QUESTION: What is the policy of the U.S. Postal Service regarding increasing rates on their post office boxes? In my case an invoice was left in my P.O. box with a due date of Jan. 31. When I went in to pay my bill before that deadline, I was told, "Oh, the rates went up." I don’t think that’s right. If they already sent you an invoice, they should stick to the rate on that invoice. If they want to change the rate, that’s fine, but to anyone who hasn’t already been issued an invoice. What gives them the right to change their rate once they’ve issued the invoice?

ANSWER: The new rates were approved by the U.S. Postal Regulatory Commission, an independent agency with oversight over the Postal Service, in late December, USPS spokesman Duke Gonzalez said.

After receiving approval, the postal service then had to create new post office box fee schedules for all of its post offices. That task was not completed until mid-January, after which customers were notified of the increases, Gonzalez said.

However, he said returning customers had a chance to renew at the old rates if they responded by Jan. 26.

Gonzalez explained that the Postal Service submitted a proposal to increase 2014 prices for postal products and services to the commission in the fall. That proposal was approved Dec. 24.

Post office box renewal notices routinely are issued to customers at least 20 days prior to the due date of the renewal payment, Gonzalez said.

That notice, stating, "Your P.O. box fee is due by the 1st day of this month," and listing prices for six- and 12-month periods, was what you received in early January, he said.

"Normally, that is the only notice a customer will receive, and P.O. box fees are exactly as stated on the notice, through the end of the month in which the notice is sent," he said.

However, multiple renewal notices are possible in any month in which fees increase, he said, and that was the case last month.

"As soon as the new fee schedule was completed, we immediately notified all customers whose fees were due by the end of January," Gonzalez said.

He said fee increase notices were placed in P.O. boxes, including yours, on Jan. 16 and 21 and that customers were given the option of renewing at the old rate. But in order to get the old rate, payment had to be received before Jan. 26, the date that the approved increases took effect.

(You explained that you do not check your postal box unless you are expecting a delivery. Therefore, you did not see the two notices until Jan. 28.)

"Regardless of the reasons why, we apologize for the inconvenience and confusion," Gonzalez said. "We’ll increase our efforts to ensure that we communicate P.O. box fee changes as far in advance as possible."

He said customers can also help prevent what happened in your case by frequently checking their boxes for "important" postal product and service updates.

AUWE

To three hunters at Kaeiwa Heiau State Park. While running with my dog there, I saw you gutting two giant pigs. I appreciate that you kept your dogs under control, that you disposed of the guts off the trail and that you rid the park of two giant, destructive pigs. What is disturbing to me is that you left behind your food wrappers, tin cans and water bottles. You could have certainly packed out what you had packed in. — Avid Trail Runner and Dog

The problem not only is the trash those hunters left behind, but the fact that they were hunting in the park in the first place.

The park, also known as the Aiea Loop Trail, and nearby areas are not public hunting areas. "There is a sign at the front of the park that clearly says ‘No hunting,’" said Deborah Ward, spokeswoman for the state Department of Land and Natural Resources.

We previously reported that anyone seeing hunters at that park should call DLNR’s Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement at 643-3567 or its Oahu Branch at 587-0077. For more information, see is.gd/6GIL0B.

Write to “Kokua Line” at Honolulu Star-Advertiser, 7 Waterfront Plaza, Suite 210, 500 Ala Moana Blvd., Honolulu 96813; call 529-4773; fax 529-4750; or email kokualine@staradvertiser.com.