Charlestown Residents Receive Torn W-2 Forms

Some postal customers in Charlestown received only half their W-2 forms this week.

Resident Angela Fagin said she was immediately concerned when she received her W-2 form on Monday and found it already open, with half missing.

“I called the Credit Bureau to put a freeze on my credit because I was afraid someone would steal my identity,” Fagin said in an email.

She contacted the U.S. Postal Service's Charlestown Carriers Annex and spoke to the local supervisor, who reportedly told her that she had received a few calls about the same thing happening to other Charlestown residents.

Christine Dugas, spokesperson for the U.S. Postal Service’s Boston District, said the office had received “a handful” of calls about the issue.

“It seems to be a very limited number, only in Charlestown,” she said.

Dugas said that the W-2 forms in question were not posted in an envelope but were the type with perforations at both ends, about the size of a small photograph—4x5 or 4x6. The pieces of mail appeared to have an extra perforation in the middle, something Dugas said would have been created before the item was mailed, but when the pieces went through the Postal Service’s sorting machinery, that extra perforation might have gotten caught and torn.

“Occasionally, in rare cases, a piece of mail can get torn if it goes through the equipment,” she said.

Dugas said Friday that she had limited information about what might have happened and that she would contact Patch if she learned more.

She also said that postal workers would deliver the missing pieces if possible.

“If we find a piece of mail or mail that came out of something that for some reason no longer has its envelope, we look for any identifying information that would allow us to deliver it,” she said. “If we had anything in the building that had identifying information, we would have sent it.”

Anyone who is experiencing an issue with their mail delivery can report concerns to the U.S. Postal Service by calling 800-ASK-USPS (800-275-8777).

“Obviously, anybody concerned about identity theft should take whatever measure they feel appropriate,” Dugas said.