US Post office is terrible!-Passport missing?
 

So I sent my passport on Saturday PRIORITY MAIL with delivery confirmation (I need to get a name change and already cutting it close to how long it coudl take). It is going to South Carolina (So from VA to SC) regular mail would usually take 2 days, well it still hasn't been delivered! When I called, they said it isn't considered lost for 14 days, so there is nothing I can do until then! Plus the public copy machine wasn't working at the PO on Saturday and they wouldn't let me make 1 copy of it with theri one in the back so I didn't make a copy (I still have my old one though).

Don't you have a tracking number for it? You can usually track on line from the postmaster website.

Yea I tracked it online on Tuesday all it said was that it was received at the PO where I dropped it off. So I checked online again this morning, same message so then I decided to call and that's when she told me what I already knew and said there is nothing else they can do for me. "Priority Mail isn't a guarentee" So you pay $4.00 for nothing! "It usually takes 2-3 days-no guarentee" yea well so does reguar mail-you'd just think it would be harder to loose a priority envelope.

Hi Smiley.

Sorry about them losing your passport. I just wanted to give you reassurance. I sent my passport in to SC to have my name amended on my passport in August. I had a delivery confirmation so that I could track as well. About two weeks later I received something on my front door telling me I had a package at the post office. My passport had been returned via Express Mail.

If worst comes to worst, you can always apply for an expedited passport in your new name. I'll cross my fingers for you!

Why didn't you shell out a few more of your hard earned $ and send your passport overnight/guaranteed delivery?

Priority is just that - 2 to 3 days. Second Day, gets it there in 2 days. It'll be delivered and processed. A name change is turned around rather quickly. Did you enclose a note as to when you will be departing on your trip, along with copy of your airline ticket - that helps to process and return quickly. You can check daily, but I'm sure you'll have it returned in time.

OK, I'll be snide. Did you just move to the US this week?

Otherwise, is it possible that it took you this long to figure out that the US Post Office is terrible?

I really am sorry for the problem, but somehow I'm not surprised. Maybe it will all turn out. Sometimes I think they do a better job than even they think they can do -- and everything may be fine, they just can't track it.

Please don't lose faith yet. It's possible they do have it, but the receipt of your PP has not yet been entered into their system at the PP office. Here's why I say that: I sent my PP for renewal on 9/17. The check I wrote cleared my bank on 9/22, so at the very latest, the package arrived that day. I called earlier this week to check the status (I know that's too soon, but I am impatient) and they told me they received it 9/23. I know for a fact it was there before that because my check cleared 9/22. So I'm betting it actually got there on 9/21, but they did not log in the receipt until a couple of days later.

I know it's a bit late for this advice but personally I would have sprung for an overnight guaranteed service (Fed Ex, UPS) AND paid for the expedited service (yes I know $60 extra) with the passport office.

So it's an unfortunately situation but there are at least 3 things you could have done differently. I'd be kicking myself not the post office.

Do you know for a fact that it hasn't been received, or are you basing your conclusion on the tracking results? I sent a letter certified/return receipt and started checking after I didn't receive the receipt within two weeks. Online, it only showed me that my letter had been accepted at the Post Office where I mailed it two weeks before. I went to the Post Office, and they had me fill out a form to track it. I received their answer the next week: "No record of delivery". But on the same day I received that, I also received a reply from the person I had written to, so they did get my letter after all. Can you call the passport office and see if they have received your package?

good idea I'll call the passport office!

Call 1-877-487-2778. Please let us know if it's there.

When it comes to the US postal system the only one I have any faith in is Lance Armstrong

Lance is moving to Discovery - USPS dropped him!!

Well they don't have it in their system yet (but she said that can take a week to do once they receive it and suggested to call back Monday). I've learned my lesson about trying to be cheap!

You must have sent a check for the fee--has the check cleared yet?

My sympathies go out to you smiley! I sent mine in for renewal Sat. by express mail (both directions) and paid the expedite fee (you never know when you might want to travel!) I was surprised how awful I felt parting with it. I'm really hoping I get it back in the next couple of days.

Is was free to change your name (unless you wanted it quickly), so no check...

I, too, am cutting it close on my passport renewal for my October trip. Thought I was allowing enough time, but it seems like the system is slower than in the past.

Today I read this post and began to get concerned. I called the passport office to track my documents. A very helpful woman informed me that my documents are in New Hampshire. (While they are sent to Pittsburgh, that's just for the "banking." Then they are forwarded to a more local office--I'm in NYC.)

She told me when they would be available--way too close to my departure date. So she was able to change me to expedited service over the phone. Credit cards are really handy sometimes.

I know what you mean, Grasshopper. I did not pay the expidite fee since the next trip I have planned is in May 2005, but somehow I really miss having a passport, just in case something comes up. :-[

Ellenem, you have just solved a couple of mysteries for me: 1. I wondered why my check cleared on 9/22, but the PP office says they didn't receive my package until 9/23. I see now that it took an extra day or so to get it to NH. 2. I could have sworn that 10 years ago when I did this before, I sent my PP to NH, not Pittsburgh for renewal. Thanks for the info. Can you tell me, please, when you sent your documents and when they would have been available if you had not expidited? I'm just curious as to what the turnaround time would be for non-expedited service.

I sent my documents on September 13, Priority Mail at the post office. The documents were checked into the system in New Hampshire on September 21. She predicted I should expect them after October 15. With the expedited fee paid today, they will be mailed in three business days.

If I had begun with the expedited service, I would already have my passport. It seems like this "banking" is taking extra time.

The last time I renewed my passport by mail (10 years ago), it was back in my hands in two weeks.

When I renewed 10 years ago, it seems like I got my new one in about 2 weeks also. How silly of me to think their service is as good as it used to be. And the worst part is, we can't exactly take our business elsewhere. However, I shouldn't complain, since I'm not going anywhere very soon. But if something does come up, I'm glad to know I can call them with my CC and expedite.

This is one of those great Fodors threads that truly gives helpful information. While I *do* feel for smiley525 right now, it makes a good reminder for the rest of us.

Too often I don't really follow my own advice, not doing what I'd breezily post on this BB!

Good luck on the original problem.

The last two times I bought the delivery confirmation service from the PO for a package, I checked online and it never had any information other than being received by the orignial PO. But both times the company received the package so I am assuming the PO is not updating that system the way they used to.
Mara
ps I sent a letter to Paris with the special 4 - 5 day global rate and it got there in like three days over a weekend. Go figure.

Normally it should not take more than 2 weeks to have it renewed..unless of course,it is an overnight garanty deal..

I keep mine always up to date, all my family live in Europe, and you never know if there is an emergency and I must go back right away.. my brother is not getting any younger..

Luckily is health is decent..

Dont worry smiley eventually you will receive your passport..

The only thing worse than service from the PO is their tracking system.

(FYI I live in a buidling with 48 aprtments. I get a piece of someone else's mail an average of 3 times per week - that is 144 pieces of misdirected mail per week in this one building. And I'm sure this is typical of all the buildings on my block.)

IMHO if you have a document that really matters letting the PO put their hands on it is fatal. Why not pay a couple more $ and send it FedEx - so it both gets there - and you can actually track it.

Is any of this really a surprise to anyone???

I sent my old passport in for renewal the first week in September. I, too, felt really awful sending in my old passport. I even put a little post-it note asking that they return it "for sentimental reasons" just to be sure they did so (I know they usually do). I sent it priority and waited and waited. Thought I'd have it in two weeks because that's usually what it seems to take. Just got it Friday. WHEW!!! I'm not traveling until early November, but I'm SO happy to have both my old one and my new one back in my hands! Mine went to Pittsburgh. I'm guessing they're running about 4 weeks, since that's how long it took to get mine.

The renewal is probably taking longer because of security checks. I hope that is what is happening.

Many people here seem subversive.

As someone who lives to travel, I really feel for someone who lost a passport.

In defense of the USPS, they have given me great service over the years. Although I have mistakenly ordered things to my post office box, even though shipping is via UPS (which doesn't deliver to PO boxes), the UPS guys have dropped off my packages at the local post office, who then deliver it to my home address (since the PO has my address on file). So kudos to USPS and UPS for service.

For all you USPS haters out there - Have you ever mailed anything from Italy or France? When I mail postcards back to my co-workers I'm usually back a couple weeks before they ever receive them.

Zeus, I'm confused. Was that supposed to be a defense of the USPS? What makes you think the delay on those postcards was in Europe? My guess is the delay may well have been right here in the US. I used to send a lot of postcards to my mom from Europe and it was hit and miss when she'd get them, some right away, some never. But when I go to the west coast of the US, I'd sent them to her also and it was the same thing!

<The renewal is probably taking longer because of security checks. I hope that is what is happening.

Many people here seem subversive.>

Thanks for that observation, jsmith. Mine is probably taking longer because I lied on my renewal form to get 10 years subtracted off my age. ;-)

jsmith- "here" meaning on Fodors travel Bulletin Board, or in the United States, or what?

I just renewed mine by mail in June and I also used that Priority Mail. I think it took me about four weeks, also, from sending to receiving. It didn't take any longer because of security, that wasn't that long ago. YOu should have copies of your passport before you go to the PO to mail it, anyway, not depend on a copier in the Post Office. I always have about six copies in my file drawer and always carry one in my wallet.

I'm afraid I have to agree about the European postal system and postcards. I do think it is them, not the US. Now I could be wrong, because we never know, but I've had post cards take three weeks from Europe and never that long from anywhere in the US. I don't agree that it would be typical for something from VA to SC to only take two days, though, as smiley expects. Not where I live, anyway, as it routinely takes 2-3 days just across town and four days from my house (Wash DC) to Ohio.

Priority Mail is not a secure way to send items of any importance. I've had 2 or 3 Priority Mail letters that never reached their recipients (nor were they ever returned to me). Luckily none of them contained anything of much value. My experiences with overnight Express Mail have been much better. I haven't had anything go missing through Express Mail so far, although I still agree that the PO's tracking system is far behind that of Fedex or UPS.

I sent a package priority mail (2-4 day delivery) and the recipient got it 2 MONTHS later. I don't send anything priority mail now. It's overnight only.

The last time I sent a package by the post office, the pony stepped on it and damaged the contents.

I sent my passport Saturday, express mail both directions and paid the expedite fee to get my passport renewed. I see on the P.O.website tracking that it arrived in my P.O.Box this morning at 10:30. The expedite fee indicates they will turn it around in 3 days. It looks like they did!

Hi all,

If you go to http://travel.state.gov/passport/get_processing.html
you will see that the US Passport Agency expects that you will get your passport within 6 weeks.

Update-Passport agency still hasn't received passport. Looks like I'm going to have to apply for a new passport! (plus I'll be very sad if I never see my old one again!)