If your newspaper carrier did not drop off your paper one day, you would call the company and complain. However, when you are going on vacation, the last thing you want is to have your newspaper delivered. Papers piling up on your doorstep are a sign to burglars that nobody is home. They may take that as an invitation to burglarize your home. Fortunately, you can easily have your paper delivery put on hold while you are away.

Call your newspaper company one week before you leave, to give the company ample time to notify your carrier. The phone number will be in your phone book, on your bill, or in the newspaper. Check the masthead. It's usually located in the first few pages.

Tell the company that you are going on vacation and the dates you will be gone. You may want to start the paper suspension a day before you leave, in case you miss the paper on the day you leave. That way, there won't be a week-old newspaper sitting on the doorstep, signalling your absence to passers-by.

Ask a neighbor to check your porch periodically. They can make sure your paper is not there, and if it was delivered, they can pick it up for you. Calling the company should take care of it, but the carrier may forget and deliver it anyway.

Plan to resume delivery on the day after you return. If something should happen, and you will not be returning on the scheduled date, just call the paper company and let them know that you need the suspension extended.

Call the paper company when you return. Let them know that you are ready to resume service. Call them if the newspaper delivery does not resume as scheduled.

Tip

Most newspaper websites also have an online form to submit for suspension of your paper.