Your email address will not be published. The mail person actually threatened to call the police and have me arrested when I tried to follow the “wait for mailman” part. Well… I can’t say for sure without seeing what you’re talking about. With that in mind, my conscience is in the clear. For more details, please read our, How to detach your Microsoft Surface Type Cover safely, Microsoft Announces Office Insider Program, Here’s How to Join. You should be fine following the instructions I posted in the article. But that being said, if a locksmith is allowed to do it, not sure why a home owner can’t…. Great! Thanks for the help! But other than that, if I take your approach (I lost my key and nobody else has access to it), can I feel fairly confident that I’ll be able to turn the latch to unlock the mailbox? Making copies of Community Box keys is permitted and you'll save money by doing it yourself. Check with your local Post Office to find out who’s responsible for your cluster box. And, we make it convenient to do right here on our website. I assume you cannot get the bit out. There is, however, one more problem that remains when you’ve gotten your replacement mailbox key which is your lost mailbox key floating around somewhere meaning, someone can easily find it and get access to your mailbox. I am renting a condo and we have mailboxes just like these. For an ordinary mailbox that is similar to your neighbor's one, seek help from your neighbor. Why? Other options include getting the lock out yourself and taking it to the locksmith or simply replacing the mailbox completely. I like it. Not bad considering the quote from the locksmith $250. However, if you lose both of your keys, you need to fill out USPS Form 1093 to get another copy. Like you said, if I mess it up, it’s not like I destroyed the engine in a Porsche. Another DIY success! Follow our simple guide to easily create an easy to remember yet secure Password. Also, make sure your lock is right. I use a minus screw driver to get tge internal threadmill aligned (out of alignment) then use key to unlock. Gotten your new community mailbox keys and they don’t work? My landlord says he will find the key. And here I thought you were just a geeky Technology dude. Everytime a customer comes to me asking me to give them their mail, it's because their roommate/SO/brother et al is the one who carried the key and they lost it, are on vacation or they moved out of town and kept it as a souvenir. Just navigate to Mailbox Accessories and choose Replacement Flat Key or round key and follow the easy instructions. Idiots. You might even choose to replace the mailbox lock if a previous tenant did not return the mailbox key, which we’re going to teach you how to do it in a bit. This will be your chance to get access to the rear end of the lock, which is what you need in order to replace your mailbox lock. :) :). If they don’t manage it, they will tell you to contact the HOA or apt. But, our home was new construction and the PO didn’t want their carriers to “waste” their time, having to walk up the driveway to the garage door, when they could just hop out of their golf carts and shove the mail into the box. You CAN fix this. Can I have it opened again by the mail man and check the backside of the door if the lever or something is obstructing the key hole. ;). My PO even told me to call the office in the AM, and ask the carrier to call me when he’s almost here so I can meet him. Replacement for your stolen or lost community mailbox keys costs $20+ including state tax. I can tell when someone has tried to drill through one of these, because there’s gouges around the lock as the drill bit slid off the lock and onto the face of the mailbox. And much appears to be dependent on who you speak with at the post office – some postmasters are more lenient than others, some enforce the rules much more strictly. However I can’t give you any legal advice. To get your mailbox key replaced, you will have to pay a fee which cost $20+ depending on the post office including state taxes. So I was wondering: are they any potential barriers to getting the lock unlocked? Hardened steel will resist filing. No matter what I tried (graphite powder and spray included), after a few days of not being able to get my mail, I knew it was time to replace the lock. As I understand it, the MAIL is the only federal property. Although I can’t give legal advice, I did find a page on USPS.com regarding mailbox maintenance. I get several calls a week from people who've lost their mailbox keys. Searching for a reputable locksmith near me can be time-consuming and stressful which is exactly what you don’t need in this kind of situations. If you’ve lost both keys, complete the online form to request new keys. Here at my place the post office told me to call a locksmith because they don’t have anything to do with the mailbox. Hopefully this will loosen up the lock and allow you to not have to swap out the lock. Faulty community mailbox key replacements are usually and should be made free of charge. Great comment Victoria. Again, the post office said — not our problem so…. Also, you may have to pay a fee of $4.40 for a replacement key if the mailbox is owned by the U.S. Since I didn’t have the money with me. It’s a good idea for you to do a thorough search for your lost key. It’s an excellent bonding opportunity for my son and me, and a good way to show with a little work, almost any job is possible with a little time and patience. Slide the lock bar and metal clip holding the lock mechanism against the door. If the “main lock” were not working, the carrier could not deliver the mail at all. Some post office locks are made of hardened steel as hard as your drill bit resulting in destroyed bits with little gain. Sadly this is not an option for me. Thank you so much. They suggested a local locksmith and hung up on me. We use cookies for analytics, ads and session management. If you can, I would. Disneyland Resort (in California) There is a charge for lost mailbox keys. If you've been enjoying Disney Plus and want to share it with others, here's how to buy a Disney+ Gift subscription for... You can easily collaborate with Google’s web-based apps. He suggessted I get my own lock and replace. Time to get medieval on the mailbox lock! This reason alone would make someone let the post office know, to replace lock on their mailbox which should cost around $30. The box that it’s housed in isn’t. Honestly, it was sticker-shock when I call the locksmith. Home Depot Key Copy: Is It Possible to Get a Key Copy Made at Home Depot? Once you drill through the entire lock mechanism, the mailbox door should open easily. If your mailbox is part of your apartment complex, go to the manager’s office and report a lost key. I used a rather hefty flathead screwdriver and simply slid it in the crack between the door and frame and gave it a quick pop. I highly suspect that isn’t the case here? Sounds like almost the same experience I had! Thanks for sharing John! If you lost/stole your community mailbox keys, then you would apply for a new one. I belive the most common lock .is the 1172C AKA C9200 and can be bought on Amazon for about $16. I suppose it could vary from state to state but from what I’ve read.. once a mailbox is put into use by the post office, it is federal property. Because you wouldn’t have landed on this page if you weren’t in this kind of emergency situation. I live in a 3 floor apartment so each floor has a different mailbox. So if you can’t get in from the front you could wait around for the mailman, explain the issues and perhaps he will open the back for you so you can uninstall the old lock and get the new one installed. Save my name and email and send me emails as new comments are made to this post. We would assume the answer to that question is yes. Do remember that your lost key is still laying around somewhere to be found. Glad I could be of assistance! I’m so glad I found this blog. Almost think I should put an ad on Google for mailbox repair. It took me over a month to get keys because the owners had moved into an assisted living facility and their family had no idea where they’d be. So yeah, you can guess the path we’re going to take on this one. BTW: Everyone who is saying don’t mess with your mailbox is misinformed. We’re required to fix it, if we don’t own it the property owner is required to fix it. We are here to help you get connected to a professional key smith in your area. Pretty much the exact conversation I had with my local post office. Upon departure, any mailbox key that is … This option will cost twice if not three times as much as the other solutions, as a typical locksmith service call fee starts at $15 or more, subject to your neighborhood and property setup. If you’ve lost the keys to your mailbox, you may be able to pick the lock using a few simple tools, like hairpins and paperclips. you help me save a lot of money. Find the contact details of the key manufacturer and give them a call to report that you’ve lost key to mailbox. Note: If you’re not the adventurer / handy type or if you don’t have a drill, wait for your mail carrier. Along with a guide on how to install a new mailbox, it also provides guidance on maintenance. I bought new lock from Dale and it is works perfect. Have you lost your mailbox key? The simple answer is yes, you can! If you have lost only one of your Community Mail Box keys, go to a locksmith or hardware store to make another copy of the key. Anyway – Welcome to groovyPost! Help! To replace this key, please come to the Programs Office to discuss. Go to your delivery Post Office. then $120 is about right (call out fee, time at call out, plus new key/lock). No refunds will be issued for found keys and only one key is allowed per apartment. I hope this all helps anyone out there with this question. :). Does that mean I am going through two doors perhaps to drill out the lock? If one drills into their own mailbox, that they purchased themselves, and is free standing or on the owner’s property, you’re fine. And we will even include postage if you aren’t … As for those who live in condo/apts. Thanks, Steve. That said, calling out a 24-hour locksmith also requires payment for hardware expenses and labor costs required for mailbox key replacement. Once the rear of the lock has been opened, you’ll see that there’s a clip which is holding the lock together. We know how an emergency situation such as locking yourself out of your home or car, can be a stressful and worrying experience especially when you have lost those exact keys. Thank you very much for the feedback! If you have lost all of your community mailbox keys, then your only choice is to fill in the new replacement keys form that is typically posted on the post office website, which operates the community mailbox in your town. You bet Daniel! So how did it go Sunny? Bought a lock from HD for 6.50 and drilled away…under 5 minutes…great blog…thanks…, Fantastic! The new mailbox lock I purchased was a bit sticky. I guarantee the PRO will just bring a really big screwdriver and force it open then repair the lock. In my case followed by a spot of first aid. But again, that’s worst case. Grease the entire locking apparatus with a spray and test the lock by turning the key inside it to make sure that it’s working properly. If you tamper with federal property, you could potentially be charged with a felony. I purchased a standard mail lock from HD. Wow, that’s crazy. A homeowners assn. So do some research to find out which is the better option for you financially when you’ve lost the key to your mailbox. This is so illegal do not stick a drill into your mailbox! I had the same issue at my condo and they had me call a locksmith. Since publishing the DIY mailbox lock fix, several readers have expressed concern about the legal aspects of fixing your mailbox lock yourself. Of course, always have a valid ID that matches the address in case someone were to stop you and ask you what you are doing. From your photos it appears you have an older style “Neighborhood Distribution and Collection Box Unit” (NDCBU), which if memory serves were all installed prior to 2003. Professional Locksmiths Vs. Walmart Key Maker Machines: Why Are Locksmiths More Reliable? The cost to replace lost keys is $29 plus applicable taxes. Thanks Steve! Write down the name of the person who gave you permission to replace the lock, and be clear that you are going to replace the lock with a new one and not just re-key it. If you’ve lost both of your community mailbox keys, then your only option is to complete the new keys replacement form which is usually located on the website of the post office, that owns the community mailbox in your area. Take help from the delivery men, or professional lock breaker to unlock the mailbox. Your email address will not be published. I need a key from the postal service to unlock it. The fee can be paid at … I am getting ready to go do that now as well as get extra keys which can be kept in the part where postmaster opens it and if lost by myself or next tenant there’s spare keys. Sevan Locksmith can inform you of how to get a new key. Seems risky to me to replace it yourself! But he said that it should be an easy fix to replace the lock since I can still get into it with my key. Home Depot, Walmart, OSH and Sears all no go. Great feedback James. I got mine same day and all is good.. Great feedback Jim. I recently just lost the keys to my mailbox, and today I talked to the Postman (Mailman) about replacing my lock with a new one. One locksmith gave me above advice if I wanted to save money. So everyone should call their local postmaster and give them the address, they will tell you what to do – to either get a key through them or that you are on your own. You may want to let everyone know the US PS lock is not sold retail and there are no generic. My lock stopped working and when I went to the post office they took my key and said they’d check it out. Newer heavy duty CBU’s have hardened locks that can’t be drilled through with normal drill bits. Being that locks are cheap, you might just try to grab a few and find one that fits the mailbox. Pictures were very helpful. Uh, only the USPS can do that. Thankfully I have a cordless drill, so I grabbed a bit that fit nicely into the keyhole of the lock. I had to replace mailbox keys for three clients. That is, is it possible that even after drilling, the lock latch wants to stay locked in place? Buying in-store doesn't mean you have to pay higher prices. Normally, there is a lock on the back (which the Postman uses) and one on the front (Which you use). To receive the key, you will have to bring your government-issued ID with your name and address on it which is also written on the notice card to the post office that owns the community mailboxes. A locksmith may be able to pry the door open carefully or grind off the outer lock housing so the lock drops to the inside. You should be able to unscrew the lock from the inside that way. Reminds me — when a friend bought a house recently, it came with no mailbox. Now it’s time to attach your new lock to the mailbox keyhole. Some post offices will tell you to call a locksmith. Appreciate the feedback. Mailboxes take a beating from the weather, so we recommend an annual mailbox checkup to avoid damage to your mail or difficulty identifying your address. In the middle of my question! (Pictures attached on link) My mailbox is a USPS mailbox. Despite having an ID which listed the exact residence which matched the box I required to be opened. This is VA. Makes sense. Canada Post provides a pair of mailbox keys for $29 + taxes. I spoke to a locksmith yesterday and he suggested trying to spray some WD40 first before replacing the lock. The National Mailbox Lock C9100 should do the trick for clockwise rotation or the C9200 for counterclockwise. If the post office replaced it was $85 and I got one from locksmith for $17. If after a few days you can’t find it, then you will likely want to call a locksmith. Here are a few different approaches that you can use to retrieve your lost mailbox key, based on your situation and where you live: If you’re a tenant that’s renting a flat or a home that has an integrated mailbox system, then your first step should be to report the matter of your lost mailbox key to your landlord or superintendent. If your mailbox is in a USPS facility, go to the service desk and report the lost key. The postal office itself told me if I opened it by any means other than my assigned key that mail would no longer be sent to me, and I would have to start picking it up via the postal office branch. I live in a condominium .Till yesterday, the key for my mail box (the mailboxes are opened by carrier from usps with a common universal key)was gliding smoothly but today I could barely insert it half way through and it would not turn. Processing your report of lost key for mailbox will probably take several days at the most, but in the end, your new replacement key will come in the mail and all your worries will be forgotten. Curious because it’s 6 boxes in a vertical row and his main access is above in the center but his lock seems to be not fit to the front, sunken in to unlock the main door? Price of new lock would be 17.00. In all, the entire job took no longer than 5 minutes (not counting the trip to the locksmith). If not, you may have had some sideways force on the drill bit. I called the mailman who who opened the universal lock, took out my mail. If you’re not able to find a local locksmith, however (or don’t have time), just grab a replacement mailbox lock from Amazon. She told me that the mailbox was “my own personal property” and that I should call a locksmith to replace the lock or find the maintenance manager of the building and he could do it for me. In that case, your lock will also be changed by Canada Post. Yeah – probably best to listen to James on this one. As such it is USPS property and unlawful to change the lock. To avoid confusion, don’t drill out a lock at night and probably not right in front of the postal delivery person unless they were the one that told you to do it. By the way, it was my mailperson who suggested I do it, ha! You have to take full responsibility for replacing a damaged or lost key for the mailbox. Always amazed how handy it is! Glad my blog has been a help to you! Use a wrench to take off the nut (although, in my case, the drill took care of that for me). When your mail is delivered to a mailbox at your local post office, you'll be given two keys at the start of your service. Losing the key to your mailbox can be one of the worst things that can happen, especially if it happens on a day when you’re expecting really important mail. I figure if one follows the advice of the U.S. postal service, one can hardly be committing a crime. Without the clip holding the lock in place, popup the entire mechanism and bring it to a local locksmith. I broke the drill bit off inside the key hole. I suspect at this point it’s so convoluted that it’s difficult for even USPS employees to know if it’s lawful for you to change the lock of your mailbox. This lock should not be messed with. If the local PO would have let us insert a garage slot, as we wanted in the first place, we wouldn’t even need a key! Have you lost mailbox key and now you aren’t sure what to do? Being that you’re having issues working with the local post office…. Washington state but post office is federal so I’m saying it’s legal. Every day. Start by looping the nut on top of the lock frame and then use your adjustable wrench to squeeze it firmly in place. Some articles I’ve read say you can have the post office do it, others say you need to have your apartment complex or HOA take care of it and others say you can do it yourself or hire a licensed locksmith. Then told me they could have one made for me in “as little as two weeks” and they would hold my mail for me at the local branch, and I could start going to pick it up all the way out there. I tried again with the empty mailbox but still the same problem. The steps of getting a new mailbox community key go as follows: The best part about opening a mailbox at your local post office is that they always give you two keys, so that you have a spare to turn to when you lose the first one. I’m sure you’re already going down that path but just in case — an FYI. ;). If you do, you will need to provide a new lock and key for his lock. We dont have those mailboxes but just started wireing our whole house with CAT6 including HDMI over CAT6 and its clear that technology and DIY often go hand in hand. Good points Manny. Contact the post office and request your new keys to be made. I used my handy tip above and we were in and out in 2 minutes (he didn’t own a drill or else I would have just told him to do it himself…). Connect and talk to a professional 24-hour key … It’s not nearly as fun, but that is another option. What now???!!! The rate for a locksmith rates from $98 to $200. Question: Do you have to drill it? The only reason to use the Drill is if you cannot get into the mailbox. Mailbox as in your personal mailbox at home (as opposed to an Australia Post PO BOX?) If they do help you, you are one of the lucky ones. I am a locksmith in here in Central California, we see these mailbox locks on an almost daily basis. You are subject entirely to the vagaries of the local post office. I've lost my mailbox key! If anyone were to report you doing that you’d be a felon. I called my post office and they told me I could replace it myself. If you live in an apartment or condo complex that doesn’t have a maintenance contract or a resident maintenance person, then a whole new set of rules apply. I lost the key to my mailbox which is only ours and in a gated subdivision. Call us now for the fastest auto, home, or office locksmith service at the most affordable price. You will be charged a fee of $7 or more. However, it’s worth it if you’re really pressed for time. They’ll ask for your mailbox item number, so be sure to write it down or memorize it so that you have it on hand when it is requested. Sounds like you have a great PO in your area. Entirely bullshit. With these things in mind, my logic tells me if the HOE or Apartment ownership can fix a lock, then I the owner can fix it… Granted, I’m no attorney however after reading the article on USPS.com, I feel confident that it’s not illegal to fix my mailbox and maintain my mailbox as needed: https://www.usps.com/manage/mailboxes.htm, If you review that web page, it has a section under Maintenance which includes things you should fix/replace as needed. Each time, I was told by the U.S. post office to hire a locksmith as mailbox keys or mailbox were not their responsibility. If your mailbox is part of a bank of mailboxes built to serve your housing development, call a locksmith; get him to open the box and replace the lock with a new one.. Please advise what should be the next step? That said, if you have a landlord who is willing to spend the cash to fix it, even better! After losing both of the initial keys, you can request a replacement by submitting an United States Postal Service form 1094 and by paying the refundable key deposit as well as a key fee. Might be better to wait until they arrive, explain the issue and see if he can get you into the mailbox.

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