USPS customers told missing mail is their fault as they find paper slip in box – but important letters weren’t delivered

POSTAL service customers have been left raging after they found a slip of paper in their mailboxes blaming them for missing mail.

The USPS customers were forced to drive to the post office to fetch important documents but were met with yet another delay.

Man reporting on USPS mail delivery issues in New Hampshire due to snow.
USPS customers are frustrated after the post office stopped delivering to their homesCredit: NBC
USPS letter explaining mailbox accessibility requirements, shown alongside a news report about mail delivery issues due to snow.
The USPS sent out notices to customers explaining it’s their responsibility to clear snow from around their mailboxesCredit: NBC
USPS mail truck unable to deliver mail due to heavy snow.
The aftermath of recent storms left snowbanks taller than usual, making it hard for postal workers to reach homesCredit: NBC

The motto of the United States Postal Service is “Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds.”

But residents in New Hampshire learned the hard way that snow can stop mail carriers in their tracks.

The Salem residents were told USPS would not deliver to their homes if they didn’t clear snow from their mailboxes.

“Last week was the worst I had ever seen,” resident Paul Jondle told NBC affiliate WBTS.

“One day, we got no mail at all, and I was expecting something very important.”

Windham resident Nicholas Moschilli found himself in a similar situation.

“My entire driveway was iced up even though it was salted and sanded,” he said, adding he came to the post office to get his mail.

“I’m trying to get my mail today, but service is a little slower than I want.”

USPS said the mail delays in Salem were the result of heavy snowfall, which made mailboxes inaccessible to delivery personnel.

The area saw back-to-back snow storms, the worst for the city since 2015, according to local public works staff.

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“We haven’t seen snow piles like this in years,” said Thomas McPherson, the interim town administrator in Windham.

After the snow, USPS sent notices to customers, saying it’s their responsibility to clear snow from around mailboxes.

“The Postal Service depends on you to meet postal requirements regarding delivery and collection of mail to curbside boxes,” the note read.

“Please keep the full approach and exits to your mailbox clear, as illustrated in the examples below.”

To ensure mail delivery, the Postal Service has advised residents to clear away any obstacles such as trash cans, snow, and vehicles. This will allow mail carriers to safely deliver mail without needing to leave their vehicles.

USPS RESPONDS

“Carriers aren’t required to climb over a snowbank or dig to find a mailbox,” USPS spokesperson Steve Doherty told WBTS.

“In those rare cases, mail will be held at the Post Office until delivery can safely be made.”

Officials are hopeful the situation will improve as temperatures rise into the 40s later this week, which should help melt the remaining snow.

Salem Public Works Director Geoff Benson mentioned that if there are any issues, residents are encouraged to report them. The Public Works department will then send someone, such as a foreman, to assess the situation and provide assistance if possible.

USPS told The U.S. Sun in a statement, “The US Postal Service will make every reasonable effort to provide regular service to customers when it is safe to do so.

“Customers can help ensure their mail carrier can make safe deliveries by clearing snow and ice from sidewalks, stairs, porches, and any approach to mailboxes whether on a house or at the curb.

“Those with questions about their mail service can call the USPS Customer Care Center at 1-800-ASK-USPS (1-800-275-8777).”

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

USPS mail delivery suspended in New Hampshire due to snow.
Despite the storms ending over a week ago, many mailboxes in Southern New Hampshire remain buried under thick layers of snow and iceCredit: NBC
Aerial view of a snow-covered New Hampshire neighborhood where mail delivery is suspended due to snow.
The United States Postal Service said that the ongoing mail delays in Salem are the result of heavy snowfall, which has made mailboxes inaccessible to delivery personnelCredit: NBC
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