posted on June 12, 2001 05:28:01 AM new
The clerk at my post office has gone too far this time. I told you all earlier how much trouble I've been having with my post office. They gripe about the packages, want me to call and make an appointment to mail, etc.
Yesterday, she crossed the line, and I want to know where to file a complaint.
I went in with my usual bi-weekly shipment. I stood in line until it was my turn, and then she told me to take them around back. I told her no, that I had stood in line and didn't have time to do that.
She did all of my packages up and gave me a total, so I gave her my debit card. She ran it through the machine and announced loudly that the bank wouldn't take it!
Now, I knew there was money there and that I had used the correct pin number. She tried it again, still nothing. By now, it was really embarrassing, so I paid with a Visa and left.
When I got home, I called the bank and found out that my debit card had not been submitted at all. She just pretended to submit it to embarrass me and get even for bothering her with all those packages! So where do I go? I don't want to cost anyone their job, but enough is enough!
posted on June 12, 2001 05:43:24 AM new
You really can't know with certainty that the postal clerk "pretended to submit it to embarrass me and get even for bothering her with all those packages!" You can suspect it, and even suspect it strongly, but that's as far as you can go. It might be that the post office's system was fouled up, or that the bank's system was fouled up, who knows? Once, I gave a hotel clerk a credit card; she ran it, told me it was over the limit, system refused it, she handed it back. It wasn't over the limit, nowhere near. I said so, she shrugged. I gave her another credit card, she ran it, everything was fine with that one. It wasn't anything personal, it was just one of those things.
Ask one of the clerks for a complaint form. Fill it out, but don't be hysterical. Hand it back in and go home.
posted on June 12, 2001 05:50:54 AM new
I don't know about Monday, but on Sunday ATMs and debit cards weren't being accepted from Houston to Atlanta. Clerks at the supermarket told me not to even try my debit card, my wife experienced the same thing when she was trying to use her debit card.
A blurp on the news said it had something to do with the flooding in Huston.
posted on June 12, 2001 10:54:03 AM new
If the clerks at your post office are that rude, I wouldn't ask for a form to fill out I would talk to the supervisor. The other posters are correct that you can't prove that she didn't run your CC through just for spite. I can't understand why you did not say something to the clerks the first time. When you are not provided good customer service, complain loud and often until they change the way they treat you.
posted on June 12, 2001 11:00:13 AM new
Hi Bearmom! Maybe you could try talking to her. Explain to her that you want to file a complaint with her superior, but wanted to talk to her first. You never know, she could snap out of it (at least when you're around!).
posted on June 12, 2001 11:43:29 AM new
As uaru said - there have been problems with ATMs because of damage from the recent floods.
We have several post offices near us. A couple months ago I was with my husband when the postal clerk ran our card through their machine. It wouldn't take it. We didn't have enough cash with us so we went to our bank, cashed a check, and then went to the second post office which was now the nearer. That machine had the same problem with the card so my husband rubbed the card quickly back and forth across his shirtsleeve and gave it back to the clerk. The card then worked. It had something to do with the static, I think.
posted on June 12, 2001 11:56:36 AM new
File a complaint about her rudeness with the postmaster. You may find out she's just following their policy (calling ahead is one I've never heard of, but...)
Sometimes the ATM machines just don't connect. That happened to me and the bank said it was never run through. Fact of the matter is, the connection was never made, so the bank didn't know for sure it never was run through. They just assume that since their machines seem to be working fine, it's the post office clerk's fault. This may not be the case.
I would just file the complaint on her rudeness and leave it at that. However, be aware if she's scolded, she may be worse next time.
posted on June 12, 2001 12:04:36 PM new
There is a formal customer complaint procedure that once initiated requires an action in response and an report of that action to you.
Go and ask to see the PM, or the station manager if it is a city delivery point. They cannot deny you.
Also, their system will record even an unsuccessful attempt to query a card. If there is no record of your card having been attempted then in all likelihood you have a valid complaint. Let them investigate that. Look in your phone book listings for a number for customer complaints. If you are in a large enough area there will be no need to deal with the people at your contact point.
posted on June 12, 2001 12:13:51 PM new
Call and make an appointment!!!
They have got to be joking. How big is this post office? That is ridiculous. If they are open for business than they should take your packages.
As far as the card goes I had all of mine rejected in a store once , one right after the other. Talk about embarrassed.
I went to 6 other stores using a card in each one to make sure it was their machine and not my cards. (or at least that is the excuse I gave my husband when I dragged all the shopping bags out of the car}:}
Houston was pretty flooded and I know a certain bank card (forgot which one) was not supposed to be working until today or tomorrow.
posted on June 12, 2001 01:12:09 PM new
I know that this will not help the problem, but wouldn't it be fun to send her a package with home made brownies laced with exlax! That'd keep her hoppin'.
Do register a complaint...have you ever asked her why she is so aggravated with doing her job? You know kinda like a co conspirator (oh how awful this job is but ya gotta do what ya gotta do to make a living?)
I had a clerk one time in my small post office who was very rude and even went so far as to slam the "fragile" stamp onto my packages several times before she would throw the packages halfway across the room. I just stood there dumbfounded. One day I asked her why she was so arrogant and she said it was because they didn't even give her health insurance! Well, this woman was part-time and knew she wasn't eligible. I told her not to leave it out on customers because she was lucky to even have a federal job. I then reported her to our head clerk. She was sweet as could be in subsequent trips and never threw my packages again.
Several months ago, I had gone to the post office and got in line for one of the clerks who was always really friendly. I mentioned the rate increase and you would have thought I was holding her up! She started yelling that with the price of gas, she had to travel 15 miles to get to work and how dare I complain about the increase! SHE had to buy gas. At the time I worked 40 miles from home, so I didn't say anything. I was afraid to actually. She'd probably chop me to pieces and break my collectibles!
You just don't know with them anymore. It's scary!
posted on June 12, 2001 02:14:22 PM new
The clerks at my post office are very nice. BUT, one has a bit of an attitude problem...or rather, DID have one. I must look meek, but she got a rude awakening. My box said very clearly FRAGILE all over it. What did she do? She THREW it in the bin, which was about 15 feet away, then she smirked at me, like "oops". I stood there, glaring at her, then said "you can march right on over there and bring it back to me CAREFULLY so I can check it since its probably in pieces". There was a line behind me and everyone gasped at what she did, so they didnt say a word. She stomped over and got it and slammed it down on the counter, then told me to step aside so she could help the next person, to which I replied "dont you mean THROW the next persons package? Im not budging, and if you think you can make me budge, come on over to this side of the counter and give it your best shot". She stood there, quietly, while I checked the package. Lucky for her, it wasnt broken. I then demanded tape to re seal the package, then told her to get her supervisor because I wasnt leaving until she did. The people behind me were now murmuring "yeah". She got him, and I told him what she did and he pulled her aside with a finger in her face talking while her face got redder. Now, she is sweet as cream pie.
Dont take your clerks attitude. There are alot of people out there who need and want HER job.
posted on June 12, 2001 07:07:51 PM new
No, it wasn't the machines. I used it Sunday, as well as today, with no problem. And the bank also told me that if she attempted to use it, they would have known.
I have no doubt, because of the expression on her face when she said it, not to mention the volume of her voice, what she was doing. This lady (and I use the term loosely) just doesn't want to be bothered.
Don't you wish you could tell your customers, clients, whatever, not to bother you with anything requiring more effort than just breathing? That seems to be what she wants.
posted on June 12, 2001 09:12:37 PM new
I don't know whether or not it's worthwhile to register an official complaint; I think that they just move the grouciest ones up to supervisors.
posted on June 12, 2001 10:51:01 PM new
Just like you, hepburn, our post office has great employees, all except for one. This woman is nasty. Everytime we drop off packages, she bitches about the size of them being too small, even though we are within code. She always finds some way to slam us for using them (we ship jewelry and we save on packing materials and cost of mailers by usinging as small as they allow us to have). I've personally asked for a roll of Priority Tape and she told me that it wasn't allowed. She has sent back emnployees of mine with misinformation, outgoing shipments still in tow. I finally called up the Postal Inspector for this area and talked to her supervisor on a three-way conference call. Guess what? It hasn't made much difference, so now we avoid going there in the mornings when she works there.
posted on June 13, 2001 05:10:47 PM new
Once I complained to USPS about an employee. It was a couple years ago, but I did it online. You might try their website.
usps.com.
It worked for me. Good luck!
[ edited by ashlandtrader on Jun 13, 2001 05:13 PM ]
posted on June 15, 2001 07:48:30 AM new
The problem is not in that the woman "pretended" to use the card, but that she announced loudly that it was rejected (thereby giving others in line the idea that you are a deadbeat.) Remember how stores used to post bounced checks behind the cashier's desk for all to see--or had a big list saying "Do not accept checks from these persons?" Well--that is now illegal. Perhaps loudly announcing the fact that someone's card doesn't work could be construed as the same thing--slander. You might want to mention this in your complaint. And--if you don't get a response from her supervisor, keep working on up the ladder. Write down the dates the incidents happen and complain complain complain.
posted on June 17, 2001 10:08:46 PM new
Try calling the supervisor and tell them that your lawyer suggested that you talk to him first and see if he will take care of the problem.
