The Mercury News Weekend

Slow delivery on check for letter carrier’s damage

- dennisrock­stroh actionline

Q

In early August, our postal carrier lost control of his mail truck and drove through our brand-new fence and into our front yard.

Besides taking out a panel of the fence and the fence posts, he ran over a light, cut a few plants in half, and ran over our drip system, damaging it.

My neighbors took pictures and called me. A police report was made, the postal manager came out, and the mail carrier went to the ER for some injuries.

I spoke to the manager at the Menlo Park post office who came out while the truck was still in our front yard. He was very nice, left me a form to fill out, and assured me the post office would pay to repair the damage.

He also told me the post office is very slow, and I should probably fix the fence myself and they would pay me back.

I did just that because I have three small children and cannot have the front open to the street.

I have called the postal service a number of times, but still no money.

Can you help?

I have called

and e-mailed

them about this

but the problem

has not been

fixed.

Sometime in

May, I ordered

two books: ‘‘The

Body in the Snow Drift’’ and ‘‘Gilead.’’ I received ‘‘Gilead’’ and ‘‘Countdown.’’ I mailed ‘‘Countdown’’ back with a letter of informatio­n and enclosing my check for the amount due for ‘‘Gilead’’ plus postage.

But they have continued to bill me for ‘‘Countdown.’’

I wrote a number of letters to no avail.

I feel that I have done everything I can to comply with their requests for documentat­ion.

Andrea

Portola Valley AThings

are starting to

move for you, Andrea.

Postal Service spokeswoma­n Elma I. Ramirez said that you have been contacted by the San Francisco office about your claim.

‘‘A new claim form was sent to her and after the matter is reviewed to make sure everything is in order, it will be processed for payment,’’ Ramirez e-mailed me. ‘‘I will continue to follow up with San Francisco until this matter is resolved.’’ Q

I have a problem with

an erroneous bill from the book club (Mystery Guild).

Gwen Weisner

Palo Alto AI

contacted the book

club for you, Gwen.

‘‘We have made the proper adjustment to the account which is now closed with a zero balance,’’ a company rep said in the e-mail. Handy numbers

Keep these numbers handy for any problem with a business: Consumer Protection Unit, Office of the Santa Clara County District Attorney, (408) 792-2880 and the Better Business Bureau of Silicon Valley, (408) 278- 7400.

Both of them can contact the company for you and act as a mediator for you and the company involved.

Here is how to reach Action Line:

■ Mail: San Jose Mercury News, 750 Ridder Park Drive, San Jose, Calif. 95190

■ E-mail: actionline@mercurynew­s.

■ www.mercurynew­s.com. Click Columnists, then Action Line.

■ Phone recording: (888) 6886400.

■ Fax: ( 408) 288-8060.

Please include full name, address and phone number.

Because of the volume of requests, I cannot respond to everyone.

For tips, self-help, news and discussion, see the Consumer Action Line Web log at http://blogs.mercurynew­s.com.

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