The United States Postal Service (USPS) revised its service standards for First-Class Mail items, adding several days to some delivery windows. It could take up to 5 days for mail to reach its destination in certain parts of the country.
These changes were made to increase delivery reliability, consistency, and efficiency for customers, according to a press release on USPS.com. The changes became effective as of October 1.
So, what does that mean for you?
While First-Class Mail traveling between a local area isn’t expected to be impacted, USPS will be increasing its time-in-transit standards by 1 to 2 days for mail traveling longer distances. So, if you are sending or receiving First-Class Mail that is traveling within a 3-hour drive of the destination processing facility, it will still have a delivery standard of 1 to 2 days. Mail traveling by ground transportation further than 3 hours between the original and destination processing facilities will see a change in standards.
If you pay your mortgage, auto loan, cell phone, utilities or other important bills by mailing a paper check, you may need to factor a longer delivery time into your monthly payment routine.
Make sure to plan ahead.
1. Know Your Deadlines: Be mindful of important dates, including due dates for monthly payments as well as special dates in which you may want to mail a card or gift. Plan to get these important mailings to the post office at least 5 business days before they’re due to ensure a timely arrival.
2. Avoid the Holiday Hassle: When it comes the holidays, get your gifts in the mail as early as possible to guarantee delivery by Christmas Day. USPS recently recommended the following deadlines: Dec. 15 for USPS Retail Ground service, Dec. 17 for First-Class Mail service and First-Class Packages, and Dec. 18 for Priority Mail service. Factor these deadlines into your plan for monthly payments as well so you don’t have to worry about lost mail or delayed delivery during the post office’s busiest time of the year.
3. Go Digital: Avoid mail delivery deadlines altogether by shifting to a fully digital banking experience. Sign up for e-statements, pay your bills and make loan payments online, transfer money and more with myMcCoy Online Banking.
