Postal Service locates 2,000 missing Social Security checks

By: JournalNow Staff | MCCLATCHY-TRIBUNE EXCHANGE
Published: May 05, 2010

CHARLOTTE
The U.S. Postal Service said Tuesday it found 2,000 missing Social Security checks and sent carriers and managers to deliver them to Charlotte-area residents.

Charlotte's postmaster personally delivered a check to one woman Tuesday who said she had no money to feed her children or pay for a doctor's appointment.

The checks were supposed to have been delivered Monday, The Charlotte Observer reported.

The number of missing checks and the area involved is larger than originally thought. Postal Service officials say an investigation is under way to determine what went wrong.

District manager Dave Fields said the missing checks were found early Monday evening and distributed to the offices affected. Fields heads the Mid-Carolinas District, which has ZIP codes starting with 280-285, 287- 289 and 297. That district includes much of the Charlotte area.

Earlier, it was thought that about 750 checks were missing, mostly for the Plaza Midwood and Eastover areas in Charlotte.

"We know that timely delivery of mail is critical to our customers, and we failed many of them yesterday," Fields said. "I offer my sincere apology for this breach of trust. We will find out where the breakdown occurred, to ensure this mistake is not repeated."

Charlotte's postmaster, Tom Callahan, delivered a Social Security check to Tamara Rodriguez, who lives in the 28227 ZIP code of east Charlotte and Mint Hill. In an Observer story Tuesday morning, Rodriguez said she was in dire need of the money.

"My phone is about to get shut off. My gas is about to get shut off. I have absolutely no groceries," said Rodriguez, 35, who said she is disabled because of an injury.

"No one should have to make a decision of that magnitude, especially because the post office dropped the ball," Callahan said. "I'm sure there are other customers in similar situations, but we knew about hers, so we wanted to try to fix it."

Customers who have questions about their checks can contact their local Post Office by dialing 1-800-ASK-USPS.