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Great Falls Couple Mad After Post Office Stops Delivering Mail

GF Couple Mad After Post Office Stops Delivering

By KFBB News Team

Having mail delivered to your home is something most of us take for granted. A Great Falls couple is unhappy tonight, after the Postal Service stopped delivering mail to their home. The Post Office says a parked camper blocks easy access to the mailbox, and they need to move the camper or the box.

Tom and Susan Thomas have lived at their 9th Avenue North home for 18 years. But last month, they were notified they would no longer receive mail because they park their camper too close to the mailbox.

"We park here because we unfortunately live close to an alley and this is the parking available," Susan Thomas said.

But Postal Service officials say they are just following the rules.

"If there is an obstruction, we have to get them to move the mailbox or move the vehicle, in order to deliver,” said Jacque Stingley of the United States Postal Service in Great Falls.

But Thomas says it would be simple for the mail carrier to get out of the vehicle and visit the box, like they do at other houses on the block.

“It would only take them five steps to get to the mailbox.”


"Bottom line, we need to deliver as smoothly as possible. We want the carriers to hit the mailboxes quickly, and be on their way," Stingley said.

The Thomas family says they will continue to retrieve their mail at the post office until this issue is resolved.

Stingley urges all citizens to make sure their mailboxes are unobstructed, especially with winter on the way.

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Anonymous said on Friday, Mar 25 at 9:42 AM

also, many MANY people move and leave no notice or forward address... so their mail just PILES up. How are WE supposed to know if you moved or if you just went on vacation and left it up to your carrier to take care of your mail? By the way... I broke my arm last month because i fell down some icy steps doing my job. Once again, a little consideration of the home owner to salt their walkway would have been nice. Do our job for a DAY!!! and then you can pass judgement on who is the lazy one!

Anonymous said on Friday, Mar 25 at 9:37 AM

just as easy as it would be for the carrier to walk five steps, it would be for the customer to move their box! when we leave the vehicle to do anything, we have to shut off the engine and put the parking break on. Imagine if we had to do that for every customer?? it amazes me how much harder customers can make our job. I deliever to many apartment buildings with SMALL outdated boxes. When someone does not pick up their mail daily, it makes it very difficult to stuff their mail in the box...espeically when they let it pile up for a week or more. Is it that hard to just get your mail daily? Or even every other day? Some people just never know what we go through.. although i do have to give credit to the customers out there that go out of their way to make our job a little easy. If you can, why not? If you cant.. you are just being a stubborn Ahole!

Zeegee said on Monday, May 17 at 1:01 AM

#1. Lucky to have a job in this economy. #2 It seems to be a basic customer service issue. ALL JOBS have a boss riding your back about quotas etc, you still have to make the customers happy. I have been out of town for a funeral and stayed a couple of days longer. I guess my mail lady did not like my full mail box and I haven't received mail in over a week now. There is no note, no nothing. My door is literally 5 steps away and she has time to chat with my landlady (they are friends)daily. Every mail carrier I have come across has had time to chat more often then not. Anyone know the laws regarding this before I see her and blow a fuse?

me man said on Thursday, Jan 14 at 3:57 PM

They quit delivering some of my mail citing a request for stopping service. I never requested stopping delivery, I work at night and haven't talked to a postal carrier in years

Sean said on Thursday, Jan 7 at 7:23 PM

Whoever Delievers on 9th Ave North may just be lazy. I moved into my apartment a month ago. People have sent me mail and it is yet to come into my mailbox. I talked to USPS, they say I am good to go....What other reasons are there for my Priority mail, letter mail and other's to be 3 weeks and counting late? USPS investigation anyone?!

Get over it. said on Wednesday, Nov 18 at 4:26 PM

Hey, if you can't handle the job, I'll be happy to take it! You earn twice what the average Montanan earns, so what are you complaining about? Don't take it out on paying customers and taxpayers when you're unhappy in your job.

postal 1 said on Monday, Nov 16 at 2:21 PM

everytime a carrier gets out the truck he is to lock it soo if he is on a riding route the only time he is allowed out is for a signature or package the pm in that area should have gone out to see exactly what was goin on. if ur gettin ur mail after 5 its bc the carrier had to do part of another route b4 startin his or jobs were cut routes overburdened so its gonna b late

postal 1 said on Monday, Nov 16 at 2:14 PM

ima a window clerk and u wouldnt believe the complaints about delivery. the customers must realize a carrier has not just ur house to deliever but hundreds more. they have letters, magazines parcels that can weigh up to 70lbs on a daily basis they are human they ache they have pains then they have managers on their back to finish on time. just think he has 2min per house to get u to open up and sign he cant wait for you to finish ur call or get the baby or dog or ur drink. have a little humility

Ray Sr. said on Friday, Nov 13 at 1:57 PM

So you won that's great! the post office was WRONG written apology that for sure states they were in the wrong

Luke said on Friday, Nov 13 at 1:24 PM

I hear they got a wriiten apology from the Post Master SWEET!!!!!

unhappy USPS customer said on Thursday, Nov 12 at 5:09 PM

It's after 5:00 and the banks have all switched over for the day. Have you seen your mailman yet? I haven't. I can't feed my family if my paychecks don't get here in a timely manner.

no-brainers said on Thursday, Nov 12 at 4:28 PM

Some of us DO have 15 feet of clearance on both sides, but we still get hassled. I've got the tape measure and pictures to prove it. I didn't ask for the whole neighborhood's mailboxes to be in front of my house. Put them somewhere else! We also don't get our mail until after 5:00 p.m. on most days when the slow mailman works.

JIM said on Thursday, Nov 12 at 12:10 PM

NICE GLAD TO HERE THE POST OFFICE HAD TO DO THEIR JOB

Laurel said on Thursday, Nov 12 at 6:55 AM

so the Thomas's were in the Right all along

Eric said on Wednesday, Nov 11 at 9:47 PM

Too bad you think delivering mail is an easy job. Try 800-900 stops a day controlled by rules and regulations on your every move. Simple solution for the customer.Adhere to the rules of the P.O. Do not block access to a curbside box. Boxes on a house are subject to the grandfather clause. The customer apparently has a grudge because his neighbors get house delivery. Just move your curb box as to not cause a problem and get over it. I deal with blocking a curbside box daily and have for 29 years.

hmm 5 steps times how many houses? said on Wednesday, Nov 11 at 8:05 PM

What makes these people feel entitled to special service? If the mailman has to perform this extra service for every person on the route, and these people start getting their mail after 5pm...bet they would complain about that...it is not just one mailbox...one customer..this postal customer needs to not be selfish and move the darn camper. There needs to be 30 feet of clearance around a mailbox for delivery...15 feet on either side so the carrier can pull in and service the box and pull back o

Jess said on Wednesday, Nov 11 at 8:34 AM

Eric, I was thinking the same thing!

Erik J said on Wednesday, Nov 11 at 5:36 AM

About 30 years ago my parents got a note from the Post Office saying that we needed to shovel our sidewalks, which we did. The Next day my dad got pictures of the Letter Carrier walking across the lawn.

A little courtesy please. said on Tuesday, Nov 10 at 8:04 PM

I want all you folks who say just get out of the truck and deliver to do a little experiment in work tomorrow. Ask a coworker to come over to where you are working and just stand in front of you, making you stop what you are doing and move around them. Have them do this every 5 minutes or so. See how frustrating it is aside from causing delays in service. Many blocked boxes in a day add up in time. What makes this harder is that management already pushes us to do 10 hours of work in a 8 hour day

Us, too! said on Tuesday, Nov 10 at 6:08 PM

They must have the same incapable JERK as we have. Every other mailman can deliver our mail on time without a problem and without getting out of the truck except for one SLOW, lazy mailman.

faye a said on Tuesday, Nov 10 at 5:05 PM

nice job glad you got your mail

John S said on Tuesday, Nov 10 at 3:50 PM

way to go folks. never heard of anyone beating out the USPO but you did :)

Murp said on Tuesday, Nov 10 at 3:48 PM

glad to hear you won got one for the little guy

pat said on Tuesday, Nov 10 at 3:40 PM

Funny! what changed their minds?? the fact that they were wrong from the get go

TED said on Tuesday, Nov 10 at 3:38 PM

what happen did you ask for the polcy in writing and they didn't want to comply?? Glad you WON

stacy said on Tuesday, Nov 10 at 3:37 PM

HEY I HEAR THE THOMAS'S WON THEIR BATTLE WITH THE POST OFFICE. THEY DON'T HAVE TO MOVE ANY VECHILES OR THE MAIL BOX. WHAT THE H___ WAS THAT ALL ABOUT. SIMPLY HARASSMENT BY THE POST OFFICE.

RAY ALLISON said on Tuesday, Nov 10 at 1:17 PM

WELL I GUESS IF THE BOAT AN CAMPER WERE PARKED IN THERE BACK YARD,MANY TIMES WHEN I HAVE BEEN AT THERE HOUSE,LOOKS LIKE THEY WANT A FIGHT OR 15 MINUTES OF FAME.I'AM GLAD WE DON'T HAVE THE LAST NAME.LMAO

nieghbor said on Tuesday, Nov 10 at 9:23 AM

I love the way you all assume. The policy was reqested in writing from the Thomas's and the post master REFUSED to provide it to them. Nice cooperation on the Post Office part...

Anonymous said on Tuesday, Nov 10 at 7:09 AM

www.uspsoig.gov

unknown said on Monday, Nov 9 at 8:37 PM

they have lived there for 18 years.it has never been a problem,before all the people complaining that carriers get paid by the route and not by the hour to bad.there are plenty of crappy jobs that people have to work at for salary pay and they actually have to deal every day with, drunks, rude and every other kind of unpleasant person you can think of. and why is it this family is the only one that can't get their mail delivered, when the rest of the block is located at the house.

ceecee said on Monday, Nov 9 at 5:26 PM

to funny if the post man gets hurt on the job it's CALLED WORKERS COMPS AND DO YOU REALLY THINK HE OR SHE IS AT RISK WALKING 5 STEPS get real

lou said on Monday, Nov 9 at 5:00 PM

If it is truly only 5 steps to the mail box it seems ridiculous that the carrier won't deliver the mail. Especially when he hqs to get out and walk all the way up to the rest of the homes where the mail boxes are lcoated either on their house or fence. Which I hear is 3 times father than the Thomas's mail box

sad sack said on Monday, Nov 9 at 4:26 PM

why can't people just do their jobs, it seem that the job was being done before the temp got put on the route. Post office do your part

union steward said on Monday, Nov 9 at 3:08 PM

I had a sub division that blocked tevery mail box with there garbage cans it ended up costing the postal service 45 miutes overtime everytime this happaned because I was told to deliver the mail. then they wanted to write me up for following there orders So the next week I brought a didgital camera and took a picture of every box that was blocked they had no case against me and told me to bring the mail back and deliver it the next day so i brought it back recased it and still got overtime so ir

TONY said on Monday, Nov 9 at 2:55 PM

To bad the post master isn't willing to make an effort with the Thomas's I hear this has been going on for almost a month. If this has been a problem why have they been receiving the mail for the last 18 years, shouldn't this have been caught sooner?? come on del their mail

shellbell said on Monday, Nov 9 at 2:40 PM

how come all the other carries are able to make the deliver. You get George on your route as a fill in and George is too lazy to walk 5 steps. why wasn't this turned in before if the Thomas's were blocking the box??

bbc said on Monday, Nov 9 at 2:18 PM

if you ever been down 29th you would know there is no parking except the private drive ways. why do you all assume you can just move a car/camper. there is no place to move it to they should be able to park in their own drive way

BUD said on Monday, Nov 9 at 1:44 PM

I HEAR THIS HAS BEEN SINCE 10-13-09 AND THE POST MASTER FEFUSES TO MEET WITH THESE FOLKS. DO YOU REALLY THINK THE POST OFFCIE IS RIGHT. COME ON WHY AREN'T THEY WORKING WITH THESE FOLKS.

neibor 3 said on Monday, Nov 9 at 12:21 PM

if this family has been there for 18 years why didn't the post offic take care of this along time ago, since obviously they have been getting the mail prior to this date how come they can smoke on the job as the are walking up & down the street, but no walk 5 steps to someones mail box

C Smith said on Sunday, Nov 8 at 4:59 PM

What customers do not realize is that it takes time to get out of our vehicle. The more boxes that are blocked the more time that will add to our day, and as most carriers know, we don't have extra time to spare.

anon said on Sunday, Nov 8 at 9:37 AM

If you dismount your vehicle and you are injured in the process you are penalized. I dismounted my vehicle to make a delivery to a blocked box and a hole and broke my ankle in 3 places and had to have surgery and a pins insertted. I received a lwetter of warning for my efforts and I had very little sick leave accumulated and I ended up on welfare for 6 months while I recovered. Do not dismount your vehicle! Move the box!!!!!!!!!!promptlyfell fell in

MrBigsky said on Sunday, Nov 8 at 9:08 AM

ihave pasted it in here for all tosee it is very clear. There is no argueing. If we dont enforce the rules for this type of instance, when should we?

MrBigsky said on Sunday, Nov 8 at 9:07 AM

The wording in the POM, is very clear, i have pastedThe customer is responsible for keeping the approach to the mailbox clear to facilitate delivery (see 632.14). If the carrier continually experiences a problem in serving curbline boxes and where the customer is able to control access or on–street parking in front of his or her mailbox but does not take prompt corrective action after being properly notified, the postmaster may, with the approval of the district manager, withdraw delivery servic

Petey said on Sunday, Nov 8 at 8:38 AM

Carriers are public servants "not PRIVATE ones". A carrier who dismounts their vehicle and is hurt does not get paid. They are given a letter of warning and unless they have sick leave they get nothing. Beleive me I know that.

Walter Albert said on Sunday, Nov 8 at 8:05 AM

If the carrier has been delivering to the box even though it was blocked, the postal service has no choice but to continue delivery!!! Ask the stingly to go out and talk to the customer, or is that asking

Jersey Rural Carrier said on Sunday, Nov 8 at 7:25 AM

Sure glad these people don't live on my route, I am sure this couple would not mind doing extra for their employers every day without compensation, we are paid by the route not by the hour!! Could they be more inconsiderate?

V. Singleton said on Sunday, Nov 8 at 6:56 AM

Carriers dont have time to walk to every house on our route. Please help us out! This will save time. Thanks!

frustrated said on Saturday, Nov 7 at 11:43 PM

I am a carrier and if the vehicle is not directly in front of the box I get out and deliver, if it directly in front of the box I bring it back tomorrow, if it a constant problem I talk to the customer , city carriers get paid by the hour, rural carriers get paid by the route(which unfortunately for them gets them screwed by management every year)

Hello, Newman! said on Saturday, Nov 7 at 11:17 PM

A carrier cannot just hop out of his truck to effect a delivery. He must put the truck in park, set the brake, shut the vehicle off, remove the keys, remove his seat belt, open the door, deliver the mail, return to the vehicle, fasten his seat belt, insert the key, start the vehicle, release the brake, put the vehicle in drive, and then finally get moving to the next box. And, should the carrier slip and fall while exiting or entering his vehicle, or have an accident, it will be his fault.

ruralcarrier said on Saturday, Nov 7 at 9:22 PM

So, the customer does not want to move the mailbox or the camper, they will pick it up at the post office, after 30 days the mail can be returned to sender as no mail receptacle. Maybe with their stupidity they should sell their home and camper and JUST MOVE!

Anonymous said on Saturday, Nov 7 at 8:23 PM

If the carriers get paid by the hour, that means that as more people obstruct their mailbox, the more cost it is to deliver mail, which means more frequent increases in postage rates. If carriers are paid by the route, then the carrier is having to waste their time on the job due to rude behavior of residents, which also delays delivery to other residents on the route. Let's have some respect for the carrier and the other residents. Think about someone other than yourself.

susan said on Saturday, Nov 7 at 7:54 PM

oh please people get a life move your dam box walk in some1 elses shoes and iam a carrier and I DO NOT GET PAID BY THE HOUR GET PAID BY THE ROUTE

common sense said on Saturday, Nov 7 at 7:38 PM

If everyone on the route blocked their boxes requiring the carrier to dismount at numerous boxes, the carrier would never get done! These same folks would probably be the first to cry out loud when their mail was hours later.

JB said on Saturday, Nov 7 at 7:38 PM

The person who wrote this (see above) is a complete idiot and carriers are poaid by the route - not by the hour. "The POM an offical Manual says that the carrier will get out and deliver, and the only person that can curtail mail is the district manager just get out and deliver you get paid by the hour

Carrier said on Saturday, Nov 7 at 7:25 PM

If every "it's all about me" resident with roadside delivery blocked their box,it would take forever to deliver a mail route with 400 to 800 stops. Please, think of what the carrier must comply with before you start complaining about the simple thing that you are required to do to receive roadside delivery. For crying out loud.

Anonymous said on Saturday, Nov 7 at 6:28 PM

People one day will regret the day when the postal service ever goes private. that letter that costs you 44 cents to mail will cost you $4.40 to the same destination.

Anonymous said on Saturday, Nov 7 at 4:47 PM

The POM an offical Manual says that the carrier will get out and deliver, and the only person that can curtail mail is the district manager just get out and deliver you get paid by the hour

USPS Advocate said on Saturday, Nov 7 at 3:25 PM

Does anyone NOT read the paper? The USPS like everyone else is trying to survive in these economic times. Curb side mail boxes are just that. Delivery from vehicle. When the Postal service goes private, people will find out just how much service was given. People need to help the USPS continue to operate to every home, not just where the money is. Mail delivery is a privledge not an entitlement. Problem with the entire country anymore is everyone feels entitled!!!!!!!!

Cliff Claven said on Saturday, Nov 7 at 3:09 PM

Hey maybe you ought to walk a mile in the letter carriers route and she wall it all comprises? Those quick to Judge--NO NOTHING of the task at hand! You complain & Snivel, but heed my words, once the P.O. is gone--only then you will see what you have Lost!

Shmedley the RC said on Saturday, Nov 7 at 2:51 PM

The reason for no dismount is simple - it will put the carrier in peril - unauthorized dismounts are just that - unauthorized and unsafe - move the friggin camper or the box. Enuf said... Stop mammby-pandering to these people.

AJ said on Saturday, Nov 7 at 2:06 PM

These people are not the only ones getting service that day. What if every other box was blocked the carrier would never get done. The rule is in place for a reason. Its the customer responsibility to keep approach clear of any obstacles.

Supervisor said on Saturday, Nov 7 at 1:13 PM

It cost more for the carrier to exit the vehicle to deliver the mail, approximately three times per year for a dismount delivery versus a Box on Post

Marie said on Saturday, Nov 7 at 10:00 AM

I'm originally from the mid west, and the mail person who delivers by a vehical will not deliver mail if there is any obstruction to the access of the mail box at all.Not limited to and including, snow pile up from the street cleaners, leaves,garbage or the garbage cans,ect. I think the mail men have a hard enough time delivering the mail. The least the reciver could do is make sure the mail man has clear access to their boxes.Move the box. Obey the rules.

Smoke screen said on Saturday, Nov 7 at 8:38 AM

waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa,,,,,, I want my congressman

unknow said on Saturday, Nov 7 at 8:17 AM

I feel for these people. we at my post office are required to exit our mail trucks to deliver mail to blocked boxes. our policy is every piece everyday. we are held accountable for mail brought back. There is no excuse for us not delivering mail, unless there is a dog problem. What happened to customer service???????

Greg Collins said on Saturday, Nov 7 at 6:56 AM

The real story here is what kind of psychological make-up do you have where you go all the way to the post office to get your mail rather than comply with a simple rule that everyone else in the universe complies with. I assure you that the carrier does not dismount for blocked boxes anywhere on a regular basis because the post office would have to pay him for that time and soon paople would want you to bring it in the house and set it on the coffee table for them.

earl m george said on Saturday, Nov 7 at 5:49 AM

how long has this been a problem? it says they have lived there for 18 years. access to the box is to be unobstructed or we are not supposed to deliver. explain the policy to them. it sounds like they need to move the box.

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