HOUSTON – A Houston mother and small business owner says ongoing mail delivery delays have cost her thousands of dollars, and she’s urging the postal service to take action.
Zephra Bell, who recently launched her notary public business, shared her frustration over missing mail and inconsistent deliveries in her Southeast Houston neighborhood.
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Bell reached out to KPRC 2′s Re’Chelle Turner after seeing a similar story about a paralegal in Virginia whose legal documents were delayed by the postal service in Houston, resulting in significant professional repercussions.
For Bell, the issue became urgent after starting her business in May. Timely mail is critical for receiving payments and important documents, but the frequent delays—sometimes two to three weeks—have had serious financial consequences.
“I’m doing the best I can,” Bell said. “If the mail had been delivered on time, I strongly feel I wouldn’t be in this predicament, or at least not as deeply in this situation.”
Bell says that her notary public stamp, which she needed to conduct business, arrived weeks late, resulting in lost income. In another setback, a $10,000 check for her business, expected in early August, still hadn’t arrived by mid-September.
“I had to file an affidavit to get a replacement check,” Bell said. “The whole process of getting it notarized was tough, especially without the funds to do it. Labor Day weekend delayed things even more. It finally cleared, but that was over a month of waiting—something that was unacceptable.”
Bell has also experienced additional frustrations with incorrect deliveries. On multiple occasions, she says mail intended for her neighbors or people she doesn’t even know has shown up at her door.
“When the mail finally arrives, it’s often not even addressed to me,” Bell said. “I’ve gotten my next-door neighbor’s mail and even mail for people I’ve never heard of. This has been going on for years.”
Bell visited her local post office to seek help, but says she was met with little assistance. Despite filing complaints with the postal service, she says the situation has not improved, leaving her to deal with mounting late fees, missed deadlines, and financial strain.
The postal service responded and sent Turner a statement Tuesday afternoon.
USPS Response:
The Postal Service appreciates its customers and always strives to provide the best possible service. In this instance, local management is taking immediate steps to research this matter and communicate directly with our customer. We take the customer’s concerns very seriously and apologize for any inconvenience. As a reminder, we always want to hear from customers who have concerns regarding the quality of their mail service. Customers are reminded that they can reach us in a variety of ways, including by contacting their local Post Office, calling 1-800-ASK-USPS (1-800-275-8777), or visiting us on our website at www.usps.com/help for assistance. In addition, if a customer suspects mail theft, they should immediately contact the USPS Inspection Service at 1-877-876-2455.
Bell, who is working to stay on track without losing more money, hopes that the mail problems will be resolved soon. For now, she’s doing her best to keep her business running while maintaining a good reputation with her clients.
KPRC 2 will continue to follow Bell’s story and provide updates as more information becomes available.