Goin’ Postal in
Henderson
by
Robert
N.
We took a
trip back East to visit family and friends. To prepare for our absence, I went
to the Seven Hills Post Office and dutifully filled out that yellow “Vacation
Hold Mail” card. I completed the card to request that our mail be held until I
picked it up at the Post Office.
The day we
returned we decided to first go to the Post Office from the Airport (since it
was ‘on the way’).
After
waiting in the obligatory line, we told the Clerk that we had returned and
wanted to pick up our mail. She returned after a few minutes to report that
there was NO mail on hold ‘in the back’. She said
it “may” have been
delivered”.
She jotted
down a phone number on a scrap piece of paper and told us that if there was no mail in our mailbox, we should call this
number “before 9 AM tomorrow” so that they
could “look for your mail”.
So, yes,
it was a stressful ride back to SCA, and we found 6 days of mail crammed into
our mailbox – luckily we didn’t have to ‘call this number before 9:00 AM
tomorrow’.
It is a
very stressful situation when you go to the Post Office and request your “held”
mail only to be told that it doesn’t exist; it’s also disturbing to find that
you’ve followed ‘all the rules’ and properly filled out a form requesting that
the mail be held (only to find out that Bureaucratic Incompetence failed to
complete your request)...
...the
most disturbing fact was the cavalier attitude of the Clerk who basically
shrugged her shoulders told us to call a number tomorrow IF there was no mail in
your mailbox.
Does
anyone wonder why people are disgusted with “Government Service”?????
Please
note that our “Postal Woman” does a banner job and is NOT responsible for this
screw-up…..we dread the Christmas season when (apparently) she takes vacation
and ‘temporary’ help delivers the mail…..
BUT...
I’m old
enough to remember when stamps cost 3 or 5 cents. In those days your mail was
delivered to your house without fail; your Postman (no Postwomen then) knew who
you were; the Postmen wore Postal Uniforms; and the service was
excellent.
I strongly
recommend to all the readers that you do what we have
done:
When you plan to be away from your home (vacation,
etc...
...give your post box key to a trusted neighbor and have them pick up
your mail...
Do NOT trust the Post Office.
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Have some advice we can give our readers?
Have a "postal nightmare" you'd like to share?
Send it to us at:
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From Art Goldsmith...to...Anthem Opinions
Re Robert N, get in the modern age and use the USPS.com website and fill out the info on line.
You get a numbered receipt and your mail is held and delivered on time.
We have been doing this for five years and never a screw-up!
When I moved from Florida, over six years ago, I did the same thing and my mail was forwarded and delivered in a timely manner. -
From Jeff Graber...to...Anthem Opinions
When we travel we go online to the USPS web site and fill out the Mail Hold Options section.
We have never had a problem and you will get a receipt of your request with a receipt number saying they have it and the dates of the hold and when to start redelivering the mail or to go to the post office and pick it up yourself.
You get the two options when filling out the form. That is your best option!
You can speak from strength when you have a form that shows your mail hold was received and recorded with a receipt.
Thanks for the good job in bringing these items to our attention.
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From Ellen Dryer...to...Anthem Opinions
Before a trip I usually stop the mail a day (or even two days) before I leave as a "test."
It's too bad we have to anticipate errors by a bureaucracy and micro-manage them. -
From Ellen Korchek...to...Anthem Opinions
You can go on US postal website and place a mail hold on line.
I have done this often without a problem.
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From Phyllis Chappell...to...Anthem Opinions
Simply go online and stop your mail.
We do it all the time, and when we get home it is delivered to us.
No trouble, no stress.
Try it.
There are two ways that this can be done.
One is through the written hold mail and the second way is through the online system.
I have found that the old written system is just as Robert describes.
I've also found that the online system works very well. You get a confirmation and a receipt so you know it has been done.
I have used the online system about a dozen times in the last two years and it has worked perfectly.
Maybe technology is the answer for the post office.