Bad Things Happen (tm) when one forgets to pay his box fee on time.

The rent on one of my post office boxes expired at the end of March. It
was a very busy time for me. I wasn't checking the mail and didn't send
in the check. I asked the other person who accepts mail for the
organization to pay the fee. He used the envelope provided but the
payment didn't get posted till the middle of the following month,
although I don't think he really mailed it that late.

This had been No Big Deal in the past; I admit to paying late before.
The locks were supposed to be changed if the fee is more than 10 days
late and the box closed. But changing locks was a low priority and
typically the box wouldn't be closed all that promptly, assuming the
customer would renew.

It seems with the new, much higher lock change fee, the post office is
treating it as a profit center, like bank fees, so those locks get
yanked on a priority basis.

"Adam H. Kerman" chinet.com> wrote in message
news:XqWdnaNL8IE5YdvVnZ2dnUVZ_uadnZ2d@comcast.com...

Not just you Adam but to anyone that doesn't pay on time.

Box should be blocked on April 1 and closed on April 11 if payment not
received. A renewal notice should have been put in the box in early March.

Long Gone nospamforadam.net> wrote:

I've never had my boxes closed for renewing late. If your office does
that, that's a little harsh. They've plugged the lock to remind me to
pay but still place mail in the box.

"Adam H. Kerman" chinet.com> wrote in message
news:h_ydnQTuhr4JHNrVnZ2dnUVZ_tHinZ2d@comcast.com...
(clip)

What is harsh about following procedures? As I explained, the rent is due
on or before the last day of the month. If not paid, the box is blocked
(plugged) to deny access and mail continues to be placed in the box. On the
11th of the next month, the box is closed for non-payment and mail is
returned to sender. It is similar but different from how your utility
company handles deliqent accounts. Don't they disconnect at a specific time
for non-payment? You call that harsh but it seems quite businesslike to me.

No, you are saying that. Why would you try to minimize a valid business
practice?

Long Gone nospamforadam.net> wrote:

It's a basic concept of marketing. It costs a fortune to attract a new
customer, significantly less to keep a customer. So not closing the box
for a few more days is reasonable accomodation.

Yeah, they do, but one would have to miss two or three payments in a row
in addition to ignoring required "final notice prior to disconnection"
letters.

But the post office isn't a monopoly for these kinds of services any more.

I agree that USPS seems to be a little more ruthless about box renewals.

I received a renewal notice in my box, duly sent my check in late
December in the provided self-addressed postage-paid envelope
addressed to the unit/branch where the box is located (the
envelope placed in the box requesting payment).

Next thing I know, I get a certified letter telling me my box rent
was not received and that I no longer had a box.

I found that my check was processed a couple of days after their
cutoff dealine. (I mailed the check around December 20, the check was
cashed on something like January 14.)

I was able to retain the box, but what a giant pain it was.
I had numerous problems reinstating magazine subscriptions and
other correspondence because senders saw their mail returned as
"box closed."

"Adam H. Kerman" chinet.com> wrote in message
news:_q-dnYvfXrZhndXVnZ2dnUVZ_vudnZ2d@comcast.com...
(clip)

We shall have to agree to disagree. The customer has three opportunities to
pay the bill before the box is closed. An inital notice the rent is due by
the end of the month. A second notice (at least in many offices) toward the
end of the month to remind the customer. Then the "final notice prior to
disconnection" when the box is blocked (and unavailable for mail pickup
without paying rent) for the next ten days. You are just wanting the Postal
Service (or any other business) to overlook your delay in taking care of
business.

Long Gone nospamforadam.net> wrote:

It's delayed gratification!

I have never heard a real person use that abbreviation.

"Adam H. Kerman" chinet.com> wrote in message
news:LsCdnTKQhvbw3tXVnZ2dnUVZ_vednZ2d@comcast.com...
(clip)

That line is so open I fight to resist and I will.

What else would you call it? Your office suite?

I regret that you live in a crime capital that necessitates such action. I
am used to having 24/7 access to my post office box lobby. The post office
is not open anywhere near that long. However, we do have an APC to serve
the public's mailing needs when the office is closed. Adam, you really need
to travel more. You might even find someplace else more exciting and less
expensive to live.

Long Gone nospamforadam.net> wrote:

A mail drop. That's what such places were called in the Real World for
eighty years.

Certain suburbs leave the box lobbies open while the post office is
unattended. But none of the stations and branches of the Chicago Post
Office do. Hell, many of the stations/branches would lock the box
lobbies when the retail windows closed.