I suppose I'm looking for a little guidance on this topic. I've had some serious issues with the downtown SLC PO - and I'm just curious what legal avenues I have available to me to get my complaint heard. I'm not sure if intentional mis-routing of a package counts as mail fraud...and my concern for any real mail that will be sent to me from this point forward. Does anyone have any tips for how I can speak with an actual person at the office of the Inspector General? Will contacting my local Congressperson help? Can I file a claim in small claims court against the United States Post Office, and if so, what information should I begin organizing? I'm thinking at the least copies of all package tracking checkins, a list of my personal call log, maybe statements from my hometown post office? Should I attempt to record any phone conversations I have with the SLCPO from this point forward? Would letter-writing to the editors of any local news media be beneficial or be counter-productive? I've basically been screwed with so much that I've absolutely had my fill. I'm not a violent person and I will never do anything to physically harm another person - but I feel my complaint has been completely ignored. I don't feel like letting this get swept under the rug - I feel this issue deserves to be heard and is indicative of major issues with the USPS that need to change. I know some of you have had differing issues with the level of service you've received from USPS - and some have found support for your claims. I'd love to hear anything constructive.
I have filed claims, but depending on how it was shipped, some places will not ship packages to PO boxes. File the complaint/claim with USPS as soon as possible. If you wait too long they wont even read your complaint/claim.
It is not mail fraud, which is when you try to steal money from, or by scamming, the post office. Are you saying someone in the PO is trying to mess with the destination of your packages or something else. I have heard contacting your congressman is good to do, also if you get enough information and proof and are sure your info is correct, you can contact a news station and get your story put out in the air.
Unfortunately, a claim was already filed and ignored by this PO. I have good reason to believe they intentionally ignored a forward on my account, falsified internal scans for the item's location, and intentionally shipped my package back to the sender (in Germany) despite numerous phone calls to their offices. I'm not sure what to call this - but doesn't this sound like someone should get fired for something like this? In the Navy (make jokes here) falsifying logs or official documents would get you court-martialed. Now I'm concerned that anything with my name on it will be either stolen or intentionally "lost."
A basic rundown: Package ordered from a business in Germany (May 30) Package mis-routed by local PO in IL to SLC (beginning of June) (I suppose because I'd changed my official address to my school address in SLC.) To avoid confusion with the change of address, a mail forward is submitted for my mail to come to my parent's house in IL. (June 20) SLC PO and IL PO are both called to notify each of the change. Package arrives in SLC and, in spite of my calls, a delivery attempt is made (June 25.) Call is made on June 25 (after seeing the scan) and I am told by the supervisor that he will forward the package to the correct address. Two weeks later, no package. A call is made to the SLC PO and the supervisor now denies having told me that he will forward my package, which is now missing. Numerous calls are made to both PO to try to track down the package. I am told repeatedly that I will be called back in case the package is found (which never happens from the SLC PO.) I would like to stress that I have been nothing but polite and professional in my conversations with both offices. IL PO suggests I file a Mail Recovery System inquiry on the package (I do.) July 18, two online scans appear saying that my package had been in IL on July 13 and had been sent back to SLC. Local PO called, they deny that the package was ever in their office on July 13. (It's a small PO, the carrier knows us and never saw the package.) Calls are made to the SLC PO by the IL PO, which are apparently either not answered or not returned. The package is now listed as undeliverable and "will be returned to sender." IL PO tells me that this probably means the package has been found and will be rerouted to IL PO. I ask if they were able to speak with the SLC PO, and they state that they could not get SLC PO supervisor to return their calls. July 30, online scans indicate the package has arrived back in Germany to be returned to the sender.
You should be used to this SNAFU if you were in the Navy.:smile I'd let it go, or it may get worse for you.
Well, see, the problem is that that's how our country operates - in fear - that by merely communicating that people with even modest amounts of power are mistreating them, they will suffer untold consequences. I'm not sure how much worse than mail fraud and intentionally "losing" and misrouting my packages could be. Of course, they could start losing all the junk mail and flyers that they send me - no, wait, that stuff will ALWAYS get delivered every day without fail. (rolls eyes) No, I'm tired of being walked over by people who don't do their jobs right. I took every opportunity to be polite and respectful to this person, and that decency wasn't returned. So, apart from turning this into a venting forum (not helpful) I'd like to keep it to constructive suggestions for what has worked / hasn't worked.
And you're absolutely right, which is why I'm not retiring from the Navy right now (although they begged me to stay in...my CO offered me a full ride at the Naval Academy...but my response was "If you wanted to keep me so badly, perhaps you could learn to file my paperwork properly so I feel like the Navy is in some way competent. Thank you, but I'm going to go be responsible for my own paperwork now.")
You might want to read this thread http://www.cointalk.com/t182120/ The one thing I would not do is let it go.
Thanks rlm - I have definitely read that thread recently...which makes me want to pursue this even further. No, I'm not going to obsess over this - but I'm not going to just let it go...because if you don't fix the problem...it's still there next time.
