COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Patricia Bevan said last Christmas her sister sent her a card with money in it, yet she never received it. Right after that, she immediately signed up for Informed Delivery with the United States Postal Service.
Informed Delivery allows users to log into their account online and view what is coming to their mailbox with a picture of the incoming mail.
This year, Bevan was hoping it'd be different since she was able to see when her mail was scanned in. Sadly, it wasn't.
"I'd love to hear from my sister, you know in a card, I'd love to get a card from her. It's her writing, we're all getting older, people are taking that away from us," Bevan said.
Her account shows mail that was to be delivered, which included the Christmas card. She said the mail carrier handed her junk mail, but no letter.
On Saturday, on her account, she checked a box that told the postal service she didn't receive the card, as well as calling to let them know. Bevan told 10TV she was told officials would be looking into the situation, saying they would talk to her mail man and the post office.
On the USPS website, there are answers to frequently asked questions that people may have. In one paragraph the site says, "Unfortunately, an occasional piece of mail may fail to reach it's destination. Reports of mail loss greatly concern us."
The website also states, "Regrettably, when such instances are brought to our attention, there is no sure way of determining what may have happened. With the large volume of mail moving through our network each day, it is not feasible to trace a single piece of letter-sized mail."
We reached out to USPS for an interview on this specific situation and no one was made available, however a spokesperson did share some safety tips.
We're told customers can use services such as signature confirmation or hold for pickup in order to secure deliveries.
The postal service also says on its website notifications are for mail arriving soon and not necessarily arriving the same day. USPS said mail can be delayed in getting to the mail carrier or could be misplaced. They ask customers to wait several days for delivery after getting the notification on the account.
There is an option to report any instances, and that information will then be sent to the U.S. Postal Inspection Service or the Office of Inspector General.