KILLEEN, TX — From mail being delivered to the wrong address, to not being delivered at all. A number of neighbors in Killeen shared they have some real concerns about the way they are treated by the Postal Service.
A few people who live in the Yowell Ranch neighborhood in Killeen reached out to Central Texas News Now to share some issues they have experienced using the United States Postal Service.
"My husband is a veteran and sometimes we don't get his mail. And when he don't receive his mail, it's concerning because they have their socials on it," said Melissa Curtis.
Curtis is just one of many who shared their concerns and she said the mailing issues have been happening for at least 11 years.
"A neighbor knocked on my door the other night and brought me a piece of mail that he had found in his yard that was addressed to us and it was opened. It had been run over, and it also had been out in the rain," said Derralee Johnson, who also lives in Yowell Ranch.
After sending a number of complaints to the United States Postal Service, the neighbors decided to take their concerns to their local representative, Congressman John Cater, to see if he could help.
Congressman Cater responded in part:
The residents of Yowell Ranch are rightly frustrated by USPS's handling of their mail, and I have sent an inquiry to the postal service requesting an investigation and solution for the issues my constituents are dealing with. There's no excuse for the abundant misdelivery and missing mail.
Central Texas News Now also reached out to the United States Postal Service and they provided us with a statement which said in part:
In this specific case, local postal managers are aware of customer concerns and are committed to making continuing improvements in service. We appreciate our customers' patience as we continue to successfully resolve their concerns.
USPS spokesperson Becky Hernandez noted, "customers have a variety of options for contacting the Postal Service, including contacting their local Post Office, calling 1-800-ASK-USPS (1-800-275-8777) or visiting our website at www.usps.com/help[usps.com].
After Central Texas News Now first aired this story on July 18, about a dozen people reached out to share they too have had issues with the same post office.
"No matter how many times you've complained about it. I've been complaining about it since 2009. It continues,” said Herbert Veness Jr.
Veness watched Central Texas News Now's coverage about mailing issues in Killeen and he decided to share his story.
"Supposed to get the check three weeks ago, Friday,” said Veness. “It was almost $13,000. Informed Delivery is an app that tells you what mail is coming today. And I see my check was coming. So I get to the mailbox that evening. And everything was there except for that check. And someone else’s mail was in my box as well."
He said his check was never recovered.
"I had to call the company. They had to put a stop payment on that check. So, I had to drive to Houston to pick my check up, because I didn't trust the mail to drop it in my box," said Veness.
And he is just one of many. From left open mailboxes to mail delivered to the wrong address, immediately after we aired this story, around a dozen people reached out to share they have also had problems with the same post office.
When the story aired, Congressman Carter shared in a statement that he sent an inquiry to the postal service requesting an investigation and solution.
Since then, we've gotten some news.
His Communication Director Emily Dowdell shared in part, “In response to Congressman Carter’s request for an investigation and solution for the ongoing missing, damaged and misdelivered mail, the US Postal Service has begun to investigate these concerns as of last week. Congressman Carter continues to monitor this issue and looks forward to favorable action by USPS to rectify these issues.”
Although no one has been available to speak on camera, USPS officials previously let us know local postal managers are aware of customer concerns and are committed to making continuing improvements in service.
And since then, Hernandez added in part, “In our statement, we urged customers to reach out to the Postal Service, which is the appropriate course of action to get their concerns heard and resolved.”
