{"id":37355,"date":"2025-02-08T11:05:49","date_gmt":"2025-02-08T16:05:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/postalemployeenetwork.com\/news\/?p=37355"},"modified":"2025-02-08T11:05:49","modified_gmt":"2025-02-08T16:05:49","slug":"smith-fights-to-require-usps-to-cover-cost-of-late-fees-caused-by-bills-getting-delayed-lost-in-mail","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/postalemployeenetwork.com\/news\/2025\/02\/08\/smith-fights-to-require-usps-to-cover-cost-of-late-fees-caused-by-bills-getting-delayed-lost-in-mail\/","title":{"rendered":"Smith Fights to Require USPS to Cover Cost of Late Fees Caused by Bills Getting Delayed, Lost in Mail"},"content":{"rendered":"

WASHINGTON<\/strong> \u2013 2\/7\/25 – Today, U.S. Representative Jason Smith (Mo.) announced that he has coauthored the Pony Up Act, legislation to require the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) to pay any late fees incurred on bills due to delayed delivery service.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe USPS must be held accountable for the financial toll its poor service is taking on rural Missourians,\u201d said Smith. \u201cThrough no fault of their own, individuals have been hit with late fees and even had their utilities cut off because their mail is arriving late or not at all. It\u2019s just one of many examples of how the USPS has shown a complete disregard for the harm caused by its poor service. I urge my colleagues in the House and Senate to support this legislation to hold the USPS accountable for the rural mail crisis.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

Mail delays, especially in rural areas, have resulted in individuals paying late fees and, in some cases, having their utilities shut off because their bills were lost in the mail or not delivered on time. In addition, multiple municipal utilities have voiced their frustration that bills sent to customers aren\u2019t arriving in a timely manner.<\/p>\n

The legislation would allow anyone who incurred a late fee because a bill didn\u2019t arrive on time to file a claim for repayment through an online portal or in person at any post office.\u00a0The legislation would also require a report on delayed mail, giving Congress relevant and accurate information to evaluate whether the USPS is taking action to improve delivery times.<\/p>\n

The rural mail crisis is taking a major toll on the quality of life in communities across southeast and south-central Missouri:<\/p>\n