Royal Mail / Postman: Enough is Enough!

GoldFool

We have continual problems with our postman, and I'm at my wit's end.

I work from home and my husband has early onset dementia; at present, he cannot work. Our postman seems to have figured out that we are likely to be home. However, often it is just not possible for us to answer the door; as you'll all probably be aware, it's sometimes just inconvenient, particularly as we live in a flat and would need to go and answer the front door to the building.

The postman, however, is seemingly determined to get us to take anything he tries to deliver - be it for us, or for one of our other five flats. He will start his little routine with the doorbell; it goes once, then again a couple of seconds after. Then he will start the banging; we live at the front of our property, and he's figured out which is our window. So he comes and hammers (the frames shake) on the living room and bedroom windows, all the while bellowing "postman".

He'll then return to the front door, couple more jabs of the doorbell, then hammering on the door to the front of the flat. He keeps at it for over five minutes a time (I was once in the bath when it happened, and I counted).

As mentioned, my husband is mentally unwell. If the postman arrives before my husband is awake, this bombardment is his first experience of a new day - and it scares him.

I didn't mind at first, because we do get a fair amount of deliveries. But now, the postman does it nearly every day; if a letter is just a bit too big (would need bending) or if there's a package of any kind, not just for us. Some days I can get out to him at that exact moment, but if I can't, he won't even leave a card. A few months ago I asked him not to bang on the door, window and doorbell, and he just said he knows we're home and he needs to post things - didn't give a darn, basically.

I had swine flu a few weeks back and was in bed, feeling very sorry for myself. Husband was at respite care. Postman started up his hammering routine - I ignored him. It went on for the usual five minutes, then he started yelling "postman! Delivery!" He left in the end, as I genuinely was feeling so lousy the last thing I wanted was to get up, get dressed (I have to leave our flat and go into communal grounds to answer the door) and fetch a package.

I emailed the Royal Mail and complained, got a bog standard "thank you for your concern" letter back. I sent a rather heated email back saying something needed to be done. I got another email saying the postman in question had been spoken to and it wouldn't happen again.

Bullshine, it's happened three times since then.

My husband finds this very distressing, and I spend mornings hovering by the door in case the doorbell goes. I'm getting nowhere with the complaints department. Not a clue what to do next, the postman doesn't care, and every time it happens I think the Four Horsemen have arrived. Miserable as sin, and not feeling particularly supportive of the current strike

< / rant >

Lugh_Chronain

Don't stop there and don't write emails as there not affective. Copy and paste what you've written here or any email you've sent. Find out who the manager is and write to him or her.

They should take action as your postman should surely face a disaplinary hearing.

It sounds to me as though your postman is bullying you.

Lugh_Chronain

I just found this:

Royal Mail Complaints Process

If you need to phone them dial 01752 387 112

Hope it helps

SpammyTheSpammer

Would it be better if the postman just left one of those "we were unable to deliver" cards and took the post back to th sorting office? You could then collect it when you wanted. Perhaps if you just requested that ALL post be left at the office and that you went to collect it weekly?

cit_k

Have you actually spoken to the postman to explain your concerns?

N9eav

I think you need to complain about the posty some more.

But...... I must say communal building a real nuicance if you are a caller.

Judith_W

Is there any possibility of you speaking with the postman directly about this and explaining your situation, saying you will take it further if he doesn't stop. That it is reasonable to ring once but if you don't answer to stop and leave a card?

If not then pursuing the formal complaints route and not letting it go would be the best bet I would say

Lugh_Chronain

SpammyTheSpammer wrote: »

Would it be better if the postman just left one of those "we were unable to deliver" cards and took the post back to th sorting office? You could then collect it when you wanted. Perhaps if you just requested that ALL post be left at the office and that you went to collect it weekly?

That's what I thought too.

Brooker_Dave

Lugh_Chronain wrote: »

They should take action as your postman should surely face a disaplinary hearing.

For being dilligent?

Brooker_Dave

GoldFool wrote: »

I work from home and my husband has early onset dementia; at present, he cannot work. Our postman seems to have figured out that we are likely to be home. However, often it is just not possible for us to answer the door; as you'll all probably be aware, it's sometimes just inconvenient, particularly as we live in a flat and would need to go and answer the front door to the building.

He's just trying to deliver you post.

I can't believe that you'd complain about this.

alison999

posties cant win. some people complain that they only knock once and therefore if the person at home doesnt hear it/get there in time they complain that they have to go to the sorting office to collect or people complain that no one knocked at all etc etc

have you spoken to the postman? if not, he might not even know hes bugging you.