Waht Happened to Postmarks? (Page 2): As said before, go inside and ask the clerk to hand stamp it...

Horseart Loc: Alabama

Dannj wrote:

Wouldn’t it be pretty hard to “prove” when something was postmarked if a dispute arose? We drop things in the mail box or at the counter at the PO and expect it to be marked that day. If we’re later notified that a payment, for example, was late, how do we go about proving when it was mailed?

As said before, go inside and ask the clerk to hand stamp it,

SteveFranz Loc: Durham, NC

May years ago, late 1800's when my grandmother graduated from HS, her father sent her to St. Paul, MN to attend business school. I saw letters that she had written home. All had the date and the time when the letter was dropped at the PO. The letters also had the date and time when the train dropped the letters at her hometown. Generally, the time in transit was approximately a 1/2 day for a trip from St. Paul to the southwestern corner of the state. Don't think you will be able to match that on a regular stamp today. It may have helped that my great-grandfather was the postmaster, but still.....

Dannj

jerryc41 wrote:

Traditionally, a postmark contains the name of the PO and the date.

https://www.google.com/search?q=piostmark+images&oq=piostmark+images&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUyBggAEEUYOTIJCAEQABgNGIAEMgoIAhAAGAUYDRgeMgwIAxAAGAgYDRgPGB4yCggEEAAYhgMYigUyCggFEAAYhgMYigUyCggGEAAYhgMYigUyBggHEEUYQNIBCDI4MzhqMGo0qAIAsAIA&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8#vhid=lBgkugEZyLp4AM&vssid=l

I understand that but do recipients normally keep the envelopes of correspondence received? Business payment centers separate checks and statements from envelopes upon receipt so it would be tough to prove whem something was mailed.

rwww80a Loc: Hampton, NH

Dannj wrote:

Wouldn’t it be pretty hard to “prove” when something was postmarked if a dispute arose? We drop things in the mail box or at the counter at the PO and expect it to be marked that day. If we’re later notified that a payment, for example, was late, how do we go about proving when it was mailed?

If you need a specific postmark stand in line and ask the clerk to hand stamp the envelope. For sure it will be the postmark for the day mailed.
Most letters are transported from the post offices where they are collected to USPS Processing and Distibution Centers on a daily basis or more often, There they are canceled and the addresses are read by machine and a bar cord printed on the envelope. This barcode is used to direct the mail through the rest of processing and transport all the way to the delivery. Very little human contact. Your barcode is different from your neighbor to the point that the sorting machines can put the carriers deliveries in proper order. Yes, sometimes mis-orders occurs. The automation has helped keep stamp cost lower than they would be if more human sorting was utilized.

Dannj

Thank you. Can I derive from this that if I wanted to prove, for example, that I mailed my mortgage payment to the bank on a specific date the post office would be able to verify the date it was mailed?

rwww80a Loc: Hampton, NH

YES! That is a slightly different question. Ask for certified mail, complete the address form for the bank, go ahead and mail. Certified mail gives you a tracking number and signature at delivery. Make sure you get the paperwork hand stamped with the postmark for the day mailed. Yes it costs more and usually takes longer but it is mostly manual handling. Again - get a receipt for the transaction.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Dannj wrote:

I understand that but do recipients normally keep the envelopes of correspondence received? Business payment centers separate checks and statements from envelopes upon receipt so it would be tough to prove whem something was mailed.

I remember announcements saying, "Must be postmarked by..." If someone mails something on time, but it is delayed, the person could still get credit for it. In a situation like that, I assume those sorting the mail at its destination would check postmark dates. It like voting by mail. If it arrives late, but it was mailed on time, it counts. Doesn't it?

rwww80a Loc: Hampton, NH

You will have to check with each addressee to see what their policy is. Just so you know many bills do not fgo where you think. They winfd up at a payment processing house that processes payment as a contracted service to many companies. Totally unrelated to the Post office.

Dannj

[quote=rwww80a]YES! That is a slightly different question. Ask for certified mail, complete the address form for the bank, go ahead and mail. Certified mail gives you a tracking number and signature at delivery. Make sure you get the paperwork hand stamped with the postmark for the day mailed. Yes it costs more and usually takes longer but it is mostly manual handling. Again - get a receipt for the transaction.[/quote

I’m aware of certified mail and other tracking procedures. My original question was, basically, if I drop a letter in a mail box will I be able to determine that it was properly postmarked if that becomes necessary?

Dannj

jerryc41 wrote:

I remember announcements saying, "Must be postmarked by..." If someone mails something on time, but it is delayed, the person could still get credit for it. In a situation like that, I assume those sorting the mail at its destination would check postmark dates. It like voting by mail. If it arrives late, but it was mailed on time, it counts. Doesn't it?

I suspect that only places with very small volumes of mail have actual people sorting mail. The places most of is send our bills to are generally clearing houses where mail is sorted, opened and process without human intervention. As for voting, I’m pretty sure it’s the “received by” date that counts.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

I'm sorry I began this topic. 😂

Dannj

jerryc41 wrote:

I'm sorry I began this topic. 😂

😂😂

Flash Gordon

No.