Late fees start piling up as USPS delays affect bill payments

The checks may be in the mail but don’t count on them getting credited to your bills in time.

Americans are saying that they’re getting their bills delivered late - either on the day they are due or too close to the due date, WTVG reported.

But while the bills are arriving at mailboxes late, it’s the payer who is being held accountable and being charged with late fees.

The CARD Act states that bills are not late if they are received by 5 p.m. on the day it was due, CNBC reported. You may have a few more hours depending on the card and if you pay the bill online. Also, keep track of the time zone. It should be in the fine print.

“The Kohl’s one we received on the first of the month and it was due the first. I sent it and they charged us a $27.00 late fee. It’s not my fault that the mail’s not on time,” Ilona Harris told WTVG.

But it isn’t just Harris who is feeling the pinch of mail being delayed.

Lawmakers are getting complaints about mail delivery delays.

Sen. Robert Casey Jr. (D-Pa.) had more than 15,000 letters sent to his office about mail concerns as of mid-August, The Washington Post reported.

In addition to late bills, the Post reported there were complaints of prescriptions being delayed for nine days in Long Island and a roof warranty claim that missed a deadline in California.

A USPS representative told WTVG that some delays can be due to the lack of employees.

“Please note we continue to hire based on local need while committed to our expanded employee leave policy to help employees affected by the pandemic,” the USPS representative told WTVG.

The Better Business Bureau told WTVG if a consumer is worried about the late-payment charges, to call the company and explain the situation, they may waive the fee if you have a good history of paying bills on time.

You can also prevent late payments. Set up automatic payments that will pay the minimum amount, total amount or another amount by the due date. Set up payment reminders or change your payment due date, CNBC suggested.

Cox Media Group