Am i able to sue Royal Mail?

lookingforsomeadvice

In March this year, I sent an item via Special Delivery, I was told when sending the item that it would be covered for up to £500 should anything go wrong.

It never arrived at it's destination.

In the first week of April i put in a claim, I heard back from Royal Mail within 2 weeks and they asked me to provide proof of postage which i did.

I waited until mid June and hadn't heard anything so i wrote to them demanding that they reply to me and do something about the item they had lost and they wrote back and gave me a cheque for around £6 which was what i paid to send the item.

I know at one point they asked for proof of value but i don't see how i could provide that but i informed them that the value of the item was £300.

Last month i emailed the chairman of Royal Mail and, I didn't receive a reply back from him but i got an email from the postal review panel saying they would investigate the matter and that i will hear back from them within 30 days, There's only 5 days left, This matter has dragged on for 4 months now.

Surely them losing my parcel is negligence? I have already informed Royal Mail that should i not be compensated in full i will go to the press about it and report them to watchdog and numerous other organisations, I have already spoken to an MP about it and they have asked me to keep them updated on the matter.

But what i want to know is can i take them to the small claims court?

Thank you.

mountainofdebt

I can see the quandry that the RM are in.

You have sent an item, via their SD service, and it has got lost.

Now reasonably (imo) they have asked for the proof of the item's value and for what ever reason you are unable to provide that.

So what are they to do ? Take your word for it that the item was worth £300? Or at least try and investigate what has happened to your parcel which will take time?

I would imagine that the failure to provide proof of the item's value is what causing the delay as it is no longer a clear cut case of sending you a cheque for £300.

Personally I think you have to wait until you hear from the postal review panel before you decide on the next course of action - though if you do take the matter to the small claims court won't they want proof of the item's value ? I know I would if I was the judge.

lookingforsomeadvice

mountainofdebt wrote: »

I can see the quandry that the RM are in.

You have sent an item, via their SD service, and it has got lost.

Now reasonably (imo) they have asked for the proof of the item's value and for what ever reason you are unable to provide that.

So what are they to do ? Take your word for it that the item was worth £300? Or at least try and investigate what has happened to your parcel which will take time?

I would imagine that the failure to provide proof of the item's value is what causing the delay as it is no longer a clear cut case of sending you a cheque for £300.

Personally I think you have to wait until you hear from the postal review panel before you decide on the next course of action - though if you do take the matter to the small claims court won't they want proof of the item's value ? I know I would if I was the judge.

I see where your coming from, At the end of the day they lost my parcel, How can i prove the value of the item when i no longer have the receipt?

I sent the item believing it would reach it's destination it didn't, Is it negligence??

Plus the fact that it's been dragging on for 4 months is a joke.

Gavin83

How can you possibly prove the items value? Even if you have a receipt how can you prove it was that item you posted?

lookingforsomeadvice

Gavin83 wrote: »

How can you possibly prove the items value? Even if you have a receipt how can you prove it was that item you posted?

Exactly! The point of the matter is i sent it via Special Delivery because it was a valuable item and because it covers it for up to £500 therefore i should receive full compensation for my item.

Freddie_Snowbits

Normally when we send items for our business, there is a corresponding item on the ledger for this as well as the receipt. When at the PO, I always declare what the item is when posting. Never had a problem.

Equaliser123

lookingforsomeadvice wrote: »

Exactly! The point of the matter is i sent it via Special Delivery because it was a valuable item and because it covers it for up to £500 therefore i should receive full compensation for my item.

It is UP TO £500. You will need to demonstrate the value of the lost item.

adam.mt

Can't you just provide evidence of what the replacement cost for the item would be? Is that not the simple, obvious answer, that they require?

Fiddlestick

adam.mt wrote: »

Can't you just provide evidence of what the replacement cost for the item would be? Is that not the simple, obvious answer, that they require?

But how does the OP prove that it was indeed the item that was sent?

All Royal Mail has is her word that it was worth £300, as opposed to a 50p packet of sweeties.

They need proof that the item actually was worth £300 - they are being perfectly reasonable here.

Judas

What was you sent OP?

Proving value should be no bother at all in most cases.
You cannot sue RM as they have done nothing wrong here; once you prove the value; it will be sorted.

adam.mt

Fiddlestick wrote: »

But how does the OP prove that it was indeed the item that was sent?

They don't and since that's impossible to provide it's not what they are asking for - they just want to know what the goods are and evidence for the value the OP has said.