Royal Mail / Postman: Enough is Enough!

scott_lithgows

hazey31 wrote: »

For the OP- I fully sympathise, my doorbell was nearest the door so when the postman had something for someone that wasn't in, they always used to ring my doorbell first, then I'd hear him ring everyone else's. I went out to tell them I would not sign for anyone else's mail and to stop doing it but it never stopped, so the only solution was to stop answering the door.

I realise this isn't working in your situation but I just wanted to say I hope your complaint is treated seriously and it stops this behaviour because it is extremely frustrating.

I,m taking it you are in a block of flats,he can only buzz you if he has mail for you (and a security door is not working),the others in the close who have mail he can also buzz.
Dont sign for anyone else,s mail,he,s in the wrong for asking you and could cause you trouble if you do(i,m thinking court citation letter,s etc).
Simply say "thats not for me"

Widelats

Hmm, i was getting letters for nearly the whole street and they were getting mine, around 30 items gone missing i had over 200 letters for next door as they moved out and nailed their post box closed before they went and i got all their mail,i complained several times even went in to the sorting office 3 times to see the manager and it just kept happening, the postman was absoloutley thick, totally not looking at the addresses on the letters i got sick to death of him i dreaded anyone telling me they had sent me a letter as i always got a gut feeling it would go missing like many others - i left that address and had no post issues since.

OP get a formal complaint in to RM main offices and make copies of all replies to you, you could end up suing the RM if it continues.

Widelats

scott_lithgows wrote: »

I,m taking it you are in a block of flats,he can only buzz you if he has mail for you (and a security door is not working),the others in the close who have mail he can also buzz.
Dont sign for anyone else,s mail,he,s in the wrong for asking you and could cause you trouble if you do(i,m thinking court citation letter,s etc).
Simply say "thats not for me"

Usually postmen are allocated keys for entrances to blocks of flats i believe? Or at least they should be i think.

scott_lithgows

Widelats wrote: »

Usually postmen are allocated keys for entrances to blocks of flats i believe? Or at least they should be i think.

No,you could end up with 50+ keys in your pocket depending on the delivery(possible security implications as well),a lot of flats have door security systems with a tradesman button which is on a timer,sometimes it can be as easy as to ask the Postie roughly what time he arrives at and set the timer to suit.

Brooker_Dave

Takoda wrote: »

So someone could be in the bath,in the shower, could be cooking a meal, could have just sat down to a hot lunch, could be ill, could be working from home on something important, could getting ready to go out, could be having a domestic crisis, could be in the middle of an important phone call... etc etc but according to you because they are "in" they should drop everything and answer the door to you?

Ring up the post office and demand the postie only comes around at a time that's conveinent to you!

Why should we put up with these postmen just appearing out of the blue with lettters without having made a prior appointment??

They're so selfish!!

Demand compensation for the shock of having to go to the door to get a parcel!!!

LemonGrove

Brooker_Dave wrote: »

Ring up the post office and demand the postie only comes around at a time that's conveinent to you!

Why should we put up with these postmen just appearing out of the blue with lettters without having made a prior appointment??

They're so selfish!!

Demand compensation for the shock of having to go to the door to get a parcel!!!

Sensitive as always Dave.

onejontwo

I am a postie and can sympathise with you and also see the problem from your posties point of view. (not that I agree with the lengths he goes to to attract your attention!) I agree with some previous posts that the best plan of action would be to set up a " call and collect "service which would stop him from harassing you, and mean that the postie wouldn't have to carry and return undelivered mail back to the sorting office, and you could collect your mail at your convenience.
Hope you get it sorted soon, good luck!

Pennylane

I have to say I'm also surprised that some people seem to be turning this around so that it seems OP is at fault.

The postie is supposed to be doing a job and he's getting paid to do it.

I have a nice friendly postie but when he's away for any reason or he has his route changed for a few weeks, the rest are hopeless. :eek: We get loads of post for next door and I tell every new postie to PLEASE check the address. One day I got 9 items of mail for them!

Anyway, back to the OP. If it were me I would have first of all explained the position with her DH to the postman clearly. I would then write to the local sorting office and say you have done so. If the problem persisted I would go in person to the sorting office or speak to the Manager on the phone. (Your local PO will be able to give you contact details.

You can't be the first person with this sort of problem, so maybe the Manager can suggest alternative arrangements.

If the postman still doesn't get the picture he shouldn't be doing the job.

view

Why don't you print/laminate a notice to Royal Mail at the front where he rings the buzzer that you will only accept mail in your name. Follow this up with a letter to the RM advising you will do this and asking RM to mention also to any postie who will find you on his round. Hopefully this may help - maybe not but worth a try!

GoldFool

Gosh, a lot to respond to.

Firefox1975 wrote: »

This OP is not telling us the full information.

It is ludicrous to beleive a postman would instill a harrasment campaign against someone who is ill, especially when he has been warned already.I mean, who is he? that Postman out of the viz comic?

no, OP, please give us the rest of the story - do you personally know this person? Have you upset him in the past?

Why on earth aren't you just going to collect your post from the post office if getting it delivered is such an issue for you?

unless of course there is another reason........................ I await the full story.

What utter nonsense!

We moved into this flat 18 months ago. Early on, I collected a package from the postman outside. He said "you get a lot of mail", and I replied that I work from home reviewing products which are sent to me usually by courier but some things do come from Royal Mail.

I don't know the man, but he does seem to have figured out that I will usually be in. He always makes some comment about how much post I get (which I don't think is that much - a package two times a week usually, the rest are by courier).

To the people who told me to talk to him... I realise that the initial post is a little tl;dr, but I have. He's claimed the doorbell doesn't work (it does) and that he's just trying to deliver the post and he knows he'll usually be able to get hold of me. And in fairness, he does stop for awhile, but then it just starts all over again usually with the same "doorbell doesn't work" excuse.

Why don't you print/laminate a notice to Royal Mail at the front where he rings the buzzer that you will only accept mail in your name. - GoldenJill

I've thought of this route before, but I'm in the unusual situation of liking my neighbours and it seems harsh to always refuse that. If I'm in a situation where I can answer the door for them, I'd like to. But I see this might be what I have to do.

I have to say I'm also surprised that some people seem to be turning this around so that it seems OP is at fault.

The postie is supposed to be doing a job and he's getting paid to do it.

I'm not surprised. (I would rolleye smilie here, but no one likes that.)

Sometimes, I answer the door to him and he's just got a lot of letters all bundled together. He hands it over and walks off, and when I go through it to sort things through for the different mailboxes, there's things for other houses (usually four or eight - we are six) in it. He's incompetent too (bends things that say "do not bend").

I suppose I should have been more forthright, but it isn't in my nature - a sternly worded email was the best I could manage. I thought the softly softly approach would be best, but he seems determined to ignore it.

I am a postie and can sympathise with you and also see the problem from your posties point of view.

I understand, too, I think that's the problem! I can see how six different residences that all receive a lot of post is a bother, and if you know one of the people in the building works from home - score! It's the window banging that gets me... goes too far.

Usually postmen are allocated keys for entrances to blocks of flats i believe? Or at least they should be i think.

We have a normal front door with one letter box. The mail comes in, and one of the residents will pick it up. We've bought little sorting trays which sit in the lobby, and whoever gets to the mail will sort it from there. I wouldn't like the idea of him having a key, and nor would my neighbours.

For the OP- I fully sympathise, my doorbell was nearest the door so when the postman had something for someone that wasn't in, they always used to ring my doorbell first, then I'd hear him ring everyone else's. I went out to tell them I would not sign for anyone else's mail and to stop doing it but it never stopped, so the only solution was to stop answering the door.

I wouldn't normally mind, but it's when he starts banging on windows and I get outside and discover that it's not my mail. Once, he just had a big pile of letters, and he did his little routine. Out I went, and he said "it'd take me forever to post all these through!" and just gave me the bundle with the little red elastic band on. So it's not even just packages...

I don't really think there's any need for a bad attitude. Would you really be so ignorant to ask the question 'why would he do that'? Many people on this thread have said that it sounds like the poster is being harassed by the postman- but that's impossible,right? Because why would he?! Maybe I'm wrong and you're an expert in behavioural psychology

The way I see it: he's figured out that I'm pretty much always home. Our flats get a lot of mail and frequent packages. I get frequent packages. So I understand his thinking; he knows I'm going to be there, and if there's more than one flat that needs a package, he needs to fill out more than one card... our window is right there, he knows I'll probably be in... voila. Easier job for him.

I don't understand why I would "not tell the full story", and I mainly find this allegation confusing. It's almost like people are unwilling to believe a postman could be difficult, when numerous replies on this thread show that while most postman are exemplary (I've experienced it myself), some are not. Some just want to get their round done as quickly and with as least muss and fuss as possible. He has to move two steps from the front door to be at our bedroom window... a bit of banging, not having to put his stuff down, not having to fill out a card - problem solved.

For him.

I've had some amazing postmen, and this is not an attack on every single postman. This is a particular situation with one particular individual.

Honestly, this forum has some really bizarre people on it. This isn't a "sob story" - it's just a particular experience. I acted as I thought I should; I filed a complaint, and the Royal Mail didn't care. They sent a reply saying he had been spoken to - I received this within 24 hours of my second complaint. I do not think it is feasible that they did speak to him in that time. Why on earth would I take the time to write this out if it wasn't a real problem? Why not give the full story? This is how it's happened. I think my generally relaxed nature has been taken advantage of by one guy who wants to get his job done as quickly as possible.

To the people who gave advice: thank you. I have considered the "collect" option but it's difficult as, like I said, I receive products to review - so I can't really go and collect them once a week.

I will try sending a letter, which may have more effect than email. I have complained by phone about something totally unrelated in the past, and if I remember right, the phone system is full of "you can now do X thing on our website!" so I figured that'd be the best option.

Oh, and to the suggestion of recording it: I do have a recording of him banging on the bedroom windows and shouting. Totally by accident as I was recording into a dictaphone at the time and it recorded it. I still have the tape but I'm not sure what use it would be?