Houston business owner faces new delays with USPS as she waits for critical check

HOUSTON – Zephra Bell, a Houston small business owner, finds herself once again caught in a frustrating cycle with the United States Postal Service.

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Just weeks after finally receiving a $10,000 check that took over two months to arrive, Bell is now waiting on another crucial payment, this time from the Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS).

“I’m really kind of in shock that, you know, it hasn’t even been 30 days later, and I’m just right back in the same situation, just waiting on the post office,” she said.

Bell spoke to KPRC’s Rechelle Turner last month about how postal delays were costing her business thousands of dollars in lost revenue.

The situation seemed to improve when the long-awaited check finally arrived, but now she says she’s facing yet another setback.

The latest issue involves a check mailed from Austin on August 19 by the TRS, which Bell has yet to receive. The money is critical, not just for her business but to help her family in North Carolina, who are reeling from the aftermath of Hurricane Helene.

“I think I’m more frustrated than ever,” she said.

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For over 50 days, Bell has been waiting for the check, intended to help her assist family members in her hometown of Asheville, North Carolina, where the hurricane left devastation in its wake. Bell shared how she’s been juggling the stress of her business while searching for loved ones still unaccounted for after the storm.

“I originally didn’t intend to use it. However, I’m from Asheville, North Carolina, which has been heavily impacted by Hurricane Helene. Just the stress of dealing with search and rescue to find my mom, my younger sister, my godparents that we’re still searching for… I want to be able to help them back home, but I still have to try to run a business as well. So, I’m kind of frustrated that I can’t assist them financially the way I would want to have,” Bell said.

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Bell has been reaching out to the TRS and USPS for weeks, seeking answers. She shared emails she sent to local and state officials, highlighting her frustration. This week, she finally received a call from USPS customer relations, but it provided little relief.

“She did say that they were sorry. They always say that they’re sorry, but nothing really changes,” she said.

Despite her efforts, Bell was told picking up the check in person wasn’t an option, and the postal service has yet to offer a clear explanation for the delay.

“We’re short-staffed. We’re underfunded. The new facilities we’re setting up, they’re just not working. So there’s no clear answer as to why it’s taking two-plus months for something that’s going from Texas to Texas to get here. So I’m just really frustrated at this point,” she said.

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While Bell waits, the TRS has offered an alternative: she can send an envelope through FedEx, and the check will be re-issued and overnighted, though that process could take another 7 to 10 business days.

KPRC reached out to USPS for comment but has not received a response as of this morning. Bell hopes for a resolution soon, as both her business and her family’s well-being hang in the balance.