Signal Mountain resident Ann Ploetz said that since last December, her household mail has been arriving later than usual. And sometimes, including a few days last week, she doesn't get mail at all.
"I've been in the post office, and I've heard people complaining and complaining," Ploetz said, adding that community Facebook pages for Signal Mountain residents are filled with comments from neighbors with similar issues." Things have been really bad for about eight months now."
Hixson residents have also gone to social media with delivery complaints, mostly related to packages that never arrive or arrive days after they are "delivered" when tracked online.
Becky Hernandez, who works in corporate communications for the United States Postal Service and handles media inquiries in the state of Tennessee, said in an email that the Signal Mountain and Hixson post offices are both experiencing staff shortages that are being addressed with hiring fairs in those areas and throughout the state.
"As we acquire and train new employees, we are confident service improvements will continue," she said. "We appreciate the patience of our valued customers during the ongoing effort to successfully resolve this situation."
Hernandez did not respond to several other questions from the Times Free Press, including whether any changes at the federal level could be factors in the delivery delays, what customers should do if a "delivered" package never arrives, whether the USPS delivery of Amazon packages is affecting the delivery times of mail and packages or whether people can elect to pick up packages at the post office rather than waiting on them to be delivered.
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Justin Doil, communications director for U.S. Rep. Chuck Fleischmann, R-Ooltewah, said constituents having issues with mail delivery, such as delays, undelivered mail or mail delivered to the wrong address, should file a casework complaint with the congressman.
"Our casework team would be able to contact the USPS and be able to open up an investigation," Doil said by phone.
Fleischmann's office retains records of all casework complaints, according to Doil, who was unable to provide the number of complaints filed against the Signal Mountain and Hixson offices before press time.
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Hernandez said in an email that customers who need assistance with mailing or shipping concerns also can choose to call their local post office or 1-800-275-8777, or visit usps.com/help.
People interested in applying for postal employment can visit about.usps.com/careers.
Email Emily Crisman at ecrisman@timesfreepress.com.