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Audit Reports

Aug
30
2021
Report Number:
21-204-R21
Report Type:
Audit Reports
Category: Finance

Postage and Fees Refunds – Norristown Tri‑County Post Office

Background

The Norristown Tri‑County Post Office is in the DE-PA2 District of the Atlantic Retail and Delivery Area.

Account Identifier Code (AIC) 553, Refund Postage and Fees, is used to record refunds of customers postage and fees paid for special services not received. OIG data analytics identified the Norristown Tri‑County Post Office had about $266,790 recorded to AIC 553 from January 1, 2020, to December 31, 2020, the highest in the nation. For fiscal year (FY) 2020, the total was $248,298 — 48 percent of the total for the DE-PA2 district. For FYs 2018 and 2019, the totals for AIC 553 were only $691 and $967 (0.53 percent and 0.58 percent of the district total), respectively.

The objective of this audit was to determine whether postage and fee refunds are valid and properly supported and processed at the Norristown Tri‑County Post Office.

Report Recommendations

# Recommendation Status Value Initial Management Response USPS Proposed Resolution OIG Response Final Resolution
1

Provide training and reiterate policy to all employees at the Norristown Tri-County Post Office who are responsible for properly refunding postage and fees.

 Closed $0 Agree
2

Instruct unit management to develop guidance for unit personnel to properly complete Postal Service Form 3533, Application for Refund of Fees, Products, Withdrawal of Customer Accounts, and input refund transactions to the proper Account Identifier Code.

 Closed $0 Agree
3

Instruct unit management to identify additional personnel that can assist in the processing and verifying of Postal Service Form 3533, Application for Refund of Fees, Products, Withdrawal of Customer Accounts, as well as explore alternative methods for destroying mail.

 Closed $0 Agree