Royal Mail - is it theft?

jojeba

If Royal Mail has a package of mine, of value (a present from a family member) but they don't deliver it because they are striking, what are my rights? Can I charge RM with theft?
This doesn't seem fair or right. It should have arrived two weeks ago.

soolin

They are not striking at present though, how do you know they are holding it, have they carded you and are refusing to hand it over or something?

If you mean that it just hasn't been delivered then RM don't consider an item lost until after 15 working days has elapsed. After 3 weeks if it hasn't arrived the sender can start a claim for loss from Royal mail, they will need proof of postage (hopefully the sender had it weighed and stamped at PO and have a proper COP/Receipt) and they will also need proof of the value of the items enclosed. Standard mail which includes 1st and 2nd class and recorded covers up to £39 of loss with some exclusions, jewellery tickets and cash being the notable ones.

custardy

theft,dear lord

DCFC79

Whatever next, im surprised the compo word hasnt been mentioned yet, just go and collect it form the sorting office

Bowling_4_Gold

From a definition from Google;

A broad term describing the taking of another's property with the intent of depriving the owner of the property.

Royal Mail aren't intentionally depriving the owner of the property, so it can't be theft - sorry!

Tozer

Yeah, really they have stolen from you. Millions others too. Lets all dial 999 and demand action.

jojeba

Thank you for all the sarcasm.

I was sent something of sentimental value from family overseas, and they do have a proof of postage, and I've never had post from home not arrive.
Yes there *are* strikes happening at the moment, on and off, and if you read the news you will realise what is going on. Millions of pieces of undelivered mail from past weeks are piled up in "mail mountains" in the RM warehouses, which are not being sorted or delivered, as workers refuse to do so until they are being paid overtime. Bosses refuse to pay them overtime as they don't wish to "reward" them for the strike.

So fine, if it's not technically "theft" in a word, what CAN I do? No I can't just go to the sorting office - I've been!! They just say "we're working on it" but the official line is that a lot of this mail will never ever get delivered.

This is more like a mail hostage situation if you ask me.
And before you all start with the snide remarks, I am just asking for some help and advice please... they have something of irreplaceable sentiment of mine and it's not right.

Tozer

There is a strike which sounds as though it will get worse. I think - like the rest of us - you need to batten down the hatches.

soolin

Thenn my advice in post 2 still stands. There is no theft here, the item is either lost or delayed.

The sender needs to look at the compensation requirements for the sending postal service, this won't of course be RM if it was sent from overseas. Then depending on the time frame if item hasn't arrived then they need to make a claim assuming it is possible on the service they used.

If it is an untracked parcel you can't even be sure that it arrived in the UK, and RM have no responsibility for this unless you can prove it arrived into their hands.

Stuff gets lost, it happens..honestly.

stebiz

jojeba wrote: »

Thank you for all the sarcasm.

I was sent something of sentimental value from family overseas, and they do have a proof of postage, and I've never had post from home not arrive.
Yes there *are* strikes happening at the moment, on and off, and if you read the news you will realise what is going on. Millions of pieces of undelivered mail from past weeks are piled up in "mail mountains" in the RM warehouses, which are not being sorted or delivered, as workers refuse to do so until they are being paid overtime. Bosses refuse to pay them overtime as they don't wish to "reward" them for the strike.

So fine, if it's not technically "theft" in a word, what CAN I do? No I can't just go to the sorting office - I've been!! They just say "we're working on it" but the official line is that a lot of this mail will never ever get delivered.

This is more like a mail hostage situation if you ask me.
And before you all start with the snide remarks, I am just asking for some help and advice please... they have something of irreplaceable sentiment of mine and it's not right.

I can understand your frustration. I'm really not sure what you can do though, other than remember this occasion when perhaps YOU send items in future. The only way to hurt big business is in the pocket.

Stebiz

advent1122

jojeba wrote: »

This is more like a mail hostage situation if you ask me.
And before you all start with the snide remarks, I am just asking for some help and advice please... they have something of irreplaceable sentiment of mine and it's not right.

Ohh... I was about to start with a snide remark.
Correct me if I am wrong, but the reason for a strike is to cause as much disruption as possible to cause sweaty armpits at head office so that they cave in with demands.
It would be a pretty pi$$ poor strike if they delivered the mail whilst striking.

Mail hostage situation - love it.