(WXYZ) – On Monday, the 7 investigators showed you how thousands of packages were bottled at the Allen Park USPS distribution center. We are now taking a closer look at the unprecedented delays in sending postal holidays to the post office and what you can do about this lost package.
RELATED: ‘There’s wall-to-wall correspondence.’ Packages stuck in transit at Allen Park facilities
Tractor trailers were lined up around the street trying to deliver and pick up packages at the US Postal Service’s Detroit Network Distribution Center in Allen Park. The 7 investigators counted at least 50 of those huge tractor trucks trying to enter the Allen Park plant on Monday.
Postal workers say there are packages from one wall to another inside, and inside Detroit’s Main Postal Office, they say the letters are also stacked from one wall to another.
“Almost nowhere to walk, nowhere to place this mail and carry it in and out without problems,” said Keith Combs, president of American Postal Workers Union Detroit Local 295.
USPS officials say a combination of quarantined workers for COVID-19 and unprecedented holiday mail volumes made it almost impossible to deliver on time – not just in Michigan, but across the country.
“I think they shouldn’t be offering services they can’t do,” said Jason Plowman of Troy.
Ploughman says he overpaid for 1 to 3 days guaranteed priority shipping to deliver urgent court documents. Instead of three days, as promised, he says the package was shipped from Madison Heights to Allen Park, and two weeks later it finally arrived at the court in Troy.
“I’m walking around, worried about work – what am I going to do if I don’t get there in time? Do I have to redo it all or make phone calls? “, He said.” It’s just a big pain in the ass. “
When he filed a complaint online, he had another surprise.
“You can’t get a refund for this type of service,” said Plowman.
In a written statement sent to the 7 investigators by Elizabeth Najduch about refund options, she states that “Priority Mail Express is the only service supported by a postage guarantee if we are unable to deliver or attempt to deliver the mail as promised. Customers can request a refund at USPS.com. Make sure you have the tracking number and shipping receipt available. “
A recent report from the non-partisan Office of the Inspector General of the USPS found that, during the summer, Postmaster General Louis DeJoy and top managers launched cost-cutting strategies, but they “did not do any analysis of the service impacts … “before making these changes, causing problems across the USA
These changes to the USPS began at a time when Patty Pietka was waiting for her supply of hearing aids. They were sent from Farmington Hills to Byron, Michigan, on August 4.
“So many people who depend on the postal service for their prescriptions, their hearing aid supplies, medical supplies,” said Pietka.
This package is still missing.
“This never happened before! I’ve always been able to count on that, ”said Pietka.
Here’s what USPS officials say you can do if your package is lost or stuck in transit:
When problems occur with the courier service, we take steps to resolve customer concerns quickly. We are pleased to work to resolve any specific community issues when brought to our attention and encourage customers to contact their local post offices. Customers can also go to our usps.com website and click on “Contact Us” at the bottom of our home page.
Each email will be carefully documented and appropriate actions will be taken to strengthen the service. In addition, the official United States Postal Service Twitter account, managed by the USPS HQ social media team, can provide help. For customer service, send a tweet to @USPSHelp. The Postal Service will continue to diligently investigate customer concerns and address deficiencies to improve service to our communities.
Meanwhile, Congresswoman Brenda Lawrence (D-Southfield) says she spoke to Postmaster General last week about these delays and promises to accompany him on holiday delivery difficulties.