Going Postal

[shanmonster]

This afternoon I showed up at the post office with my parcel slip in hand, pretty excited because I'm expecting my loom and a box of books in the mail. There was a young Asian woman ahead of me in line. The postmaster was giving her a hard time. "Is this your actual name? Is this your actual address? Because in another situation, I could not give you the parcel." I paid idle attention, not wanting to be too nosy. She agreed that it was her name, and finally, with obvious reluctance, the man gave her her parcel: a manufacturer's sample of baby formula.

She walked off and I smiled and placed my parcel slip on the counter. He looked at me without saying a word and held out his hand imperiously.

I blinked at him. "I'm sorry, sir, what is it you are looking for?"

"I need a piece of photo ID with your address."

I handed him a couple pieces of ID: my old NB personal ID, and my health card. He handed both back to me. "I need something with your address."

I was getting a bit flustered. I've never had this issue before. The postmaster has always handed me my parcel when I've shown my ID. "What do you suggest? I don't have a driver's license."

"A credit card statement, a hydro bill, or something of that nature."

"I don't carry anything like that with me."

"I'm sorry," he said, rolling his eyes, "but those are the rules. You can always bring in a rental agreement."

I was definitely frustrated, at this point, and set up a base of operations at the counter. I went through my wallet meticulously, pulling out card after card, searching for one with my address on it. Nada. I looked for pay stubs. Nada. I just don't carry those around with me.

I looked up at him, my iPhone in hand. "What about digital proof? I can sign in to my Amazon.com account and show you the mailing address they have on file."

"No. That won't work. I need something on paper."

After I'd emptied my entire purse on the counter, I sifted through its contents. None of it had my address on it: poi, CDs, cell phone, keys, notepad, 3 hanks of lovely silk/wool yarn, a novel.... All useless to anyone who wanted to collect my mail.

He looked my way and sniffed.

"Bills aren't in in my name," I said. "They're in my husband's."

"Does he live with you?"

"Yes."

"Then you can initial the paper and he can bring it in and collect it for you."

"But his name is different from mine."

"That doesn't matter, as long as you initial the form."

My mind churned this over. I was not allowed to collect my own mail, but I was allowed to authorize someone to collect it for me. Even though they would have no proof that was my signature. My mind was boggled. Finally, I turned and left, texting my displeasure to f00dave.

He texted me back. "Use your health card. The address is on the back."

And indeed it is. So back in I marched and presented the postmaster with my health card. "Here," I said. "Government-issued identification with my mailing address on it."

He held his palms at me in the classic "no" pose. "I cannot accept that."

My voice was starting to get louder. "You have got to be shitting me!"

"I am legally not permitted to accept that as ID."

"Oh bollocks!" I shouted. "You are allowed to accept it. You are not permitted by law to request it, that's all."

He shook his head at me, and I stormed out.

I may not have my parcel, but I can at least take bittersweet pleasure in knowing that even if someone were to steal my purse, they're not getting it, either. Identity theft might get you a lot of places, but it won't get you sweet fuck all at the post office.

Comments

[suzycat.livejournal.com]

WTF WHY? Is this related to terrorism fears or something?

I bet you were thinking the post guy was just being kind of racist till you reached the counter. I would have. I'd have been thinking "oh leave the Asian lady alone you dick".

[valkryor.livejournal.com]

The hell? *rolls eyes*

I think someone was reamed out about not being meticulous enough and is taking it out on you.

OR

Someone has some serious power issues and shouldn't be doing customer service.

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

Someone has some serious power issues and shouldn't be doing customer service.

This this this a million times this. I'd be making a complaint to the postmaster, post-haste.

[icedrake.livejournal.com]

I do adore the Canada Post regulations (http://www.canadapost.ca/cpo/mc/aboutus/corporate/security/mailid.jsf) on the subject.

But while being a pest, the postmaster appears to have been correct in refusing to accept the health card. It's only sometimes acceptable as proof of identity*, but isn't listed as an acceptable option for proof of address.

Of course, y'know, the regulations don't mention *needing* a proof of address...



*Health card (where not prohibited). Oh, and we're not going to tell you where it's prohibited. Because enumerating the, at most, six territories/provinces where it's acceptable is too much effort.

[dancingleaf.livejournal.com]

usually if you read your pick up slip carefully it tells you to bring proof of address/identity and I think it might also suggest what they will accept as proof.

[icedrake.livejournal.com]

Wouldn't it be neat if they also bothered to mention this on their website?

[dancingleaf.livejournal.com]

well we are talking about a government agency....

when do they ever do something in a sane & logical manner?

[icedrake.livejournal.com]

Time for someone to publish "Canada Post: The Missing Manual" ?

[ltmurnau.livejournal.com]

I don't usually get that much run-around at the post office, but it seems when they are feeling their oats they can be just that dickish, and more. And there's bugger-all you can do about it, unfortunately.

[threemilechild.livejournal.com]

What does it even matter what your address is if the package is for you and you can prove you're you? Is it some sort of anti-homeless-people anti-immigrant measure? (I thought Canada was better than that.)

[real-bethy.livejournal.com]

It's true that the package slip says you need to have proof of address, but I've had similar incidences at the post office because the things that have my proof of address (passport, utility bill, etc.)have a name that is sometimes different from the one that people mail me things under(my legal name is Sarah, but I have always been called Beth). I have become known at the postal outlet at Shoppers as "the bitch who knows that her passport is valid ID AND who is Sarah Elizabeth, which Beth can be short for". :)

It's frustrating that your husband can pick up your mail but you can't.

See why I am an anarcho-capitalist?

[montecristo.livejournal.com]

Government is that organization which allows, nay fosters and encourages, officious, busybody, bullies to turn rational, competent, thinking adults into hapless children...and brainless fools offer up mindless apologia for it, patiently explaining how it is "not that hard," and eminently, "the right thing to do," for a sane self-respecting competent adult individual to shut down his own divine spark of reason and carefully comply with yet another irrational, irritating, degrading, arbitrary set of edicts cooked up by some bureaucratic drone with more office than talent or ambition.

[mysteryelfx.livejournal.com]

OMG, I might have had a fit in the post office and jumped the counter and grabbed the guy by the neck of his shirt and screamed in his face with my smokey coffee breath! Not really, but I would have wanted to. What a fucker! He deserves to be punched in the face by someone. Anyone. For no reason at all. He probably can't get laid, so he wants to torture everyone else.

[mysteryelfx.livejournal.com]

Is there a state issued non-driver ID you can get? We have one available here in NY. I think it's something like $45USD though.

[greyanna.livejournal.com]

Sounds familiar. I have tried to change my name on a toll road electronic tag bill since I have remarried. My tag info isn't actually in the online system, so I had to go to my car, write down the number, then call in to ask how to get my name changed. They told me I had to fax in a copy of my driver's license to them to change it, or come in person. I try to fax them the info and their fax machine won't work. I call back and the person tells me it must be my fault as they are receiving faxes on the machine. I give up after trying for about two weeks on and off again to fax my license to them

This is two years ago. A few weeks ago, my husband loses the credit card we use for this account. He can't deal with them over the phone as it is in my name and I have forgotten the password to the online system. He goes in to their "storefront". They won't reset the password on the account, will not change my name on the account even though he brings in a copy of our marriage certificate, but they do allow him to change the credit card on the account....