Delayed bills / payments in Royal Mail strikes - where does consumer stand?

lew99

Have done a quick search to see if this has been asked before and didn't find anything. Apologies if it has and I've missed it.

With all the strikes at Royal Mail going on recently, have been suffering lots of late mail, and stuff that has just never arrived.

With regard to bills and invoices from companies, am getting it both ways - I've never received bills they say they've sent, and then just get the nasty follow up adding late payment charges, and also on other cases I have sent payment (even posted several days earlier to allow for delays with strikes) but it has arrived to them late, so they've also added late payment charges.

The consumer seems to be suffering all the consequences. When bill not received, or not in enough time, company charges more and says not their problem as they sent it. But when payment has been sent, saying have sent it in time is not acceptable to company, they say they didn't receive it in time so are able to add extra charges. (admittedly so far the late bill receiving and the delayed payment sending have involved different companies)

But where does the consumer stand in this situation, when it has been due to the strikes at Royal Mail and the backlog and delays resulting. Is it up to company discretion, or do we as consumers have some rights in these circumstances?

Imagine this must be affecting many people.

Appreciate any comments.

Antispam

Nothing only the company can claim and maximum of £3.50 I think according to BBC working lunch

The strike is about later deliveries and making rounds bigger something my area already gets for a couple of years now but its not national, this is what local postman tells me