How to complain (formally) about a lazy postman

**hkp** · 06-26-2012, 10:26 AM

For some reason my girlfriend keeps getting her grad school textbooks delivered via USPS. Ever since we've moved to Bella Vista, we've observed FOUR TIMES now this jackass drop the "we missed you card" into our mailbox before ringing our doorbell and running away with the package. We've managed to chase him up the street twice and now for the second time we'll have to travel over to Dickinson and wait in line for three hours.

How do I complain to about this guy? I just had surgery and the running down the stairs caused me to start spraying blood from my face because I knew if I didn't run, I'd miss his stupid ass. And I STILL MISSED HIM.

**OldMama** · 06-26-2012, 10:45 AM

Call and complain. I live just a couple blocks from you and have had my doorbell rung multiple times since March by the USPS package guy (who is probably not your regular mailman.) so I know they will knock. Why this one doesn't is ridiculous.

Try this number (215) 336-7089. It was on their website. (The station is called Southwark. I spent a lot of time there- my dad carried out of that PO for 40 years). Ask to speak to the postmaster; every station has one.

**hkp** · 06-26-2012, 11:05 AM

So I sent a text to my girlfriend about him and by coincidence, she ran into him a block away from the house while coming home from work. She asked him for the package and he said, "Oh, it was just a letter. I left it in your mailbox." Then got in his truck and drove away. He is a SCUMBAG. Human filth. It's one thing to be lazy, but he's also a liar. ****ing disgusting behavior.

**hkp** · 06-26-2012, 11:06 AM

Originally Posted by OldMama

Call and complain. I live just a couple blocks from you and have had my doorbell rung multiple times since March by the USPS package guy (who is probably not your regular mailman.) so I know they will knock. Why this one doesn't is ridiculous.

Try this number (215) 336-7089. It was on their website. (The station is called Southwark. I spent a lot of time there- my dad carried out of that PO for 40 years). Ask to speak to the postmaster; every station has one.

He rings the doorbell but does it as he's walking away and after he already dropped the slip in our box. It took me until 7:00AM to fall asleep because of the swelling and pain and he's the reason why I, once again, didn't get any sleep. The least he could do is his %#%#^@ job.

**darthsinatra** · 06-26-2012, 12:11 PM

I would also log this on seeclickfix and call my councilperson's office. Any chance you have a name and description? Just to cover all bases. My letter carrier is awesome. Sorry to hear yours sux. Very frustrating.

**loveisnoise** · 06-26-2012, 12:20 PM

The guy who does south street is an a-hole. He has stolen bungee cords from me a few times. More importantly, he has forged my signature on registered mail and stuck the letters in my mailbox. When I yelled at him about it and told him he just cost me about $300 in legal fees, he said, "well it was just a letter what's the big deal?" He's an ass. The only reason I haven't complained about him is because it looks like he's nearing retirement.

The lady who does front street in QV is really good. Never had a problem with her.

**caga tio** · 06-26-2012, 12:56 PM

I've filed three complaints in the last year for the same reason. If you call to file a complaint, the Post Office will tell you they are "taking it seriously" and promise to follow up within 10 days, but they won't follow up. When you call them about not following up they'll say they don't know anything and promise someone will follow up soon but again you won't hear from anyone. This will go on for as long as you can stand it. In the end you'll get fed up with wasting time calling the unresponsive USPS and make sure never to have anything delievered by them again. Good luck.

**hkp** · 06-26-2012, 02:00 PM

I think I'll just record him on my new surveillance camera and post it on youtube. I'm so sick of incompetence.

**Neb** · 06-26-2012, 02:18 PM

This must be pretty common because the mailperson in my neighborhood does it too. They don't even knock on the door. I spent half the Christmas season in line at the Post Office on Frankford ave. I get all my parcels delivered to work now.

I even left a note on my door one day that said "I AM HOME. USPS PLEASE KNOCK."

I went outside around 4:30. I found the "we missed you" sticky attached to my sign.

**Eastcoast** · 06-26-2012, 02:36 PM

Yeah, my d-bag postman wouldn't even knock...I would just find the pink slip later.

The one time I did catch him leaving the slip he fessed up that the package was at the PO and that he hadn't bothered to bring it with him. Apparently he would never bring the packages, I suppose because the slips are lighter and easier to carry.

Here is a little secret that I was loath to share while I live in Philadelphia for fear that everyone would use it and ruin my success!

https://redelivery.usps.com/redelivery/#popinfo

Worked every time for me, the following day some obese dude would park in the middle of my street blocking traffic and hammer at my door. Good times!

**BrianL** · 06-26-2012, 08:46 PM

Originally Posted by hkp

So I sent a text to my girlfriend about him and by coincidence, she ran into him a block away from the house while coming home from work. She asked him for the package and he said, "Oh, it was just a letter. I left it in your mailbox." Then got in his truck and drove away. He is a SCUMBAG. Human filth. It's one thing to be lazy, but he's also a liar. ****ing disgusting behavior.

Union labor at its best - its amazing how fedex can turn a profit but the US Post office can't, wonder what the difference is?????

**hkp** · 06-26-2012, 09:12 PM

Originally Posted by BrianL

Union labor at its best - its amazing how fedex can turn a profit but the US Post office can't, wonder what the difference is?????

The past month has turned this somewhat liberal from a "labor reform" guy to a "screw unions that take tax dollars" person. We've had people replacing our cobblestone street since June 11th. We weren't even given notice that this was happening until June 10th via a paper flyer (in all fairness, some houses knew about it before this date). The flyer said they'd need to close the street for Monday and "other days", if needed. Pretty vague, but it sounded like it'd be at most through Thursday or Friday and since I don't have a parking permit, I'd just keep my car in the garage.

The street is still closed today. It took them two days to dig two holes - never even replaced any cobblestone or even dug holes 10% up the street and the flyer implied it'd only take them a few days to do the whole thing. Then, they all kept coming back after they dug the two holes but didn't do anything because they were waiting for an inspector to survey the water main below the street. So, they couldn't work but they kept coming over to work. Right. And the houses on my street are now covered in dirt from all the jackhammering and I really doubt they'll bother hosing off our doors, windows, and sidewalks. Thankfully, I have a faucet out front. Oh, wait. ^.^

I do want to add that the street workers are really nice guys and they actually called out the postal worker one of the times he tried to run away with a delivery. I don't think they're bad people, but if they can get away with it, they'll get away with it. The postal worker is a POS who needs to get blistering herpes from a public toilet, though.

**Beutelratte** · 06-27-2012, 12:52 AM

Originally Posted by caga tio

I've filed three complaints in the last year for the same reason. If you call to file a complaint, the Post Office will tell you they are "taking it seriously" and promise to follow up within 10 days, but they won't follow up. When you call them about not following up they'll say they don't know anything and promise someone will follow up soon but again you won't hear from anyone. This will go on for as long as you can stand it. In the end you'll get fed up with wasting time calling the unresponsive USPS and make sure never to have anything delievered by them again. Good luck.

Yes, I did a few loops on that merry-go-round where I used to live! Only you forgot the part where, when you finally get someone's attention and the carrier gets reprimanded, your mail suddenly takes a LOT longer to be delivered. Like a Priority Mail envelope from NJ that took 10 days to be delivered - all the while the tracking was saying "Arrived at destination P.O." or something like that. I think maybe they transferred my old mail carrier to your neighborhood, because the M.O. and the description sound right.

**ndebergerac** · 06-27-2012, 08:48 AM

Just to chime in. I'ver never had a problem with ther guy who delivers to my house and the guy who delivers to my work (an apartment complex) is excellent to the point where I almost want to call in just to say what a great job he does. Shame some of you are suffering, but they're not all bad

**OldMama** · 06-27-2012, 08:53 AM

So I asked my dad, who was a very popular mailman out of that office for 40 years, what he thought you should do. Naturally, he didn't care much for my "tell the postmaster" suggestion. He said they're all...you get the idea. He suggested that you catch your regular mailman- the one who delivers the letters, not the package guy- and tell him. He may be the better person to tell the package guy to ring the bell.

When I first moved here, I was getting mail for about ten different people. I told my mailman about it, he wrote down the names of those who actually live here (my kids and I have different last names) and now I get only my own mail. The regular mailman is really the one responsible for the route, he comes every day. Talk to him.

**Politburo** · 06-27-2012, 08:58 AM

Originally Posted by BrianL

Union labor at its best - its amazing how fedex can turn a profit but the US Post office can't, wonder what the difference is?????

Well for starters, FedEx moves something like 3 billion pieces a year. USPS moves 175 billion.

FedEx is allowed to set their price and change it at any time. USPS does not have this power and its most recent request for a price increase was rejected.

FedEx can simply say that they will not deliver to certain areas of the country. By law, the USPS must deliver to every resident (though not necessarily at their residence).

Also interesting to note that the unionized UPS makes a profit.

So please, tell us, what is the difference??????

**Politburo** · 06-27-2012, 09:06 AM

Originally Posted by hkp

The past month has turned this somewhat liberal from a "labor reform" guy to a "screw unions that take tax dollars" person.

Obviously there has been some issue with the construction (and/or inspection). While you certainly should have gotten more notice and be kept informed of the delays, it seems weird to change your whole view on unions based on this, especially since there is no indication that labor (union or otherwise) is responsible for the delay.

IME cobblestones are not replaced until all construction and inspection is complete, for what should be obvious reasons.

**OldMama** · 06-27-2012, 10:40 AM

I understand frustration over construction problems. I just want to add my two cents about unions. As I said, my dad was a mailman. Before the postal workers were unionized, the wages were awful. I remember being very poor as a child and getting help from relatives when my brother got sick. I also remember when the union came in. Wages and benefits improved and life got easier.

My family on my dad's side have been union organizers for several generations, all working class Irish looking for a better life. It's easy to forget these days why unions were/are still needed.

**darthsinatra** · 06-27-2012, 11:53 AM

Originally Posted by BrianL

Union labor at its best - its amazing how fedex can turn a profit but the US Post office can't, wonder what the difference is?????

Also, until last month, the USPS, by congressional mandate, was forced to pay for 100% of future benefits up to 75 years into the future. In other words, their expenses included benefits payments for people who haven't even been born yet. Here is a link to an article from last year that changed my tune regarding the USPS. There are many more articles like this one out there.

News Headlines

**thegreattwizz** · 06-27-2012, 12:51 PM

Originally Posted by loveisnoise

The lady who does front street in QV is really good. Never had a problem with her.

I think her name is Trish or Tracy; seems to stick in my head. She made a point of introducing herself within days of us moving in (we had mail coming there for a month prior), and is always generally cheery. I've been expecting a package from UPS, and that douchebag driver has a habit of throwing things over my fence (which is 8 feet up, 8 feet down) without regard for their contents; luckily I haven't received anything broken yet.

So, 9:36 am on Monday, I get a text from UPS saying the package was delivered. I text the future misses about 20 minutes later, she says she just left and there was no package. WTF?!?! Around 1pm that day, the package is tossed over our fence, opened, with a note on it from our USPS lady that says 'found in street at [address half way up the block on the side street] already opened'. So, this time UPS guy leaves it at our door, and someone swipes it in broad daylight at 945am, or just didn't care altogether??

Guess it's time to finally install those cameras....