[been_lurking]

No, they will find another method of billing (they always get their money.) Commercial carriers, in person payment centers, online billing, direct transfer, etc. Believe it or not, there are many people who never receive or pay a bill by mail now. I don't see it as a show stopper.

Credit card companies will probably be the worst hit under your scenario, but they deserve it and it would solve the mounting problems of bad debt and over extended consumers. :)

Seriously though, sense most credit cards are issued by the bearers bank, direct payment seems reasonable there also.

One interesting question I have not seen answered is exactly how all these mysterious letters were delivered? Are we assuming that they are USPS delivered? Were some of them sent via courier or other means? I have not heard that the CDC has quarantined any Post Offices as a result of these incidents. If they have the letter and checked the postmark it would seem that they would want to check that post office. I suspect these letters were not part of a commercial bulk mailing and might not have actually been US Mail.

That would be an interesting fact to add to this whole situation.

[francisandbeans]

First things first.....considering that a lot of bill companies could lose all or some of thier receiveables (even if they know they will get them eventually) for a short time could cripple some companies...I dont think permanent damage...but crippling nonetheless.

Secodly, CDC has been examining Postal workers and the FBI had closed down a post office in Crown Point, IN due to a strange white substance there.