- Joined
- Aug 28, 2010
- Messages
- 62
DS sent his nomination package on October 8 to our local congressman via Priority Mail with delivery confirmation and signature required for delivery. Unfortunately, the regular mail carrier was not on duty when the package arrived at the congressman's office. Delivery was attempted on October 9 the Saturday of Columbus Day Weekend, which is obviously not a working day. A substitute carrier left notification with the congressman's office, which is the last time the Postal Service has a record of the package. According to them, the package was still sitting in the congressman's local post office waiting to be picked up or redelivered.
After checking online on the postal website and getting no change in status for a week, I called the help line at the postal service. I was told that the congressman's office needed to initiate redelivery and that there was nothing I could do, since the ball was "in their court". I called the congressman's office on October 15 to give them a heads up and was told by a receptionist "Oh, they will automatically redeliver. Don't worry about it, we will get it eventually". I waited 4 more business days and checked the status online again - no change.
I then called the congressman's office on Thursday, October 21 and spoke to someone who said the Nominations person was on the telephone and they would make sure my message got to them. No one returned my call.
On Saturday, October 23, I was able to call the congressman's local post office and learned from the supervisor on duty that the package was "definitely attempted to be delivered on October 9" by the substitute carrier. The supervisor also spoke to the regular carrier who said "Oh, I probably delivered it without getting a signature or a proof of delivery". The supervisor assured me that the package was NOT anywhere to be found at the congressman's local post office.
Fast forward to this morning when my husband visited the congressman's office and spoke to the Nominations person. She checked their database and son's information was not showing up in it. Nothing. Then, she checked inside a desk drawer and found it - everything was delivered on October 12. All is well that ends well, right?
Well, the reason I am writing this is to let people know that it's important to MAKE SURE your package gets to your nomination source. Don't feel intimidated, don't allow yourself to be brushed to the side. Politely but firmly explain why you need to know that it got there. Even though my son's information made it to the congressman's office on October 12 (almost 2 weeks ago), it had STILL NOT been entered into their database and WOULD NOT have been entered if my husband did not make a personal visit.
Be diligent. Your kids worked extremely hard to get to this point. They did their part, and will continue to do so. Don't let someone else's mistake or oversight prevent them from the possibility of being nominated.
After checking online on the postal website and getting no change in status for a week, I called the help line at the postal service. I was told that the congressman's office needed to initiate redelivery and that there was nothing I could do, since the ball was "in their court". I called the congressman's office on October 15 to give them a heads up and was told by a receptionist "Oh, they will automatically redeliver. Don't worry about it, we will get it eventually". I waited 4 more business days and checked the status online again - no change.
I then called the congressman's office on Thursday, October 21 and spoke to someone who said the Nominations person was on the telephone and they would make sure my message got to them. No one returned my call.
On Saturday, October 23, I was able to call the congressman's local post office and learned from the supervisor on duty that the package was "definitely attempted to be delivered on October 9" by the substitute carrier. The supervisor also spoke to the regular carrier who said "Oh, I probably delivered it without getting a signature or a proof of delivery". The supervisor assured me that the package was NOT anywhere to be found at the congressman's local post office.
Fast forward to this morning when my husband visited the congressman's office and spoke to the Nominations person. She checked their database and son's information was not showing up in it. Nothing. Then, she checked inside a desk drawer and found it - everything was delivered on October 12. All is well that ends well, right?
Well, the reason I am writing this is to let people know that it's important to MAKE SURE your package gets to your nomination source. Don't feel intimidated, don't allow yourself to be brushed to the side. Politely but firmly explain why you need to know that it got there. Even though my son's information made it to the congressman's office on October 12 (almost 2 weeks ago), it had STILL NOT been entered into their database and WOULD NOT have been entered if my husband did not make a personal visit.
Be diligent. Your kids worked extremely hard to get to this point. They did their part, and will continue to do so. Don't let someone else's mistake or oversight prevent them from the possibility of being nominated.
