Kokua Line

By June Watanabe

Thursday, December 12, 1996

Postal Service has new
customer phone system

Q: I tried to call the Kapalama Post Office, but when I called the number in the phone book, it referred me to a 1-800 number. When I called that number, it referred me back to the first number! Then I tried to call the postmaster and they said they couldn't give out his number. How do I find out why my magazine is not getting delivered on time?

Unfortunately, you did not leave a contact number. But spokeswoman Felice Broglio apologized, saying you got caught in the "soft roll-out" of a new nationwide system.

Call 1-800-ASK-USPS (1-800-275-8777) again and you should be able to get some answers, she said.

The Postal Service, using a private contractor, is opening six National Call Service Centers. The first one, in Denver, serves Hawaii, Alaska, California, Nevada, Oregon and Washington.

The change is in response to consumer demand for a 24-hour number to get information, Broglio said. General questions, such as zip code numbers, rates, location of post offices, window service hours and the like would be handled by the centralized office.

If, like you, a consumer needs to talk to someone in a local office, you will be transferred. When you called, the center "was going through a phase-in and there were a lot of glitches that needed to be corrected," Broglio said.

People who call the information number listed in the telephone directory, 423-3990, will be rolled over to the 1-800 number. The new number will be reflected in next year's directory, Broglio said.

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