“Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds,” is not the official motto of the United States Postal Service.
If it were, the words “pandemic” and “political interference” would need to be added.
Sadly, only 64 percent of first-class mail and 10 percent of junk mail and periodicals were delivered on-time last December. No one knows how much mail was lost.
You might say, “So what?” to these statistics. Well, if your monthly statement from a credit card company, car payment, student loan or utility provider was late or lost, penalty interest rates, late payment fees or a cold winter night without power might be a real shock to your system.
None of this is the fault of our local post office, under the leadership of Postmaster Debbie Beasley.
Robbinsville is the end of the line for a long and complicated process that delivers our mail. I asked a question a few days ago regarding the delivery of COVID relief checks, Round 2.
Not one check had arrived, even though the IRS website says the checks were mailed Jan. 6.
Beasley’s answer was crystal clear.
“When mail arrives here, it is processed immediately,” she emphatically stated.
We should all accept that and stop haranguing our dedicated local employees. But what can we do to mitigate the financial impacts of late or lost mail?
Here are a few suggestions from someone who does not feel comfortable with electronic bill paying or banking:
* Make a list of all your monthly payments, including mortgage, rent, utilities, credit cards and other obligations. Include the day these bills usually arrive in the mail and the day that the mail-in payments must be posted to avoid missing due dates. Check the list weekly to be sure that the statements have arrived.
* If you miss a payment, this can really be expensive and possibly ding your credit rating causing long-term grief when you apply for credit. One late payment on your record can result in higher interest rates than you deserve. Place a call to the credit provider, go through the early prompts to identify yourself and then say firmly “speak to representative.” It might take 15 minutes to get through, but this is time well spent.
* Credit card companies will provide some relief in minimum payments if you respectfully ask. Evictions have been stayed temporarily and college loan payments have already been extended by 90 percent of the borrowers. The tax code mercifully allows spreading out the payment of taxes over three years if you had to tap your retirement account due to COVID.
* If cash flow is a challenge, reconsider authorizing automatic payments from your account. Many folks are comfortable with making payments electronically. Keep in mind that electronic payment amounts are decided by the person making the payment. Automated payments when times are tight allow no flexibility to make partial payments.
* Finally, don’t give up. Financial institutions don’t want to repossess your car or home. They want to keep you in it if you are trying to keep up payments. Debt collectors have limits on their tactics. Let them know that you are trying and don’t accept threats. Remain courteous and firm if you are being dunned.
*
These are tough times. Next time you enter the post office, mask up and say “thanks” to our local workers. They are doing the best they can, as the front line of defense in a system over which they have little or no control.
Roger Carlton writes a bi-weekly column for The Graham Star. He is a council member for the Town of Lake Santeetlah.