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Pushing the Envelope Blog

Informed on Informed Delivery

Date: 08/24/20 | Category: Products & Services

Say you run a business – a big one – and you come up with a new product, one you believe can benefit millions of potential customers. When it becomes available, you want to make sure your salespeople can tell customers about it…right?

Three years ago, the U.S. Postal Service rolled out Informed Delivery, a free feature which allows customers to digitally preview their letter mail and package delivery via email notifications, online dashboard, or mobile application. Postal Service Headquarters staff from Corporate Communications and Delivery and Retail Operations provided instructions to employees at USPS retail facilities on how to direct customers to sign up. So how did they do?

Pretty well, as it turned out. As we noted in our recent audit report, retail window employees at 33 of 34 of the randomly selected retail units our auditors visited correctly referred us to the Postal Service’s Informed Delivery website when asked about how to sign up. At the one facility where the employee incorrectly responded to our inquiry, local management took immediate corrective actions. Postal Service managers and staff we spoke with at the headquarters, area, district, and local levels attributed these positive results to the quality of communication provided about Informed Delivery.

Have you inquired about Informed Delivery or another USPS product or service at a post office? Did you receive helpful answers? Let us know and comment below!

NOTE: Unfortunately, the OIG cannot help with delayed or overdue stimulus checks. Please address concerns to the Postal Service’s Consumer & Industry Contact Office Locator (formerly Consumer Affairs). Thank you.

Leave a Comment

Your Name
nicole
Jun 4, 2021
Your Comment
I have got the photo of my checks and have always received them until now. Got the information and picture but no check...
Your Name
JLP
May 30, 2021
Your Comment
IT CAME! Hey, everyone who has gotten a scan and seen no check, here's my followup to my 5/28 comment below: *** I got the first scan on 5/22. The second scan was shown on 5/29, and the check appeared in my mailbox the same day. Here's the important part - when I compared the images, I noticed that the first 5/22 image's envelope had no postmark of any kind inked on it. The second scan 5/29 showed a postmark for the local main distribution center (and I also saw that the envelope was slightly bent). This leads me to conclude, as I speculated in my 5/28 post, that the first scan that we all see is from the point of mailing - before the envelope has actually entered the postal system. Hope this helps, and that all get their checks in the end!
  
Your Name
ME
Jun 9, 2021
Your Comment
Good catch JLP and good to know!
I’ll just continue to be patient.

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

     
Your Name
MH
Jun 12, 2021
Your Comment
I got an informed delivery notice on 6/5 that my check in my mail that day. It wasn't in my mailbox. As of today 6/12 still nothing. The usps has been no help at all

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

Your Name
Monica marquis
May 29, 2021
Your Comment
I signed up for informed delivery a couple months ago. I had 2 pieces of mailed scanned for delivery from the IRS 2 weeks ago, and they still haven’t been deliveree
Your Name
JLP
May 28, 2021
Your Comment
***To the USPS Office of the Inspector General, as suggestion: I can see from this forum that there is some kind of issue that is making people suspicious that their IRS checks are being stolen. If you have any facts to give, a news release would be extremely helpful!***

To all the commenters here about stimulus 3, I appreciate the people who shared that they DID receive the checks - it tells me that I may have to wait anywhere from two to five weeks after seeing the Informed Delivery Scan. I discovered elsewhere that just because the mail piece was scanned, it doesn't necessarily mean that it is moving yet.

(I didn't sign up for the IRS site because they were unable to verify my cell phone number, which is part of one of the smaller cell service companies - I would have had to wait for a verification code to be mailed to me. From the IRS Via the USPS. Which might take weeks to come. Ugh. Next year, I get any refund via ACH!)

Hang in there, all!
Your Name
Melissa
May 28, 2021
Your Comment
I LOOOOOVE Informed Delivery but I’m sure the actual USPS has begun to hate it because it shows how often my packages are delayed, missent, or lost. I cringe when any of the places I order packages from use USPS and send through Richmond/Sandston VA. I can count on a two week delay AT BEST, at worst it just disappears off if my informed delivery into oblivion...but I still have my EMAIL! GREAT EVIDENCE! Sad to need it.
Your Name
Torii harlos
May 27, 2021
Your Comment
On 3 different occasions on informed delivery, I have gotten notice that my stimulus check was on its way however I haven’t received it. It’s been weeks. Could it be lost?
Your Name
Teresa Massey
May 27, 2021
Your Comment
I want to lodge a complaint. I have made numerous trips to the local post office over the last year and a half maybe more. I use to get daily reports on what I was receiving. I had the informed delivery and then suddenly no emails. I log in and look and suddenly have a message that my address is not eligible! What is that about? I was getting it and suddenly now my address is no longer verified. Okay well then explain why people on the same road, same development have the service and haven't had any issues using the service. I am sick and tired of the excuses or non-excuses for why it doesn't work. I was told to call the 800# only to learn I would need to wait 60 minutes or more to speak with someone. I stayed on the line for about 30 minutes and the wait time continued to grow. This is a horrible service and no one can answer why it is not working telling me it is not them who scans the mail. If this is the case then someone needs to investigate why people were able to use the service and suddenly it stops working. This is a royal pain especially since when I am waiting for packages and the boxes are over 1 mile away from the house, multiple trips are not ok to check on the mail. I had made numerous complaints regarding the previous mail carrier for misconduct and certainly wouldn't put it pass that supervisor having something to do with this.
Your Name
Erin Pantages
May 26, 2021
Your Comment
Informed delivery says the check I have been waiting for was coming today and it was NOT in my mailbox with today's mail. SO aggravating that they have it and just choose not to deliver it!
  
Your Name
SL
May 26, 2021
Your Comment
I’m going on day 15 and still waiting! Scanned on ID on 5/8 and it’s still hasn’t showed up!! Every other piece of “d” mail has shown up except my stimulus! Crazy

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

     
Your Name
Anonymous
May 27, 2021
Your Comment
I’m going on month 3, and still no check from the date I got my scanned image. Was meant to be mailed on the 26th of March. It’s now May going into June...

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

     
Your Name
Mike
May 30, 2021
Your Comment
Did it ever show up??

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

Your Name
Angela D Westerfield
May 25, 2021
Your Comment
IRS check WAS on informed delivery on May 15th and NEVER received it.. now today I have a package that was supposed to be delivered (with a tracking number) NEVER received that either.. the tracking number says delivered.. SOMETHING is going on with the POST OFFICE.. theft or something.. FIND my stuff
  
Your Name
Stephanie
Jun 12, 2021
Your Comment
Several factors could be happening here...ive had just about all of them happen here recently. First scenario: if youve moved in the past year and summited a change of address form with usps (not temporary CO.a) ..you would not believe the mail forwards track that it takes to get to new address. Flys clear around the world making about 12 stops. Be patient...likely to still come...
Scenario two: you'll receive a certified parcel saying a 1099 offset occurred ( student loans, child support, other tax debt act.) + the delay is that date on your transcript.ie cycle has not passed yet.
Scenario 3.... The mail was returned not forwarded at your local usps post to the irs and irs has not yet processed its rearrival.


In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

Your Name
Kem silver
May 25, 2021
Your Comment
On Wednesday may 12th my 3rd stimulus check was on my informed delivery and i have still not received my check what do i do?
Your Name
Andrea Cuadros
May 23, 2021
Your Comment
I got a notification from USPS that my stimulus was coming soon on May 7th. I checked Irs website to see if I could track it but I keep getting “ payment status - not available”. I just hope it actually comes soon bc I really need this money.
Your Name
sarah
May 22, 2021
Your Comment
on friday in my informed delivery it showed mine and my sons refund check along with other mail. The only 2 things not delivered were the irs checks.I have never had mail scanned and not delivered. mailman wasn’t helpful and seems like the usps isnt taking this seriously!! what steps can I take?’
Your Name
KATIE USHER
May 21, 2021
Your Comment
informed delivery was shut off on 5/9/21 by a invindicative employee and now it and change of address states suspended???? any help? thank you this is un called for.
Your Name
April Smith
May 21, 2021
Your Comment
Got informed USPS email saying IRS check was to be delivered 5/15.....never came. Got every other piece of mail in USPS Informed delivery email except the check!?! Really?
  
Your Name
sarah
May 23, 2021
Your Comment
same thing happened to me. did you ever receive it???

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

     
Your Name
SL
May 24, 2021
Your Comment
Not yet! I called the IRS and they advise I have to wait 4 weeks/30 which will be 6/8 and to call back on that day and they will do a trace which can take up to 6 weeks to see if it has been cashed or not. Then if cashed they have to mail me a packet in which I have to complete which takes another several weeks! So frustrating!! Smh

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

  
Your Name
SL
May 23, 2021
Your Comment
Yes same thing happened to me. Showed up on my ID on 5/8 and haven’t received as of today, 5/23.

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

Your Name
Carolyn Mullis-Ragsdale
May 18, 2021
Your Comment
Received a photo copy of my irs refund check envelope on May 7th from my informed delivery still no check has been delivered. I’ve made several calls to my local post office. Today i was told that they had changed there phone number to prevent calls from coming in all day. I have filled a missing mail report and i received a call saying it would be looked for but that is it nothing else. I placed feedback on the informed delivery website and received an email stating my issue had been sent to a manager but have yet to receive my check. I don’t believe it will ever be delivered. I hope the postal workers have heard of karma! I have a difficult time believing this many federal checks could ever just be lost. There is a serious problem that needs to be investigated and corrected.
Your Name
Frank John Kidder
May 17, 2021
Your Comment
I received a notice on informed delivery app stating that i will be receiving my stimulus card but i never physically got it or the letter stating im getting it