US Postal Service

Consumers have a lot of problems with USPS, as the complaints in this section attest.  What's perhaps most unfortunate about this is the hostility displayed by too many postal employees who could care less whether their efforts to serve taxpayers are successful.

USPS • Damaged Mail • Lost Mail • No Mail Delivery • Stolen Mail • Wrong Mail --- • Address Disputes • Change of Address • Dangerous Drivers • Hostility • Prescriptions Mishandled • Privacy Violations • Restricted Substances --- • Priority Mail • Express Mail • Military Mail --- News • Postal Service May Seek Service Cut • Movie Fans Suspect Foul Play at the Post Office

By the way, many consumers routinely leave their outgoing mail in the lobbies of apartment buildings. Not a good idea, as Christopher of Seattle now knows.

Then there's the question of whether the Postal Service is meeting the letter and spirit of the Americans With Disabilities Act. Oh, and some of those postal workers don't drive too well either.

A few of the more recent complaints ...

Timothy of New Port Richey FL (09/29/08)
When we get a certified package we never have time to run out to the [mailman] because one our mailbox is on the other side of our yard so it takes a while and two he don't give us but 2 seconds to get to him after he honks the horn! so if we don't go fast enough for him he just leaves!

i think he should give us time to get shoes on and walk all the way out there for HIM! and i don't think he is supposed to honk i think he's supposed to bring it up to the door isn't he?

we aren't getting our packages! i'm going to start using UPS so i get my packages. atleast they come up to the door and if your not home they put it at a door for you ( or if your busy and don't here them knocking) i'm always happy with UPS.

Lawrence of Waddell, AZ September 26, 2008

Lawrence of Waddell AZ (09/26/08)
I live in the City of Waddell, and I continue to have issues with receipt of my mail. At least, once a month I am taking my neighbors' mail to them that was misplaced, and/or vice versa. On Wednesday (9/24/08) I received three letters in the mail stamped for delivery by the USPS on 7/3/08 (almost three months late). One letter was junk mail, the second a bill, and the third a Camera Ticket requesting my response by 7/29/08. The bill was no issue because I pay my bills on line.

I'm in the process of contacting the City of Scottsdale about the camera ticket. I'm sure they'll believe I'm providing one of those the dog ate my homework excuses. USPS could have informed me that an error occured, instead the mail was placed in my box like nothing happened.

Robin of Cheyenne, WY September 26, 2008

Robin of Cheyenne WY (09/26/08)
On January 23, 2007, after approximately six years residing at this address, I started having problem with my Postal Carrier. These issues have included missing mail, failure to deliver mail, mail thrown outside, and frivilous complaints. It became obvious that there was a personal issue. The only way that I could have had contact with, or have known this individual was through my job.

I have documentation that this ocurred, and have documentation of numerous meetings with her superisor who came to my home personally to ensure her claims were laims were not vadid. I am still having issues with this carrier as recent as September 10, 2008.

harrasment

Kim of Lakewood, CO September 26, 2008

Kim of Lakewood CO (09/26/08)
We continue to have issues with our mail delivery. We were suppose to receive an envelope overnight and we finally received it 3 days later after having to call the Lakewood post office to find out where it was. They had it there and were about to return it to sender since we had not picked it up. Our mail carrier never left notice that we had something to be picked up.

The day after we finally received it he put a notice in our mailbox saying FINAL NOTICE. This is unexceptable as it was a very urgent package. As a result of this our Contract employee who's paperwork was being sent to us overnight was unable to start their position.

Janelle of Sidney, NE September 25, 2008

Janelle of Sidney NE (09/25/08)
9/15/08, check mailed to me from Cafepress in CA, 9/18/08 check mailed to me from Lincoln, NE for insurance claim. Neither check has yet to arrive. I actually got no mail at all for 5 days! Not even any junk mail. Checked with both companies to insure checks were mailed. I've been getting a check from Cafepress every month for 2 years and it has never been late. The check from Lincoln should have been here in 2 days. It didn't even have to leave the state.

Local Post Office no help. I called the insurance co. and they reissued their check. I called Cafepress, if check does not arrive by the last day of the month, I will need to call them back and they will reissue the check, but it will not be mailed until the 15th of October. What a pain. I need the insurance money to buy a new fridge because my old one along with several other items were ruined by lightening. Total amount of checks, 2720.00.

I've searched around online and there is no good info on where properly addressed mail goes if it doesn't get delivered. I used to work for a newspaper and I know a lot of mail just gets shoved off into corners and never sorted or delivered. Our local PO told us that. The USPS is one of the few places where you have to pay for a service before you get it and that is not a guarantee. There does not seem to be anywhere on the USPS website to file a complaint either. Go figure!

I've had to make numerous phone call to Cafepress and Shelter Insurance to get checks canceled and reissued. Shelter Ins. reissued quickly. Cafepress is going to but they only cut checks once a month, so now I have to wait until Oct. 15th for check to be reissued and mailed. Total of 2720 in checks, plus phone calls, trips to post office to complain, and I still don't have a fridge.

Melissa of Wasilla, AK September 25, 2008

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