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Years ago a friend had this happen. He was moving to a new house, and put in a change of address form to the USPS. There was a delay in the move, so he put a hold on his mail. He didn't know how long the delay would be so he left the delivery date blank. He moved in with his in-laws for a month or two.

Finally moves into his new house and goes by the post office, but they claimed he had no mail. Months go by, and still no mail.

He is making twice weekly stops to the post office and getting more and more irate with the folks who tell him, "Sorry, no mail." Finally, after 6 months of this, he makes such a scene in the middle of the post office, the cops are called, and he is arrested for disorderly conduct. He spends a night in jail, pleads guilty with a fine of $200.

Later that week, he arrives home on a very rainy Thursday and finds a MOUNTAIN of soaking mail by his box.

Going through the letters he finds: his drivers license renewal notice from the DMV. Second reminder, third reminder, revocation notice. He finds he has had no drivers license for two months.

His insurance renewal notice, second notice, revocation notice. He has no business insurance. Along with this batch, he has notices from the State that without insurance, he will lose his business license. Second notice, last notice, and notice that his business license has been revoked.

You can see how this goes, but the icing on the cake, was a notice that he had won a free trip as the fourth place winner from Publisher Clearing House. Same deal, second notice, third notice and a final letter telling him that the prize had gone to the next runner up.

Now, finally, he calls a lawyer, who laughs at his notion that he could sue the USPS for damages, but does get a letter from the Post Office that he could show in order to get the mess straight. It only cost $2500.

It took two or three years for the whole thing to be put to bed.

E-mail is a little different, but it could still cause problems.