either a major credit card or voter registration card.

Here's the weird part -- I went and registered to vote, just to get the card and they didn't even check my ID when I registered to vote.

Go figure.