Today I called the old Post Office to talk to Mr. Turner to find out why my mail hasn't been forwarded. He told me that because I rented an office in an ongoing business and didn't have a separate address from the business (although my mail came to me in my own name and not the name of the business), they would not be able to forward my mail.
He was very sweet and told me he would try to pull my mail and forward it to my new address, but they would be unable to do it in the usual way.
I went online to the feedback page and wrote the following assertive letter to the US Post Office:
I filled out an online change of address form when I moved my business to begin on July 27. I received a confirmation from the post office. When no mail was forwarded, I filled out a second online form. Again I received an email confirmation from the post office.
Mr. Turner at the old address post office 30xxx tells me that they cannot forward my mail because I was a renter in an established business.
I was at that address for 20 years and mail will continue to come to me there, despite every effort I make to change my address with people who send me bills and insurance companies who pay me. I am a psychologist and patients often recontact me after years of not seeing me.
I understand that because I rented an office room in XXXX XXXX Psychologists and did not have a specific suite number, the Post Office cannot forward my mail.
I would like this situation changed.
My mail should be forwarded to me.
In addition, I would like to have my credit card credited for the $2.00 you charged me when I changed my address online twice.
Linda T
Their automatic responder indicated that I should have a response in 1 - 2 days. Meanwhile, it sounds like sweet Mr. Turner at my old post office is going to try to help me get my mail. The very kind office manager at the old office will also hold mail for me to pick up.
For those of you learning about assertiveness, this letter is assertive because of several factors:
1. I make "I" statements to say what I have experienced and what I want to happen
2. In no way do I demean the Post Office or say devaluing things about their system
3. I chose to space the sentences in such a way that what I think is most important in the letter stands out (this is especially important in the email world of today in spite of how our English teachers may have taught us to put together paragraphs.)
Assertiveness is about speaking up for yourself with respect both for yourself and the person with whom you are speaking. This blog demonstrates ways to apply assertiveness in everyday life. Dr. Linda Tillman, manager of this blog, has been teaching people to be more assertive for more than 25 years.
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