Royal Mail Recorded delivery

macgyver

I posted the application along with the papers for the Maternity allowance for my wife on the 3rd of Jan to the Job Center address though first class recorded delivery.
As of now even after a week, it has not been delivered. When I check on the Royal mail Trace and track with the unique reference number, it tells me to come back later.

The thing is that we are running out of time and the form must reach the said Job Center before 13th of Feb or my wife will loose her Maternity Allowance.

Could it be delayed because of the New Year and Christmas postings? Or have they lost it!! I hope it is the former...
Is it normal for a recorded delivery 1st Class to be delayed for a week even at this time of the year?
Thanks for looking. I will keep you posted

superscaper

Is there not a practical way to take a copy of the application to the local Job Centre? At least then you'd have official receipt of it. I've had post delayed and even go missing using recorded delivery and if it's really important you should use special delivery, even though expensive at least it's trackable through the entire system (and guaranteed next day). Recorded delivery isn't tracked, only once (and if) it's been delivered/signed for.

sandiep

Have you checked with them whether or not its been delivered, or are you just assuming that it's not because the track and trace has no delivery details.

Track and trace will prob not record details for this, as mail for these type of organisations are delivered PO box style. Not all delivery addresses get Proof of delivery, partic govt offices/buildings/tax centres/call centres etc?PO Boxes

macgyver

Thanks for the replies.
Unfortunately the local Job Center would not accept it. I was told to post it to the relevant Job Centre which is in Chester and we live in London.I checked with them on Friday and they have not received it

sneezyboots

I would phone their customer services and ask them to track in on their system. Last november time a sent something recorded delivery and the person contacted me to say they had not got it so i checked online with the tracking details and it said 'being returned to sender'. I phoned the royal mail customer services to find out exactly why that was as the recipient was adamant they had not even received a card saying 'sorry you were out' and the person on the phone had a look on two systems for me and said that they proved unconclusive as to whether the item did reach the other end or not but that either way it was out of the expected time to get back to me, if in fact it was coming back to me, and was in their eyes lost and i should file accordingly.

CRANKY40

Have you had more than one go? It usually tells me to come back later the first 2 or 3 times, then gives me the proper result the 3rd time.....

It's an awful service.

macgyver

I have been checking at least twice everyday but to no vail

Thanks anyway

durham_girl

Royal Mail can't be traced. It goes the same as standard first class, the only difference being is that Recorded requires a signature upon delivery. Special Delivery is the only RM service that is trackable.

CRANKY40

I mean more than one go at the same time. It usually tells you twice that there is a problem, and gives you the correct answer third go. I had 3 goes on Friday one after the other before I finally got the delivery date and my dad's signature. Just trying once doesn't seem to work.

soolin

Recorded is an expensive service that offers nothing. Standard mail that is supposed to get a signature, yet of all the items I sent recorded in October 2008 not one single one ever showed up as delivered, although in my case I know they were. As has already been said many large offices have the recorded items dropped with them and no signature is ever required (just look at the mobile phone board and cashback claims) and all you can do if it doesn't show as delivered is to get the Job Centrre to look for it, it is probably there on a desk somewhere

Standard 1st or 2nd class post (which is all recorded is) is not deemed delayed or lost until 15 working days, (3 weeks) either. It is also doubly unfortunate in this instance that recorded doesn't have any claim for consequential loss so your only claim against Royal mail if it never shows up is for the cost of the 72p recorded charge.

macgyver

Thanks for all the helpful replies.
I actually managed to speak to some one at Job Center and they did receive the letter and they have sent it back to us as the SMP1 form which her previous employer gave her was not filled in correctly, ... anyway thats another matter.
Once it comes back we would be sending it by special delivery this time.
And the royal mail site is still not showing any records for the delivery... I really feel like cclaiming the damages from Royal Mail.