Post Office Counter Staff

zaax

goater78 wrote: »

I think there is a bit of confusion on this post because the collection was from the Post Office for a Parcelforce item not a Royal Mail Item. If you collect a Royal Mail Item you need one of these forms of ID

Cheque guarantee/credit/debit card
Bank/building society book
Valid passport
Cheque book
Driving licence
Photo Identity Card (Foreign National, Military, Police Warrant, Royal Mail Employee)

The OP did not have any of these forms of ID which may be why the Postal Staff worker initially refused to hand over the parcel. The OP correctly queried this as he was collecting a Parcelforce item which appears to have different proof of identity requirements.

I believe it was a genuine mistake on the post office's staff members part and not sure she deserves to be labelled a "Jobsworth".

Not at mine and I don't see why. The only proof you need is the card that was put though the door that you are collecting the post for. Unless Post delievery staff are put the wrong addresses on the while you were out cards, that card is ultimate proof that holder of the card has access to the other side of the door. If the counter worker believes that the card was obtained by foul means they should call the police.

Labsettings

danothy wrote: »

Still, I am quite easily frustrated. I once asked my father "does the Boots in [my home town] have a pharmacy in it?" and got the answer "Superdrug does" which I guess is trying to be helpful, and presumably means "I don't know, but if you are looking for any pharmacy then I know Superdrug has one", but in actual fact fails to answer the question in any deterministic way (Yes/No/I don't know).

Haha! This really does bug me sometimes, people never answer the question you ask! I asked my mum once if she knew how to get to restaurant x (as we were driving her), and she told me it was next to venue c! Not so annoying except that I still have no idea how to get there! I rephrased my question and she gave me the same answer

Back to the original point. The postie probably should have known about the alternative ID required for parcelforce parcels, however I always like to have benefit of doubt, ie the staff member might be new, they may never have taken a parcelforce order before, they might be distracted by something else going on in their lives. I know some of you will say the last point shouldn't be relevant, but it's always a consideration.

The OP had a right to vent about their experience, what I don't get is the sheer amount of seemed anger on both sides of the debate! What happened to the 'respect all members and their opinions' etc, or does that not count here? I really hope you guys don't go round talking to people in real life the way some of you do here! The OP was describing their experience, they might be describing it accurately, or they might be leaving parts out which would give insight into the postie's behaviour. We'll never know.

PS my local post office is awesome.

Labsettings

zaax wrote: »

Not at mine and I don't see why. The only proof you need is the card that was put though the door that you are collecting the post for. Unless Post delievery staff are put the wrong addresses on the while you were out cards, that card is ultimate proof that holder of the card has access to the other side of the door. If the counter worker believes that the card was obtained by foul means they should call the police.

Good point, and true for almost all collection cards. The only thing I'd query is for people in flats with postboxes outside of their house in a communal area (actually my house has a letterbox attached to the front). People other than the residents have access to the postbox, and it's placing trust in them/the postmen etc that might use that trust in a not-so-nice way. It would probably be pretty difficult to spot if someone is collecting a 'legitimate' parcel, if you know what I mean.

System

zaax wrote: »

Not at mine and I don't see why. The only proof you need is the card that was put though the door that you are collecting the post for. Unless Post delievery staff are put the wrong addresses on the while you were out cards, that card is ultimate proof that holder of the card has access to the other side of the door. If the counter worker believes that the card was obtained by foul means they should call the police.

The card is a standard card everyone receives and it clearly says on it you need Id. Alot of post offices don't bother and just take the card. However if they wish they can insist you produce ID.

custardy

zaax wrote: »

Not at mine and I don't see why. The only proof you need is the card that was put though the door that you are collecting the post for. Unless Post delievery staff are put the wrong addresses on the while you were out cards, that card is ultimate proof that holder of the card has access to the other side of the door. If the counter worker believes that the card was obtained by foul means they should call the police.

yeah thats right. anything suspect and Police are called.................
dear lord
The Royal Mail 'delivery staff' should be asking for ID. Just as every RM P739 states they will be required to do for the recipient.

custardy

Labsettings wrote: »

Haha! This really does bug me sometimes, people never answer the question you ask! I asked my mum once if she knew how to get to restaurant x (as we were driving her), and she told me it was next to venue c! Not so annoying except that I still have no idea how to get there! I rephrased my question and she gave me the same answer

Back to the original point. The postie probably should have known about the alternative ID required for parcelforce parcels, however I always like to have benefit of doubt, ie the staff member might be new, they may never have taken a parcelforce order before, they might be distracted by something else going on in their lives. I know some of you will say the last point shouldn't be relevant, but it's always a consideration.

The OP had a right to vent about their experience, what I don't get is the sheer amount of seemed anger on both sides of the debate! What happened to the 'respect all members and their opinions' etc, or does that not count here? I really hope you guys don't go round talking to people in real life the way some of you do here! The OP was describing their experience, they might be describing it accurately, or they might be leaving parts out which would give insight into the postie's behaviour. We'll never know.

PS my local post office is awesome.

When did posties start working at Post Offices?

danothy

custardy wrote: »

When did posties start working at Post Offices?

You're well out of the loop since you left ... that's been happening for ages now.

Labsettings

custardy wrote: »

When did posties start working at Post Offices?

I use postie as a generic term for 'people who work at the post office'. I guess I shouldn't when talking to people outside of my family, heh.

When I was young I called them all the postie people.

custardy

Labsettings wrote: »

I use postie as a generic term for 'people who work at the post office'. I guess I shouldn't when talking to people outside of my family, heh.

When I was young I called them all the postie people.

well you shouldnt given the Post office is a seperate entity(more so since recent changes) from Royal Mail.

custardy

danothy wrote: »

You're well out of the loop since you left ... that's been happening for ages now.

Don't know what loop you are in.
RM and POC are seperate entitys and due to recent changes even more so.