Has this happened to you before?

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copper1

Registered Users (C)
Frustrating but oh well...


I sent in my mother’s application on May 5th via USPS regular delivery. Waited for a week and noting came. I started to wonder what went wrong and finally yesterday found an envelope from USPS with parts of application all torn with missing pictures and the check. Apparently my mail got caught in their machine which ripped pretty much everything but a few pages.

What are the odds of this happening to you?
 
copper1 said:
Frustrating but oh well...


I sent in my mother’s application on May 5th via USPS regular delivery. Waited for a week and noting came. I started to wonder what went wrong and finally yesterday found an envelope from USPS with parts of application all torn with missing pictures and the check. Apparently my mail got caught in their machine which ripped pretty much everything but a few pages.

What are the odds of this happening to you?
Click to expand...

So USPS sent you back the envelope and it was torn in pieces? Was there any explanation along with it?
 
Bobsmyth said:
So USPS sent you back the envelope and it was torn in pieces? Was there any explanation along with it?
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Not really, just something generic on the back saying, sorry my mail was damaged. When I called them up they were not interested in taking any responsibility. They suggested I should insured the envelope. Morons...
 
copper1 said:
Frustrating but oh well...


I sent in my mother’s application on May 5th via USPS regular delivery. Waited for a week and noting came. I started to wonder what went wrong and finally yesterday found an envelope from USPS with parts of application all torn with missing pictures and the check. Apparently my mail got caught in their machine which ripped pretty much everything but a few pages.

What are the odds of this happening to you?
Click to expand...

First think cancel the check and file a complaint ASAP to USPS and BBB etc.
 
copper1 said:
Not really, just something generic on the back saying, sorry my mail was damaged. When I called them up they were not interested in taking any responsibility. They suggested I should insured the envelope. Morons...
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Of course, there is not much that you can do now other than to mail in a new application. However, I'd also file a formal complaint with USPS, just for the record. See instructions at: http://faq.usps.com/eCustomer/iq/usps/request.do?session={03563ea0-4480-11de-50c6-000000000000}&event=1&view()=c%7Ba20dcc70-feb2-11dd-4712-000000000000%7D&objectId=&eksObjectId=&objectType=Case&isJumpEnabled=false&isContentJumpEnabled=false&vendorKey=&objTitle=&versionId=2101&searchProperties=type:natural&naturalAdvance=false&allStr=&phraseStr=&anyStr=&noneStr=&keywordStr=&tTitle=Customer%20Service&topicFromSub=&topicsORSubUrl=&report(0000)=p{e4ae5a10-6973-11dd-e6c4-000000000000}&bcobjectId={e4ae5a10-6973-11dd-e6c4-000000000000}&search=&topicAndSubtopic=About%20USPS$ALL


It's probably best to use the last option they suggest and mail a letter the Consumer Advocate office. You can say that you are concerned because the original letter contained confidential personal identifying info and a check, of the kind that could be used for identity theft purposes. You can also mail a similar letter to the local postmaster. It is better to mail a complaint rather than to call since when you mail it, there is a written record and they are less likely to ignore it.
 
copper1 said:
Frustrating but oh well...


I sent in my mother’s application on May 5th via USPS regular delivery. Waited for a week and noting came. I started to wonder what went wrong and finally yesterday found an envelope from USPS with parts of application all torn with missing pictures and the check. Apparently my mail got caught in their machine which ripped pretty much everything but a few pages.

What are the odds of this happening to you?
Click to expand...

Not much. Never missed a utility bill, credit card bill. Never lost a payment in mail either. Usually it seems USPS is very efficient and of good quality
compared with that in soem other countries.
 
copper1 said:
Frustrating but oh well...


I sent in my mother’s application on May 5th via USPS regular delivery. Waited for a week and noting came. I started to wonder what went wrong and finally yesterday found an envelope from USPS with parts of application all torn with missing pictures and the check. Apparently my mail got caught in their machine which ripped pretty much everything but a few pages.

What are the odds of this happening to you?
Click to expand...

you must be "really lucky." This is a rare event. I would send in a written complaint and copy Congress.
 
I would simply file a new application. This is happens rarely, therefore I would focus my energy on re applying (maybe express mail this time) and not so much on complaining. Believe it or not, when I was at the post office yesterday to mail my application (was sending via regular) , the clerk almost begged me not to send my docs via regular mail when I told her it was N400. Now I understand why....
 
formerf1 said:
I would simply file a new application. This is happens rarely, therefore I would focus my energy on re applying (maybe express mail this time) and not so much on complaining. Believe it or not, when I was at the post office yesterday to mail my application (was sending via regular) , the clerk almost begged me not to send my docs via regular mail when I told her it was N400. Now I understand why....
Click to expand...

Yeah, yesterday I reprinted everything and took her for new pics. This morning i mailed it overnight with confirmation and signature waived.
 
copper1 said:
Frustrating but oh well...

...

What are the odds of this happening to you?
Click to expand...

The odds are quite good. I am guessing there were staples and paper clips holding stuff together inside.

If there were staples holding the envelop flap closed they too can cause a problem.

The solutions to minimize problems is to try and adjust the paper clips and staples so that the envelope is fairly uniformly thick it's entire length and width.

Staples through the flap should have some tape covering the cut ends of the staples. Use the clear tape (not the invisible stuff) as the clear is stickier.

No guarantees, but it will reduce the chance of shredding greatly. If you could see the speed mail goes through the sorting machines you would be amazed. When it gets to a envelope with a lump at one end it can cause the rollers to jump and loose grip on it. They are traveling at around 30mph in some machines.
 
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