US Postal Service seeking to hike cost of first-class stamp to 73 cents

IN HOPES OF WARNING OTHERS. BARBARA ALEXANDER THOUGHT SHE WAS SAVING TIME AND MONEY WHEN SHE ORDERED THESE POSTAGE STAMPS ONLINE. WHEN I GOT THE STAMPS, I NOTICED IT SAID EXTRA OUNCES, AN ADDITIONAL OUNCE STAMP COSTS $0.24 AND IT’S USED IF THE WEIGHT OF A LETTER EXCEEDS THE LIMIT OF A FIRST CLASS STAMP. I TOOK THEM TO THE POST OFFICE BECAUSE IT SAID EXTRA OUNCES AND I DIDN’T KNOW HOW MANY I’D HAVE TO PUT ON A LETTER TO ACTUALLY MAIL IT. WELL, THAT’S WHEN BARBARA GOT THE BAD NEWS FROM THE CLERK AT HER LOCAL POST OFFICE. SO HE SAID THEY’RE COUNTERFEIT SIDE BY SIDE. THE STAMPS ARE NEARLY IDENTICAL, BUT THE CLERK AT THE POST OFFICE POINTED OUT A FEW DIFFERENCES TO BARBARA. THE STAMPS ON THE LEFT WERE PURCHASED BY NEWS 8 ON YOUR SIDE AT A POST OFFICE. THEY’RE REAL. THE PERFORATIONS ARE CLEAR. THE PAPER IS SLIGHTLY DARKER. THE STAMPS ON THE RIGHT WERE PURCHASED BY BARBARA ONLINE. THEY ARRIVED IN THIS CLEAR ENVELOPE WITH AN EMAIL ADDRESS OF USPS SALE AT OUTLOOK DOT COM. THAT’S NOT A POST OFFICE EMAIL ADDRESS. AND BARBARA’S CREDIT CARD WAS CHARGED BY A COMPANY THAT WAS NOT THE US POSTAL SERVICE. SO WHEN I GOT THE BANK OF AMERICA CREDIT CARD STATEMENT, I LOOKED AT IT AND IT SAID, CUD WOULD SINGAPORE. BARBARA PURCHASED 200 STAMPS AT $0.24 A PIECE, WHICH SHOULD COST HER $48. BUT SHE WAS CHARGED NEARLY $56. BARBARA HAS FILED AN APPEAL WITH HER CREDIT CARD COMPANY AND IT IS TEMPORARILY REFUNDED HER MONEY PENDING AN INVESTIGATION. BY YOUR POST OFFICE STAMPS FROM THE POST OFFICE. AND REMEMBER, THE POSTAL SERVICE SAYS IT NEVER SELLS STAMPS AT LESS THAN FA

The U.S. Postal Service signaled plans Tuesday for a rate increase that includes hiking the cost of a first-class stamp from 68 cents to 73 cents, part of an overall 7.8% increase to take effect this summer.Related video above: How to spot fake postage stampsThe request was made to the Postal Regulatory Commission, which must approve the proposed increase that the Postal Service contends is necessary to achieve financial stability. If approved, the 5-cent increase for a "forever" stamp and similar increases for postcards, metered letters and international mail would take effect July 14.U.S. Postmaster General Louis DeJoy previously warned postal customers to get used to "uncomfortable" rate hikes as the Postal Service seeks to become self-sufficient. He said price increases were overdue after "at least 10 years of a defective pricing model."In its filing, the Postal Service said it's also seeking price adjustments on special services such as money order fees and certified mail. But there will be no price increase for post office box rentals, and postal insurance will be reduced by 10% when items are mailed, the postal service said.

WASHINGTON —

Related video above: How to spot fake postage stamps

The request was made to the Postal Regulatory Commission, which must approve the proposed increase that the Postal Service contends is necessary to achieve financial stability. If approved, the 5-cent increase for a "forever" stamp and similar increases for postcards, metered letters and international mail would take effect July 14.

U.S. Postmaster General Louis DeJoy previously warned postal customers to get used to "uncomfortable" rate hikes as the Postal Service seeks to become self-sufficient. He said price increases were overdue after "at least 10 years of a defective pricing model."

In its filing, the Postal Service said it's also seeking price adjustments on special services such as money order fees and certified mail. But there will be no price increase for post office box rentals, and postal insurance will be reduced by 10% when items are mailed, the postal service said.

US Postal Service seeking to hike cost of first-class stamp to 73 cents

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