Post Office.

choille

Having major problems with my local P.O to the point that I now regularly travel 70 miles to post stuff, also to get shopping as well. This has been happening since the new owners took over a couple of years ago. I only go if I really, really have to as it is unpleasant & often a waste of time. Each time I go there is always something wrong with the machine/computer so the post isn't ready to go - the post leaves here at 10.30AM.
Heavy snowfall overnight so I couldn't go away across the country so went to local PO - met people coming away with parcels saying the system was down again.
Went in & got asked how I intended to pay - I said with my card.

Last time I was there my PIN wouldn't work *mysteriously* & the woman/post mistress announced that I had insufficient funds & to contact my service provider - the place was packed - she kept repeating it like a mantra - this was untrue. Someone came to my rescue & paid with their card.
She then said - that's a much healthier sound when they put their card in.
I phoned my bank who said that my card had been blocked & that I would need to use an ATM to unblock it - they also said that there was sufficient funds in my account & in any case it would not have said that on her screen as she stataed.
Small place - course the place was packed with all the gossips that day!
Back to today - she wasn't going to let me leave my packages - I left them & came home. Phoned up in the afternoon & she said the post went off fine - I asked if she had sent off my parcels - she said not as I hadn't paid.

Our business relies on post going out - people were expecting to get stuff tomorrow. This is haveing such an impact on our lives.
I have reported this to the PO but they got my adress wrong - the PO was named as one that is in another County & the sent me a book of stamps to the vaue of £5.08 - how insulting is that?

I have walked the mile plus to this PO to be insulted & my stuff to post not gone as there is one problem or other with the computer - I'm really cheesed off with this. Any suggestions gratefully received.:A

kazzah60

could you get a franking machine if it is for a business?
then you could put the postage on in your premises and leave them at the PO for collection
this is what I do - I volunteer for a childrens charity and thats how we cope with this sort of event.

arcon5

As much as i'd agree their systems sound a nightmare

- you left your parcels there and expected them to send them without payment? regular or not, i'd be surprised if they agree.

- so it turns out it wasn't their card machine, but the bank had infact blocked your card? I made a payment online yesterday for an electronic service, and to my surprise the first two cards came back with what they called 'Transaction Messages', 3rd card worked properly, first one insufficient funds, second the card security failed, third attempt got card details right so successful -- so I wonder if they have a message code or similar?


I second the franking machine suggestion, we use Pitney Bowes and never had any problems. Depending on the qty/size you can also post them in the franked mail box at the RM depot (you can slot in packages upto about 18x16x12"). Otherwise you can also pay for postage online with SmartStamp for about £5 per month.

choille

I think I may have to get a franking machine - or print labels off line?

As much as i'd agree their systems sound a nightmare

- you left your parcels there and expected them to send them without payment?

- so it turns out it wasn't their card machine, but the bank had infact blocked your card? I made a payment online yesterday for an electronic service, and to my surprise the first two cards came back with what they called 'Transaction Messages', 3rd card worked properly, first one insufficient funds, second the card security failed, third attempt got card details right so successful -- so I wonder if they have a message code or similar?

This is an incredibly small place - I have never not paid a bill. I did offer to pay with my card she declined. I have been in the PO when someone else has walked a long distance - they were told that the system was down & she hasn't taken the parcel in - so they've walked home & set out again the next day - the lady is in her seventies. It's not the way things are done - surely - maybe in a city but this woman is so off it's like having to walk on egg shells.

I didn't wrongly enter my PIN 3 times or anything - the card is blocking - yet this doesn't happen anywhere else. Neither is the system down as many time sas happens here - it's weird.

choille

Arcon5 - did you have insuficient funds though ? Coz when I spoke to the bank he told me that the machine wouldn't have lied - It couldn't have said theer were insufficient funds when there was ample in the account.

RM headquarters is probably 70 miles away - we live in a very remote place. We have got to the bit that we only go to the local PO if we really, really have to as it is a nightmare & leaves me fuming all day.

arcon5

choille wrote: »

Arcon5 - did you have insuficient funds though ? Coz when I spoke to the bank he told me that the machine wouldn't have lied - It couldn't have said theer were insufficient funds when there was ample in the account.

RM headquarters is probably 70 miles away - we live in a very remote place. We have got to the bit that we only go to the local PO if we really, really have to as it is a nightmare & leaves me fuming all day.

yes, it was correct. But if you had funds like you say you did then they probably did just get the declined message and wrongly assumed.

Either way you look at it though, it sounds like some pretty shoddy service!!

choille

It's more than shoddy it's defamation. I've had enough of it - thing is I'm taking my custom miles away - some weeks that's about £55 in postage alone. It's almost as if they don't want the PO side of the business - too much like work, but it's a life line for many here especially the elderly & those who don't drive.

hippygran

Post Office® Customer Care
FREEPOST
PO Box 740
Barnsley
S73 0ZJ


Try the above address to complain to.

Or write to the local branch to complain in the first instance, saying you will take it further if your complaint is not acted upon.

The PO do take complaints seriously, even though the shop owner may not be a direct employee.

Several years ago our local post office (in a city) shut down due to the man who owned it physically attacking a youth, and to be fair the youth was shop lifting, quite openly, and mocking the Post Master.

The chap owned the shop, and wasn't actually employed by the Post Office. However, the shop was closed immediately pending investigation, and he had his licence to operate on behalf of the post office revoked. His actions had apparently brought the post office into dis-repute (or something along those lines).

I remember at the time he was really hoping he would just get a warning, but the complaint was too serious, and the police did proceed with a prosecution, so a warning was not deemed sufficient.

Obviously the battleaxe you are having problems with would hopefully just get a warning (well it would't be a good result for the post office to actually close), but the threat of a loss of livelihood might get her to mind her p's and q's.

The PO are actually quite strict about their 'procedures and regulations' being adhered to. Whether employee or owner/operator they are not, for example allowed to alter their opening hours, without prior PO approval. They may just have rules about the standard of customer service they expect their representatives to deliver.

Must say though, that the PO won't be on your side about the unpaid for post not going off! For them to process without payment would probably be a breech of the rules!

scheming_gypsy

choille wrote: »

Each time I go there is always something wrong with the machine/computer so the post isn't ready to go - the post leaves here at 10.30AM.

Went in & got asked how I intended to pay - I said with my card.


Our business relies on post going out - people were expecting to get stuff tomorrow. This is haveing such an impact on our lives.

I have walked the mile plus to this PO to be insulted & my stuff to post not gone as there is one problem or other with the computer - I'm really cheesed off with this. Any suggestions gratefully received.:A

So every time you go to the post office there's a problem with the computer and you can't pay.

STOP TRYING TO PAY BY CARD THEN. I don't want to state the obvious but it's not exactly rocket science is it. For some reason or another the machine in the post office that has nothing to do with the post office as it connects to the banking system via phone line, doesn't like your card. Take cash, pay by cash, send post, do a happy dance on the way out of the shop and all your problems are sorted.

choille

Schemeing Gypsy - you sound like a relative of the postmistress - you don't listen & you're rude.
So every time you go to the post office there's a problem with the computer and you can't pay.

Your words not mine.

The post doesn't go because the labels for the parcels won't print out - the computer goes off. I don't usually attempt to pay by card.
By the way we live over 30 miles away from an ATM or bank, but that is by the by.
Please don't answer people's post if you can't grasp what they are saying - it's just not helpful & you're wasting your time.

arcon5

How many parcels do you send? Collections cost £500/yr.....