Authorize postmarks as payment date for all mailed payments to creditors just as IRS accepts them on tax returns.

Insurance companies accept postmarks as payment dates so do local governments for property taxes. IRS accepts them. Once an envelope is dropped into the box our control is gone. Payments can be delayed for many reasons that are unforeseen and it is unfair to assess penalties for delays in delivery or processing when the payers have made a good faith effort to pay on time.