WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Steve Cohen (D-TN-9) today introduced the Postmark Payment Act of 2012, a bill that would require that any payment of a bill or invoice, if sent by U.S. mail, be considered sent on the date its envelope was postmarked. The bill would exempt any payment where another method, such as electronic payment, is required by regulation, contract, or law.
“Each month, thousands of Americans are charged late fees and penalties for bills they believed in good faith they had paid on time, through no fault of their own,” Congressman Cohen said. “This bill would make sure consumers are held to the same payment standards used by the Internal Revenue Service.”
Last December, the United States Postal Service announced changes in its service standards that would, for the first time in 40 years, eliminate the possibility for first-class stamped mail delivered from a home mailbox to arrive the next day. First-class mail in the United States usually arrives within one to two days, but the changes would move first-class mail to a two to three day standard. Senior citizens and consumers living in underserved or rural communities will be most severely impacted by the cuts.
Silly, silly, silly people.
The only way to prove a particular piece was mailed is to go to the local Post Office (which will be shuttered/closed after the USPS finishes screwing it all up) wait in long lines (only one window clerk to serve five windows… intentional USPS excess line queuing to discourage window customers) and purchase a “proof of mailing certificate” for about forty cents.
Try to doing that on your lunch break at your local PO which has abbreviated it’s hours and closes during the one window clerk’s lunch time.
It’s enough to piss you off that the PO is doing everything it can to eliminate Mom & Pop mail; now lame politicians come up with stupid ideas like this to ‘fix’ the PO.
This is a total mess and NO ONE has proposed anything to really solve PO problems created by inept Congresspersons and obtuse USPS managers. One could combine the best parts of every bill proposed in both the House and the Senate and still come up with a sum-zero solution.
Is this the BEST America has to offer?
It’s disgusting.
Great idea!! Many credit card companies cant be trusted. without putting tracking on each piece how does any one know when mail arrives. with the updates on usps equipment and mail processing machines usps should be able to pinpoint when each letter is delivered or should have been delivered. GO USPS!!!!!
Getting closer to the edge of getting good things done for the people on the hill?