Real life MMD: Should I refund the Post Office?

Cheapie357 · 9 March 2011 at 8:21AM

You're lucky you got any response from them at all. I sent a parcel and queried when it hadn't arrived after 2 months. THe form filling and rigmarole was a mission - then they kept blanking me. I never heard from them again, and the parcel arrived 6 months later. 5 1/2 months too late for what it was needed for, and no apologies at all.

stephcyl · 9 March 2011 at 8:48AM

Do what floats your boat more. But as for me, I would return the cheque as I wouldnt feel comfortable keeping it. As for the late delivery, I would forget about that cos its not worth the stress

Ebenezer_Screwj · 9 March 2011 at 9:13AM

It depends how guilty you feel after the appallingly bad service you have had from an industry in decline which has inept, poorly trained and over-paid employees. It WAS a non-delivery because it did not arrive in time for Christmas, so I should regard this as one of the rare occasions when The Post Office has made amends for its failings.

bennett2kuk · 9 March 2011 at 9:24AM

They are thieves. Charging over £5 to "ensure" a parcel gets there the next day when a stamp would just as easily suffice. How they are in the trouble they are in is beyond me. Employing morons doesn't help but the Royal Mail is a complete shambles! Keep the money, they won't miss it and they won't care!

Doooford · 9 March 2011 at 9:36AM

Personally I think it's a joke that if you send something urgently with Royal Mail under the "Guaranteed Next Day" service that the only compensation that you get is the postage refunded.
I once sent a passport to someone who was travelling abroad 2 days later. The item turned up the day after departure and I could only claim back £4.95ish.
For everyone that the Royal Mail has conned with their charges for under paid postage I think you should take this money.

Back in my day guaranteed meant guaranteed and all that

Cimscate · 9 March 2011 at 10:08AM

Are we talking a fiver or hundreds of pounds here? If it's a small amount then would cost PO more in admin to return it and I wouldn't feel at all guilty about keeping it.

If it's a lot of money then I'd have to think a bit harder about what to do although I am amazed you got compensation so quickly!

happyinflorida · 9 March 2011 at 10:15AM

No I would not send the cheque back. The PO have really gone downhill - I had two relatives send me Christmas cards from USA in plenty of time before and one took 6 weeks to reach me and the other took 2 months. Disgusting service. Keep the cheque, especially in view of the fact they've still charged you for the postage for the item they had "lost". The PO is a really bad company now.

Losinmoney · 9 March 2011 at 10:21AM

Devonian_Rodders wrote: »

Since the parcel turned up, keeping the cheque would constitute fraud. :eek: Although the Post Office handle millions of packages, there is nothing to stop them making further investigations when least expected.

Yes you could write to them stating the package had turned up, but you were disappointed with the delay, and see if they are prepared to offer any form of recompense.

Yes Devonian Rodders I agree. But I'm in exactly this situation. I've sent the cheque back as the parcel turned up (very late!) and have been waiting 7 yes 7 :eek: weeks now for them to process my claim for late delivery. I have the glow of satisfaction of doing the right thing, but I'm still waiting for my money.

GrannyWeatherwax · 9 March 2011 at 10:40AM

I put in a claim on a parcel that had failed to arrive after a month. The day after the cheque (for not QUITE the full value) arrived, so did the parcel, so I rang Royal Mail to offer them the cheque back. They told me to keep it. Given that I hadn't insured the parcel, I was surprised that I was able to claim for it.