Pony Up Act

Summary#

This bill requires the United States Postal Service (USPS) to repay a citizen the full amount of any fee or penalty the citizen pays because a mailed bill, notice of a bill, or payment was delivered late. The bill defines specific timing rules for when mail counts as "delivered late": for bills and notices, USPS must have received the mail at least 12 days before the due date and must have delivered it fewer than 6 days before the due date; for mailed payments, USPS must have received the mail at least 5 days before the due date and delivered it after the due date. Citizens must apply to USPS for reimbursement; applications may be submitted online, by mail, or at any post office. The bill allows an exception if the delay was caused by events not reasonably within USPS control (for example, a declared major disaster or emergency). Citizens may appeal USPS decisions to the Postal Service Judicial Officer within 30 days; the Judicial Officer’s decision is final. USPS must issue implementing rules within 60 days of enactment.

The bill also requires USPS to submit an annual report starting within one year after enactment that describes average delivery times and delays for each class of mail, the volume of presorted mail, and the effect of presorting on delivery times. The USPS Inspector General must assess and report within one year whether USPS policies prioritize delivery of mail sent under certain sender agreements over other mail of the same class.

What it means for you#

  • If you are charged a late fee or penalty because a mailed bill, notice, or payment arrived late under the bill’s timing rules, you can apply to USPS to be repaid the full amount of those fees and penalties.
  • You can file the application online, by mail, or in person at a post office.
  • If USPS denies your application, you can appeal in writing to the Postal Service Judicial Officer within 30 days.
  • Delays caused by events outside USPS control (for example, a Presidentially declared emergency) are not covered.
  • USPS must publish rules to implement these procedures within 60 days, and must begin annual public reporting on delivery delays within one year.

Expenses#

  • The bill requires USPS to pay citizens amounts equal to the fees and penalties those citizens paid because of covered late deliveries. The bill text does not provide any estimate of the total cost to USPS or budgetary impacts. No publicly available information on estimated fiscal effects is included in the bill text.

Proponents' View#

No publicly available information.

Opponents' View#

No publicly available information.