Skip to main content

Later Mail Deadlines at Valley Post Offices Help Consumers and Businesses

May 9, 2006
Opinion-Editorial
There is good news if you ever raced to the post office late in the day in order to get your check to Visa or MasterCard in the mail before the mail drop-off deadline. Youve held off paying the bill until the last minute so youre facing late fees on your credit card if the payment isnt delivered on time.

There is good news if your business relies on timely mail service and you ever raced to the post office late in the day in order to mail statements to your customers before the mail drop-off deadline.

Now you will have a little more time. The U.S. Postal Service officials have agreed to my request to extend final collection times at key San Fernando Valley post offices.

The changes, which will help individuals in the Valley as well as local businesses, were made in response to concerns I raised during a February 23 meeting with the Postal Service district manager and others.

I relayed complaints I had heard from many constituents about slow mail delivery, and the Postal Service, I am pleased to report, took the situation seriously and responded to my request.

Among the service improvements, the drop-off deadline was extended to 8:00 p.m. at the Van Nuys Post Office, located at 15701 Sherman Way just west of the 405 Freeway.

The Van Nuys Post Office is processing mail deposited later than anywhere in the Los Angeles area, according to the Postal Service. The deadline was 7:00 p.m. (The Los Angeles Airport Station Post Office is open for business until 11:00 p.m., but 7:00 p.m. is the last mail collection at that location.)

The Postal Service also extended the deadline until 7:00 p.m. at the Canoga Park Post Office at 8201 Canoga Ave. near Roscoe Boulevard, and at the Woodland Hills Post Office at 22121 Clarendon St. near Topanga Canyon Boulevard. The last drop off at those offices had been 5:00 p.m.

Post Office

Old Last Drop Time

New Last Drop Time

Van Nuys

7:00 p.m.

8:00 p.m.

Canoga Park

5:00 p.m.

7:00 p.m.

Woodland Hills

5:00 p.m.

7:00 p.m.

First-class mail sent from one Valley address to another usually is delivered the day after it is postmarked, so adding an extra hour or two each day for individuals and businesses to drop off mail will mean the mail reaches its destination sooner.

In practical terms, the extended mail deadlines could be important to someone trying to avoid being charged a penalty on a credit card bill, to a business sending out hundreds of letters, or to a bride inviting people to her wedding.