Rude Post Office Employee

[Cindy's Mom]

I don't even know if its worth complaining and then if I do....to whom.

So Friday I took my son to get his passport for a 1p appointment that we had for a month (he was home from school). We get there early as stated on the website. We wait for the lady to call us (1:30 and I'm fine with that) She takes a cursory look at his papers and says - "go stand by the wall, I'm going on break". I asked her "how long is your break - is it 15 minutes or your hour lunch"? She went off on me "said its none of your damn business how long her break is" I said "listen, I'm all about the break - I"m union too, but we have something else we have to do at 4p" then she says "then go - leave, go do your thing.. and by the way MOM, this boy is grown, why the hell are you here?" I said - "that's none of your damn business" then she says "stop talking now - for every word you say, I'm adding 5 minutes to my break. So I had to shut up.

We go to the wall - my son asks me "mom, how can you let her talk to you like that? " I told my son that "we are at her mercy - she will have your application and she has the power to "lose" and all our information with it." then I thought about and realized I didn't want her to my our info, so we left.

Is there anywhere I can lodge a complaint? Does anyone really even care? This woman was so mean and abusive. After she screamed at me - another woman "at the wall" told me that "she (the postal worker) didn't like my kids being here, so she will take me when she feels like it" This woman had a 11a appointment and it was already after 1;30.

Maybe just typing this long post will make me feel better. (so far it hasn't)

 

[DisneyJamieCA]

Normally I’m not one for reporting minor incidents, but this one I really think I would. Not only was she extremely rude, she wasn’t doing her job and her supervisor would want to know that at least.

As for who to talk to - maybe go back to the branch and ask for the supervisor (and hope it isn’t her). Maybe call and ask who you would speak to?

 

[SandyinMonterey]

I would call the post office directly or return to that post office and ask to speak to a supervisor. I'd try to take it even further to somebody higher up than that because of the way she spoke to you. I recently encountered a rude postal worker when I went to mail something. It wasn't the first time either (with this person). On my receipts there is a number on the bottom for a survey. I usually don't fill them out but after two times with the same postal worker, I did.

 

[sam_gordon]

I don't even know if its worth complaining and then if I do....to whom.

So Friday I took my son to get his passport for a 1p appointment that we had for a month (he was home from school). We get there early as stated on the website. We wait for the lady to call us (1:30 and I'm fine with that) She takes a cursory look at his papers and says - "go stand by the wall, I'm going on break". I asked her "how long is your break - is it 15 minutes or your hour lunch"? She went off on me "said its none of your damn business how long her break is" I said "listen, I'm all about the break - I"m union too, but we have something else we have to do at 4p" then she says "then go - leave, go do your thing.. and by the way MOM, this boy is grown, why the hell are you here?" I said - "that's none of your damn business" then she says "stop talking now - for every word you say, I'm adding 5 minutes to my break. So I had to shut up.

We go to the wall - my son asks me "mom, how can you let her talk to you like that? " I told my son that "we are at her mercy - she will have your application and she has the power to "lose" and all our information with it." then I thought about and realized I didn't want her to my our info, so we left.

Is there anywhere I can lodge a complaint? Does anyone really even care? This woman was so mean and abusive. After she screamed at me - another woman "at the wall" told me that "she (the postal worker) didn't like my kids being here, so she will take me when she feels like it" This woman had a 11a appointment and it was already after 1;30.

Maybe just typing this long post will make me feel better. (so far it hasn't)

The best thing would have been to ask for a manager or supervisor at the time. If she says she's the supervisor, then ask how to contact HER boss. Even if you have to wait for her to go on break and ask another employee.

There is no excuse for the attitude. I'm guessing she took your question about how long the break is as "rude" and replied in kind.

 

[Cindy's Mom]

@SandyinMonterey and @disneyjaimeca I tried to call the phone number that is on the email confirmation from USPS and its disconnected. i think its nearly impossible to get a direct phone to a post office now. you're both right - I need to go there.

 

[Cindy's Mom]

The best thing would have been to ask for a manager or supervisor at the time. If she says she's the supervisor, then ask how to contact HER boss. Even if you have to wait for her to go on break and ask another employee.

There is no excuse for the attitude. I'm guessing she took your question about how long the break is as "rude" and replied in kind.

I was too furious to speak to anyone that day - so that's why we left. And absolutely she took me asking how long the wrong way. When I quickly figured out that she took it wrong - I even pulled down my mask so she can read my face when I said "I'm all about the break....I'm union too"

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

When there are issues that arise at my local post office the going advice is to contact the postmaster of that location. I would suggest doing that in this case. It's not a USPS issue, it's a particular location issue. There should be a local number for that post office location rather than a 1-800 number to call.

 

[SandyinMonterey]

@SandyinMonterey and @disneyjaimeca I tried to call the phone number that is on the email confirmation from USPS and its disconnected. i think its nearly impossible to get a direct phone to a post office now. you're both right - I need to go there.

The phone number for the post office is on top of the receipt. The phone number for the survey is on the bottom. Two different numbers.

 

[Cindy's Mom]

The phone number for the post office is on top of the receipt. The phone number for the survey is on the bottom. Two different numbers.

I didn't buy anything there so I don't have a receipt.....but this is good info

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

I did have a follow up question if the appointment was at 1pm but you weren't called until 1:30pm was it that there were other people being helped with passport photos before you (or other stuff) or did no one notice you?

Hindsight 20/20 here but I think I would have probably said "is there someone else that will be taking over for you" rather than ask how long her break is. She was way over the top, rude and defensive regardless. What would be the point of having an appointment only for them to leave you without anyone to take over? At least when I look at appointments for my local post office they are in 15min time slots asking you to arrive 10mins ahead. Not being called until 30mins later and then told to wait longer would be an issue to me with the way the employee handling it just bringing it over the edge.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

I didn't buy anything there so I don't have a receipt.....but this is good info

Go look up the location on the post's office's website there should be a local number for it. Least there is for mine. That would at least be my starting point to requesting the postmaster of that location.

 

[Cindy's Mom]

I did have a follow up question if the appointment was at 1pm but you weren't called until 1:30pm was it that there were other people being helped with passport photos before you (or other stuff) or did no one notice you?

Hindsight 20/20 here but I think I would have probably said "is there someone else that will be taking over for you" rather than ask how long her break is. She was way over the top, rude and defensive regardless. What would be the point of having an appointment only for them to leave you without anyone to take over? At least when I look at appointments for my local post office they are in 15min time slots asking you to arrive 10mins ahead. Not being called until 30mins later and then told to wait longer would be an issue to me with the way the employee handling it just bringing it over the edge.

There isn't a check in system and she made it clear that you are not to approach her. Example, a family of three walked in with all their documents and the mom came to me and asked where the passport line was, I told her that we are to stand up against the wall and she will call us when its our appointment time. that mom said "we don't have an appt, are you sure we need one? I said "as far as I know, its the only way to get your app processed" that mom went up to the postal worker and said "excuse, do we need an appointment" The employee replied "can't you see i'm helping someone, go to our website and find the information - its all there"

back to your quote.......She is the only one that does the passports - there were two people working the counter, her for passports and a kind man who was doing the regular day to day customers. She was working with a family of four when we came in, English wasn't the first language of the mom, and her young kids were doing the translating. I was 100% fine with that - even though they book the appointments in 15 minutes increments - I knew and was prepared for NOT being called at 1p

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

There isn't a check in system and she made it clear that you are not to approach her. Example, a family of three walked in with all their documents and the mom came to me and asked where the passport line was, I told her that we are to stand up against the wall and she will call us when its our appointment time. that mom said "we don't have an appt, are you sure we need one? I said "as far as I know, its the only way to get your app processed" that mom went up to the postal worker and said "excuse, do we need an appointment" The employee replied "can't you see i'm helping someone, go to our website and find the information - its all there"

back to your quote.......She is the only one that does the passports - there were two people working the counter, her for passports and a kind man who was doing the regular day to day customers. She was working with a family of four when we came in, English wasn't the first language of the mom, and her young kids were doing the translating. I was 100% fine with that - even though they book the appointments in 15 minutes increments - I knew and was prepared for NOT being called at 1p

Sounds like the woman working the appointments is a grouch!

 

[Cindy's Mom]

Go look up the location on the post's office's website there should be a local number for it. Least there is for mine. That would at least be my starting point to requesting the postmaster of that location.

Did that - its disconnected. Googled around and found a couple other numbers, also disconnected.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

Did that - its disconnected. Googled around and found a couple other numbers, also disconnected.

Well that is just silly. Geez. Sorry it's becoming such a pain just to be able to contact this location

 

[mjkacmom]

I just assume post office employees are going to be rude, especially the passport workers (and they don’t answer the phones, haven’t in years). Thank goodness my youngest 2 turned 18 in January, I got them an appointment, filled out the applications, gather documents, wrote checks... Fortunately I happened to check my email that morning because apparently their camera and photocopier weren’t working, I sent my kids to cvs and staples. They didn’t know to copy the backs of their licenses so got yelled at, plus were told they needed original birth certificates (which they had along with the copies). They were allowed to leave and go copy the backs of their licenses. On the website it states appointments will not be taken, but in fact they are mandatory (figured that out beforehand).

 

[piccolopat]

If you know when this woman takes her breaks, I would ask the nice gentleman there who you can contact once she leaves. There is absolutely no excuse for her conduct. I also think that taking a break is something she should NOT have done (union or not) considering that people had booked appointments that she was already late for. The fact that she can't process the passport appointments in a timely manner is her problem. A short delay is one thing but even 30 minutes is a bit much to expect someone to wait.

 

[old lady]

I don’t know what is worse : rude post office employee or rude post office customer . I am one of those rude post office customer.

 

[CdnCarrie]

Wow - you pulled your mask down to ask her about her break? Maybe that's why she was rude to you.

I was too furious to speak to anyone that day - so that's why we left. And absolutely she took me asking how long the wrong way. When I quickly figured out that she took it wrong - I even pulled down my mask so she can read my face when I said "I'm all about the break....I'm union too"

 

[kymom99]

We got our passports processed at our city building. I would find another place to have it done and I would certainly not stop until I complained about this rude person. The USPS is in enough trouble without someone like that representing them.