Advice please: Royal Mail standard parcel

Munro_Bagger

Hello everyone!

I'd be grateful for any advice you can give on what to do if Royal Mail haven't delivered a standard parcel (no tracking). I sent a 1.5kg package, up to the value of £40 on Wednesday 21st September. I would have expected it to have arrived at its UK destination (Romford) by now (7 working days). The recipient (trusted) states they've not received it.

When I posted it, I received a receipt from the Post Office. I didn't receive a certificate of posting, as I have when I've posted 1st class.

My questions are:
(1) As I've never sent an item by standard parcel before, is this considered normal, or should I be worrying about the timescale?

(2) Do you think its worth me contacting the Royal Mail Romford Depot to ask if they've got it there?

(3) Does anyone out there have any helpful suggestions I can try, before I look into starting a possible compensation claim?

Many thanks

Gavin83

I'd suggest calling the debot and asking, if just to put your mind at rest.

However, the standard parcels option is the basic delivery option for parcels, similar to sending a 1st class letter. Because of this it doesn't come with tracking, sign on delivery or insurance cover. Because of this you won't be entitled to any compensation.

If your sending items of value they really need to be dispatched via special delivery.

wealdroam

Gavin83 wrote: »

However, the standard parcels option is the basic delivery option for parcels, similar to sending a 1st class letter. Because of this it doesn't come with tracking, sign on delivery or insurance cover. Because of this you won't be entitled to any compensation.

That seems to differ from Royal Mail's view.
Where they say...

For lost or damaged items that have an intrinsic (monetary) value, with evidence of posting with Royal Mail (such as a certificate of posting) and evidence of value (such as an invoice or receipt) you will be entitled to a postage refund plus compensation for actual loss up to the value of the item, or 100 x 1st class stamps at the first weight step, whichever is the lowest.

That only works if they'll accept your receipt as "evidence of posting".

Otherwise they say you'll only get six first class stamps.

cyberbob

Gavin83 wrote: »

If your sending items of value they really need to be dispatched via special delivery.

As the item was below £41 if the OP had got a certificate of posting (which is free) the item would have been insured for loss (other than a few exceptions such as jewellery). It's only items over £41 that need to go special delivery.

Standard parcels is the slowest delivery and normally pretty slow (the last thing I received via this method took 6 working days). I'd give it a fewe more days before you consider it lost

Munro_Bagger

Many thanks to you all for offering advice - I'll give the depot a call and see if it's lurking around there, and keep my fingers crossed that it arrives. I'll also check out the Royal Mail link that Wealdroam has posted.

garth549

Ive had a first class parcel take 2 weeks to arrive before (so there can be long delays sometimes). Royal Mail wont usually consider an item lost until a few weeks have elapsed (I think its 15 working days, might be wrong).

Munro_Bagger

Thanks again - the adressee has been in contact and it has been delivered! I'm so relieved!