Audit recommends solutions to late, undelivered mail in Richmond
RICHMOND, VA (WWBT) - The Richmond division of the Post Office took a close look at complaints from residents ranging from late deliveries to items that have been tampered with.
A 20-page audit from the Office of the Inspector General acknowledges many of the complaints people in Richmond have about their mail are credible.
“You want your mail,” Teneka Brooks said. “You want to know that what’s coming to you is securely getting to you. You don’t want to be missing stuff.”
An investigation uncovered multiple cases where people who live in Richmond found that’s not always happening.
"They deliver mail so late,” a resident who didn’t want to be identified said.
“My girlfriend lives around the street and what she says, she receives her mail sometimes days later,” another resident said.
Around this time last year, two local postal workers pleaded guilty to throwing away mail that was supposed to be delivered. The Post Office admits these issues are costing them a lot of money.
The audit shows the Richmond division office had to pay $1.7 million due to costs deemed to be “questionable,” such as unauthorized overtime. When the district had to re-open delivery complaints from many of you, it led to an additional $83,000 expense.
Now the inspector general is recommending Richmond postal officials take action including:
- Direct supervisors to better communicate expectations to carriers and monitor their performance.
- Make sure lock keys are better accounted for. (The report says 94 percent of Richmond branches are mismanaging keys.)
- Maintain a customer complaint log to resolve customer complaints quickly.
"People need their bills on time so they can pay,” one resident said.
"Basically, I was very upset with her because I was not receiving my money on time,” another resident said.
This had become such an issue earlier this year that Congressman Don McEachin held a town hall forum. In a statement Wednesday, he said his staff has meet with the Post Office weekly to discuss these concerns and he hopes this audit leads to those branches getting it right.
You can read the full audit here.
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