Postal Letter

US Postal Nightmare. They deliver when they choose to. Is this legal?

I just moved into a new home, new subdivision and have been a resident for over 30 days. The US Post Office picks up and delivers my personal mail as they please. All proper documentation was filled out for forwarding to the new address, etc. To date, I've gone 5 days with mail sitting in my box w-out pickup and over 3 weeks without delivery! When I phoned the local post office they were casual and said I'm not on a route and that my subdivision is not complete so my subdivision is maybe going to be handled by a contractor. They then sent someone out at the last minute today to deliver a bulk of mail. Outside of being speechless in America I am livid. Most of our most important documents are handled by the US Postal Service. I've already issued a complaint with the US Post Master. and waiting on a call back. What can I additionally do to stop this ridiculous third world treatment? Not only is it unacceptable, it's not lawful. Any tips?

Public Comments

1. "Most of our most important documents are handled by the US Postal Service." What? Please, stop smoking the crack. The USPS is for catalogs, bills, supermarket flyers, and letters telling you that you may have won $20 million for buying a magazine. Anything important should be sent by FedEx or another private company. "my subdivision is maybe going to be handled by a contractor." Well, that will help a little bit, since you'll have a private employee doing it, instead of a government employee. Richard
2. Good luck on that. All you can do harass the Post Master repeatedly and see if it does any good at all. I wound up not getting ANY mail for like four months and wound up with my electricity and phone getting cut off as a result and all sorts of other problems. I'd turned in my change of address form like four times. It was hideous. Postal System's getting worse and worse as email propagates.
3. I can understand your concern about delivery, but I have trouble believing that anyone would put outgoing mail in their mailbox these days, let alone leave it there for 5 days.
4. In every organization, there is someone who at least has to appear that he cares. What you need to do is personally visit your local Post Office main office, speak with the general manager, and discuss your concerns. Let him know that you cannot continue with such Third World conditions. Be courteous and polite; remember, he is probably unaware of your situation. As you leave, diplomatically tell him how grateful you are for his personal attention into the matter, and how assured you are that you will never have to contact his boss about it because the situation will quickly be rectified without his involvement. Remember, everyone has a boss, and everyone is fearful of looking bad in front of him. That is your ace in the hole.
5. Well if it's a new home they are not permited to deliver any mail until it is in their system, however if you are getting a few pieces here and there then you probably have a carrier who knows that you ned your mail and go above to do a good job.. Do you have your flag up? if it's a door delivery, then cariers are only expected to go to the box if there is already mail there OR it's obvious that there's a letter sticking out. It is possible that you just haven't gotten much mail? Bulk mail doesn't get forwarded. Before assuming the PO screwed up think about what you might have do to not help the situation. Maybe you could talk to your carrier PERSONALLY before jumpin' on the phone with the postmaster, who really would rather not deliver you mail 'cause it will add to the carriers time if only a min.