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USPS has been forced to apologize to fuming customers – and the agency finally admitted the real reason behind mass delays and missing mail.
The apology comes just days after Postmaster General Louis DeJoy announced he will be stepping down from his position.
Indiana lawmakers demanded answers from the USPS two weeks ago in response to multiple citizen complaints about not receiving packages when notifications say they’re at the USPS facility.
In a bipartisan letter written to the Postmaster General, politicians asked for the federal agency to take accountability for the missing packages.
“The U.S. Postal Service is our responsibility, and the service has not been delivering,” Congressman Jefferson Shreve told local ABC affiliate WRTV.
“It’s got nothing to do with politics, it’s got everything to do about taking care of the taxpayer.”
Videos spread on social media of the Indiana postal facility that show packages overflowing from bins left customers wondering if one of the items is theirs.
Senator Todd Young also weighed in on the issue as his office continued to field complaints from citizens about missing mail.
“I’ve heard from hundreds of Hoosiers about mail and package delivery delays, particularly delays linked to the Indianapolis distribution hub,” Young wrote to WRTV.
“We’re pressing for answers on why these problems are occurring.
“Hoosiers deserve reliable access to these essential services and if problems exist, the Postal Service should provide a plan to address any issues and reduce delays.”
After multiple attempts to contact the USPS, WRTV was told that weather conditions caused the package delays, but politicians are hearing a different story.
“The preliminary response has been related to the transition to this new facility on Brookville Road,” Shreve said.
“It’s not weather-related. It is related to the transition from a smaller, older facility to this much larger facility.”
Small business owners, in particular, were hit the hardest by the massive delays.
One Indiana small business shipped around 250 packages out following Black Friday orders; two weeks later those items were still at the USPS facility.
“If we could drive to the facility, pick all those packages up and do something with them, we would,” Graham Brown, co-owner of United State of Indiana told local NBC affiliate WTHR in December.
“But that is obviously not possible.”
This month, the USPS confirmed Shreve’s claims about the impact of transitioning facilities on deliveries.
Avoiding mail theft
To prevent mail theft, the United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) recommends residents take several precautions.
- First, avoid letting mail sit in your mailbox—inspect it daily and remove it promptly.
- For package deliveries, track shipments on the USPS website and sign up for email or text alerts to stay informed.
- If you’re not home when your mail is scheduled to arrive, consider asking a trusted neighbor to pick it up for you.
- For longer absences, you can have your mail held at the Post Office by requesting this service online.
- If valuable mail such as checks doesn’t arrive, immediately reach out to the issuing agency.
- It’s also crucial to update your address with the Post Office and any businesses you regularly correspond with to avoid potential issues.
- Lastly, for outgoing mail, it’s safer to hand it directly to your letter carrier or deposit it inside your local Post Office for added security.
Source: U.S. Postal Inspector
“The Postal Service is working around the clock to address recent service delays in the Greater Indianapolis area,” a spokesperson told WRTV.
“As background, the Postal Service recently opened a new Regional Processing & Distribution Center in Indianapolis and restructured its operations.
“During this transition period, weather impacts throughout the Midwest also contributed to service delays. Additionally, facility transitions were completed two weeks ago, and postal officials are working to ramp up operations following the change.”
The USPS apologized for any inconvenience and asked customers to visit the service alerts page for updates.
The U.S. Sun reached out to the USPS for comment but did not immediately receive a response.
