According to the post office

[Sam_2.0]

DH and I are separated. And have been since October. Who knew?

We have the large community mailboxes in our neighborhood. As best as we can guess, one of our pieces of mail was delivered to the wrong box. "Does not live here" was written on the mail and it was sent back.

The Post Office took that to mean DH does not live at our address anymore and completely stopped his mail. All of it. We've been trying to figure it out for months! Weird things were happening, where some things would get delivered and others wouldn't. We got Netflix for awhile, but then it stopped and when we called they said our DVDs were being automatically returned by the PO. A friend sent DH a check three times, all with the correct address, and it was always sent back.

Finally he went in to the post office to try & fix it, and the lady said DH didn't live with me anymore and asked if we were separated She was going to make me come down there and say it was ok for him to receive mail at our house again, but then decided to release the hold, and as she said, "If she doesn't want your mail coming there she can just stop it again." I kind of want to now just to mess with him

[Chocolate Lover]

How does the PO arbitrarily get to stop delivering someone's mail? Don't they need a change of address for that?  

[Opti]

You have a very different postal office than I do. I tried to get

delivery stopped for the former tenant, but the post office refused.

They said the mail was addressed to the person there so they

would continue to deliver.

[muttleynfelix]

[wyouser]

Jan 30, 2015 15:47:38 GMT -5 Chocolate Lover said:

How does the PO arbitrarily get to stop delivering someone's mail? Don't they need a change of address for that?  

They are still part of government.  They don't need a reason. Its like the VA sending a veteran a letter telling him he is dead. Or, Social Security telling a widow here in town that a certified copy of a death certificate is not proof that her husband  had died.

[Artemis Windsong]

The post office forward when my late brother died was a huge mess.  The person went down in good faith to get it forwarded and that took nearly a month.  A lot of the mail was lost.

We were trying to keep the invasive neighbor from getting the mail.  All of the utilities were late and electric threatened to cut it off.  The person paid up all the utilities then the scum bag older brother of mine tried telling me he caught up the bills.

[Sam_2.0]

Jan 30, 2015 15:52:07 GMT -5 Opti said:

You have a very different postal office than I do. I tried to get

delivery stopped for the former tenant, but the post office refused.

They said the mail was addressed to the person there so they

would continue to deliver.

Apparently all you have to do is write in big letters "Does Not Live Here" and it magically stops

When we moved this summer, we stayed with my in-laws for 6 weeks. So I did 1 change of address from our old house to the in-laws, then once we moved into the new house I did another COA. That was from June - July. In October, when I had J, the hospital sent HIS bills to my in-laws. I never gave them that address and the address had long been changed. Thankfully my MIL just makes little stacks of mail for us and brings them to church every Sunday. In spite of contacting places directly and putting in the COA, she still gets mail for us.

[Blonde Granny]

Via the USPS website we filed a hold mail starting Dec. 26 through Jan. 23. Fortunately our neighbor was checking our mail and it was never held. When we started sorting through the mail our neighbor had for us, there was also a piece of paper, from the PO that our carrier had put in our box when sorting that was confirmation of the mail hold. Hmmmm.....she didn't see the mail hold when she sorted it in to her route.

We reported it to the supervisor, thank goodness I had confirmation of mail hold and the piece of paper she filed, he was speechless when he looked over everything. Maybe soon we could get a carrier that English is the first language and Spanish the second....and one who has learned to read.

[Deleted]

I'm so sorry to hear of your marriage problems.  The wife is always the last to know. 

[NastyWoman]

Jan 30, 2015 17:59:50 GMT -5 minnesotapaintlady said:

I'm so sorry to hear of your marriage problems.  The wife is always the last to know. 

Actually in this case Mr. Sam might be the last to know.  Sam who is that guy sleeping in your bed at night and has your DH met him yet?

Now serious for a moment: if this continues why not have DH fill out a new move notice for him alone.  I this may have happened when you moved into your new home and someone made a mistake at the PO and only transferred your stuff to the new address.  Upside of refiling for DH: you may get some extra moving discount coupons out of the bargain  

[teen persuasion]

DS2 filled out a change of address when he moved to a new apartment at college.  He started getting DH's mail, not all but some.  He is in an entirely different city, and their middle names are different.  He was also changing his address from his previous apartment, not from our home.  It was a PITA, since most utilities are in DH's name.  DS2 ended up cancelling it.  It is no wonder he got tons of former residents' mail while living there, no one could get it forwarded properly!

[bean29]

Jan 30, 2015 16:07:49 GMT -5 Blonde Granny said:

Via the USPS website we filed a hold mail starting Dec. 26 through Jan. 23. Fortunately our neighbor was checking our mail and it was never held. When we started sorting through the mail our neighbor had for us, there was also a piece of paper, from the PO that our carrier had put in our box when sorting that was confirmation of the mail hold. Hmmmm.....she didn't see the mail hold when she sorted it in to her route.

We reported it to the supervisor, thank goodness I had confirmation of mail hold and the piece of paper she filed, he was speechless when he looked over everything. Maybe soon we could get a carrier that English is the first language and Spanish the second....and one who has learned to read.

Xxx, xxxxx xxxx? I often get mail for an address about a mile from my house, but I never once chalked it up to the mailperson's race. I think our mail person is white and a man, but I am not really sure. The absolute best mail person ever was hispanic. He had my husband's office route for awhile, but the PO liked that route to train newbies, so he wasn't on the route anymore. My husband uses a different name for his business than his real name. We lived in the same city as his office while we were building. Mail man walked in to the office one day with a piece of mail addressed to our temporary street name + our old street addy in another city. Office on a different street. And a different # and asked is this you? It was. We are in our house 10 years this year. I still remember B/C I was so impressed.

My comments gave been edited b/c apparently the code of conduct allows you to express racism, but not challenge it.

[Mardi Gras Audrey]

The PO is the worst.

We had our mail held over Christmas last year (We went out of town for 10 days).  When we got back and they delivered "our" held mail, we had mail for everyone in our neighborhood (Different streets, numbers, names).  There was no rhyme or reason about it (Not just one other family's mail... multiple families).  I took it all back to the post office and the supervisor just looked at me like I was crazy because I was complaining about getting everyone else's mail.  It was really irritating.

I went to the PO the other day to get some change of address cards.  I am moving then DH later (we also have different last names) so I needed 2 (one for me and 1 for him).

The clerk refused to give me 2.  Stated "We are only allowed to give 1 by the postmaster"  

She then tells me I should just go online and do it.  It "only requires a credit card and costs $1.05 each".  When I told her I wasn't going to be giving them my credit card online, she states "I don't know why not. Everyone uses their credit cards online".  She then tells me they are "saving the cards" for people who don't have a computer (How the he!! does she know I have a computer?)  

I ask what I'm supposed to do and she advises I need to "ask my carrier for one".  Um, dumba$$, I NEVER see my carrier... they come while I'm at work.  Plus the carriers get their supply from the PO where I was at.     I asked if the postal annex on our town has the cards and she says yes, you can get one there.

Okay, so I trudge over to the postal annex (like 3 miles away).  The rep there says they don't have them there and I need to get them from the main post office.  When I tell her they refused to give me one for me and 1 for my DH, she hits the roof and starts bi%Hing about the main PO and how stupid they are.  I agreed with her and she ended up rooting through the backroom to find me one.  The process was stupid and a huge waste of my time.

[mmhmm]

Jan 31, 2015 21:23:46 GMT -5 bean29 said:

Jan 30, 2015 16:07:49 GMT -5 Blonde Granny said:

Via the USPS website we filed a hold mail starting Dec. 26 through Jan. 23. Fortunately our neighbor was checking our mail and it was never held. When we started sorting through the mail our neighbor had for us, there was also a piece of paper, from the PO that our carrier had put in our box when sorting that was confirmation of the mail hold. Hmmmm.....she didn't see the mail hold when she sorted it in to her route.

We reported it to the supervisor, thank goodness I had confirmation of mail hold and the piece of paper she filed, he was speechless when he looked over everything. Maybe soon we could get a carrier that English is the first language and Spanish the second....and one who has learned to read.

Wow, racist much? I often get mail for an address about a mile from my house, but I never once chalked it up to the mailperson's race. I think our mail person is white and a man, but I am not really sure. The absolute best mail person ever was hispanic. He had my husband's office route for awhile, but the PO liked that route to train newbies, so he wasn't on the route anymore. My husband uses a different name for his business than his real name. We lived in the same city as his office while we were building. Mail man walked in to the office one day with a piece of mail addressed to our temporary street name + our old street addy in another city. Office on a different street. And a different # and asked is this you? It was. We are in our house 10 years this year. I still remember B/C I was so impressed.

Then again, he was from Puerto Rico, you can be as racist as you want and it will have no effect on his rights.

Nothing racist about it. Most native Spanish-speaking folks are caucasians. 

[Opti]

Feb 1, 2015 0:20:06 GMT -5 Mardi Gras Audrey said:

The PO is the worst.

We had our mail held over Christmas last year (We went out of town for 10 days).  When we got back and they delivered "our" held mail, we had mail for everyone in our neighborhood (Different streets, numbers, names).  There was no rhyme or reason about it (Not just one other family's mail... multiple families).  I took it all back to the post office and the supervisor just looked at me like I was crazy because I was complaining about getting everyone else's mail.  It was really irritating.

I went to the PO the other day to get some change of address cards.  I am moving then DH later (we also have different last names) so I needed 2 (one for me and 1 for him).

The clerk refused to give me 2.  Stated "We are only allowed to give 1 by the postmaster"  
etc.

Like anything with multiple locations scattered all over the country, YMMV.

I haven't looked recently, but at least two of my local post offices kept the change

of address cards out along with other often used forms in the table people often

use to address mail.

I'm sorry you have a crappy main office. Perhaps you could complain to the regional one

and see if things change. Postal employees and supervisors are going to vary from

location to location. Its unfortunate you might have more of your share of the crappy

and uncaring ones.

[Sam_2.0]

I also found out that our local PO wont mail packages. I had one to send to a friend, so i packed up both kiddos and got out in the cold to head over there. Get them inside the PO and the guy tells me i have to go to the grocery store customer service counter, because they wont take packages there. AT THE POST OFFICE. This new town is really weird in that regard.

[Opti]

Feb 1, 2015 10:27:59 GMT -5 Sam_2.0 said:

I also found out that our local PO wont mail packages. I had one to send to a friend, so i packed up both kiddos and got out in the cold to head over there. Get them inside the PO and the guy tells me i have to go to the grocery store customer service counter, because they wont take packages there. AT THE POST OFFICE. This new town is really weird in that regard.

That is very weird. How big is this post office?

[mmhmm]

My comments gave been edited b/c apparently the code of conduct allows you to express racism, but not challenge it.

No, bean29. The CoC does not allow name-calling. It's that simple. To call someone a racist is name-calling. Secondly, there was no racism in BG's post since she is a Caucasian and most native Spanish-speaking folk are Caucasians. It's the name-calling that's the problem and you're welcome to challenge that at any time. You're also welcome to challenge outright expressions of racial hatred anytime.

mmhmm, Administrator

[bean29]

My husband points out that USPostal service employees pass a civil servant exam, so the contention that a carrier may not know english is ridiculous.

How in the world do you know who delivered your your mail anyways?

[zibazinski]

I'm amazed that there are any minorities period. Any idea how hard it is to get hired into the post office? Extremely. One of my friends is a branch manager and there's been no new hires, just 90 day temps that they keep renewing for 90 more days constantly so they pay no benefits. I think you may find she is just a temp not a real employee.

[finnime]

And here's my story:

We've had some par excellent post office delivery people, including an especially wonderful one who was totally deaf. Good thing, because we have three different surnames here in my family: my children's, mine, and my husband's. But our latest delivery guy is terrible. We get mail from streets away; once to another state. Recently he handed me our mail as I was walking up the lawn - one letter. I questioned it; he shrugged. Later that day we have a full mail box - I think a neighbor sorted it out.

Last November I refilled some very important medications by mail order, for me and DS. They didn't come and didn't come and didn't come. I looked online and saw that UPS had sub-contracted actual delivery to the PO. And USPS had entered that the package was returned because we refused delivery!! Now DH is always home unless he's out with me - he's disabled for now - and no package had ever been offered at this address. It was a real mess. The mail order pharmacy was difficult at first - not wanting to resend since we refused delivery - , until I got an actual decision-making-level person to straighten things out, and send a new package by Fed Express.

Just Plain Nuts.

[Peace77]

I went to the post office yesterday,  I wanted to buy a stamp for a postcard.  You would think I could buy a single stamp for a postcard.  No, they didn't have any.  I would have to buy 100.  

I ended up using an old 43 cent stamp.  I hate wasting money.  It should have only cost me 34 cents.

[Opti]

Feb 1, 2015 16:54:31 GMT -5 finnime said:

And here's my story:

We've had some par excellent post office delivery people, including an especially wonderful one who was totally deaf. Good thing, because we have three different surnames here in my family: my children's, mine, and my husband's. But our latest delivery guy is terrible. We get mail from streets away; once to another state. Recently he handed me our mail as I was walking up the lawn - one letter. I questioned it; he shrugged. Later that day we have a full mail box - I think a neighbor sorted it out.

Last November I refilled some very important medications by mail order, for me and DS. They didn't come and didn't come and didn't come. I looked online and saw that UPS had sub-contracted actual delivery to the PO. And USPS had entered that the package was returned because we refused delivery!! Now DH is always home unless he's out with me - he's disabled for now - and no package had ever been offered at this address. It was a real mess. The mail order pharmacy was difficult at first - not wanting to resend since we refused delivery - , until I got an actual decision-making-level person to straighten things out, and send a new package by Fed Express.

Just Plain Nuts.

Sorry to hear about your experiences. I wonder if some employees just give up or

get lazy. I have a similar story about UPS although it wasn't my package, I just had

to call to help track it down. UPS does not regularly deliver to our business and I

think it took over 5 days and more than 3 attempts to get it delivered. Our business

can be easy to miss if you aren't paying attention because while it is on a main road,

the building is up the hill even if the sign with the address is not.

It seemed none of the temp UPS employees wanted to acknowledge they could not

find the address. I think one even said he tried to deliver but could not. Given the

building is open 24x7x365, its not the best excuse to come up with.

We have had some interesting stuff happen with the post office at this business too.

Not sure if it was due to vacation coverage, but we did have a rash of late mail deliveries

done by someone other than the regular guy. One delivery was at 6PM!

[bean29]

Feb 1, 2015 12:17:00 GMT -5 mmhmm said:

My comments gave been edited b/c apparently the code of conduct allows you to express racism, but not challenge it.

No, bean29. The CoC does not allow name-calling. It's that simple. To call someone a racist is name-calling. Secondly, there was no racism in BG's post since she is a Caucasian and most native Spanish-speaking folk are Caucasians. It's the name-calling that's the problem and you're welcome to challenge that at any time. You're also welcome to challenge outright expressions of racial hatred anytime.

mmhmm, Administrator

I looked up racism on wiki and it says racism is towards " a group of people who share similar and distinct physical characteristics. First used to refer to speakers of a common language, then used to denote national affiliations."

I don't know why you insist this is not racism. My husband studied this stuff a lot in college, degree in Secondary ed Major Spanish, Minor Bi-Lingual Bi-Cultural Ed and he agrees it is racism.

The problem is the implication that the person who made the mistake spoke Spanish First and English second. How in the world did she know this and how does she know that having the ability to speak two languages means you don't have mastery of both? Did reading have anything to do with the problem?

[Sam_2.0]

Feb 1, 2015 11:49:23 GMT -5 Opti said:

Feb 1, 2015 10:27:59 GMT -5 Sam_2.0 said:

I also found out that our local PO wont mail packages. I had one to send to a friend, so i packed up both kiddos and got out in the cold to head over there. Get them inside the PO and the guy tells me i have to go to the grocery store customer service counter, because they wont take packages there. AT THE POST OFFICE. This new town is really weird in that regard.

That is very weird. How big is this post office?

Our new town has 3-4 zip codes (maybe 5), so I would guess an office for each. But none of them mail packages. I have to go to one of the 3 grocery stores in town to the customer service counter. And only that certain retailer, not another chain. The good news, I guess, is that it is not restricted to normal PO hours and I can run by on nights or weekends. Still seems so weird to me.

[Chocolate Lover]

I'm sorry you all have crappy post offices/delivery people. Mine are smart and generally can suss out my PO BOX number on a delivery from a place that refuses to deliver to PO boxes. I don't get mail at home, no mail box and some of these places won't even let you add the po box on the 2nd address line unless you make it not recognizable as a PO box. (did that make sense?) 

I also love that UPS drops at the post office. No wondering if it's going to disappear off the porch when I'm not home when it arrives.  My post office has little lockers for bigger boxes, they put the key for it in your box.

They are awesome. I should take them some cookies or something. 

[Opti]

Feb 2, 2015 11:38:14 GMT -5 Sam_2.0 said:

Feb 1, 2015 11:49:23 GMT -5 Opti said:

That is very weird. How big is this post office?

Our new town has 3-4 zip codes (maybe 5), so I would guess an office for each. But none of them mail packages. I have to go to one of the 3 grocery stores in town to the customer service counter. And only that certain retailer, not another chain. The good news, I guess, is that it is not restricted to normal PO hours and I can run by on nights or weekends. Still seems so weird to me.

Interesting. I wonder if you might be in a test market of sorts. Years ago the post office

was thinking of closing lots of locations and having small locations in grocery stores

and similar. It was one of the plans to cut costs.