Royal Mail - Thanks for nothing.

967stuart

My dad has recently moved to the coast so I nipped back to his old place today to grab any mail to forward on.
In with all the usual, there was a card to say a letter needed signing for.

The only ID I have of my dads is his post office payment card with his details on and a photo ID from his old work.
So I went in the collection office only to be told that all this ID still isn't enough and they need a full driving license or credit card as apparently I could have stolen these the ID and the photo card as well as the 'sorry we missed you card" ..... (but apparently not a credit card or drivers license).

I think every time I have to deal with the Royal Mail I get a little greyer. :mad:

mazza111

Every delivery office I've seen displays a list of what's acceptable forms of ID. The one I worked in certainly did. At the end of the day, you're not your dad. So they did the right thing imo.

maninthestreet

967stuart wrote: »

My dad has recently moved to the coast so I nipped back to his old place today to grab any mail to forward on.
In with all the usual, there was a card to say a letter needed signing for.

The only ID I have of my dads is his post office payment card with his details on and a photo ID from his old work.
So I went in the collection office only to be told that all this ID still isn't enough and they need a full driving license or credit card as apparently I could have stolen these the ID and the photo card as well as the 'sorry we missed you card" ..... (but apparently not a credit card or drivers license).

I think every time I have to deal with the Royal Mail I get a little greyer. :mad:

So why the heck didn't your father get his post re-directed to his new address??

2sides2everystory

Yeah I can understand your frustration with them. They are funny old bunch thesedays at Royal Mail. There's a helluva lot of old-stagers who seem really comfortable - I think they get the trustie jobs at the sorting office and with special deliveries and the like. Then there's the second stream who probably have a second class pension scheme to look forward to rather than the top-notch public bailed out one that the trusties get. This second stream are semi playing at being trusties but they use their own cars. The thing that has got to me lately is that you catch them using those new signature machines to get your electronic squiggle once and then repeat using it over and over again somehow to satisfy the system and avoid the time it takes to actually deliver to you personally. Almost all the "Signed For" post I receive, isn't!. It just gets stuffed in the box with everything else most days. Special Delivery is different - that is still done properly.

I started to think it was just the one postman taking shortcuts but we have a new pair of what I shall call Type 3 postmen - we were even warned they were different by the previous team :-).

They are pleasant enough chaps of course - seem a bit overwhelmed by the logistics of the new round but they too have settled into the old routine ... got my signature a couple of times for Signed For but have now started just leaving it with the normal post - surely this isn't allowed?

When you compare it with your jobsworth at the sorting office makes you wonder whether they are all to an extent just doing their own thing thesedays. Nice work if you can get it I reckon.

maninthestreet_ wrote:

So why the heck didn't your father get his post re-directed to his new address??

Maybe the OP's Dad blanched at the charges ? Royal Mail really isn't for the people any more. It seems we are clinging to something whose main mission is simply to survive for the benefit of those that work there. That is more or less the same mission as the City of London and look where that got us!

custardy

967stuart wrote: »

My dad has recently moved to the coast so I nipped back to his old place today to grab any mail to forward on.
In with all the usual, there was a card to say a letter needed signing for.

The only ID I have of my dads is his post office payment card with his details on and a photo ID from his old work.
So I went in the collection office only to be told that all this ID still isn't enough and they need a full driving license or credit card as apparently I could have stolen these the ID and the photo card as well as the 'sorry we missed you card" ..... (but apparently not a credit card or drivers license).

I think every time I have to deal with the Royal Mail I get a little greyer. :mad:

The reality is you will get every sob story in the world why someone doesnt have valid/acceptable ID to collect mail
The reality is fraud does happen and its their to protect your mail.
of course its always a hassle for everybody that doesnt have it.......

custardy

2sides2everystory wrote: »

Yeah I can understand your frustration with them. They are funny old bunch thesedays at Royal Mail. There's a helluva lot of old-stagers who seem really comfortable - I think they get the trustie jobs at the sorting office and with special deliveries and the like. Then there's the second stream who probably have a second class pension scheme to look forward to rather than the top-notch public bailed out one that the trusties get. This second stream are semi playing at being trusties but they use their own cars. The thing that has got to me lately is that you catch them using those new signature machines to get your electronic squiggle once and then repeat using it over and over again somehow to satisfy the system and avoid the time it takes to actually deliver to you personally. Almost all the "Signed For" post I receive, isn't!. It just gets stuffed in the box with everything else most days. Special Delivery is different - that is still done properly.

I started to think it was just the one postman taking shortcuts but we have a new pair of what I shall call Type 3 postmen - we were even warned they were different by the previous team :-).

They are pleasant enough chaps of course - seem a bit overwhelmed by the logistics of the new round but they too have settled into the old routine ... got my signature a couple of times for Signed For but have now started just leaving it with the normal post - surely this isn't allowed?

When you compare it with your jobsworth at the sorting office makes you wonder whether they are all to an extent just doing their own thing thesedays. Nice work if you can get it I reckon.

Maybe the OP's Dad blanched at the charges ? Royal Mail really isn't for the people any more. It seems we are clinging to something whose main mission is simply to survive for the benefit of those that work there. That is more or less the same mission as the City of London and look where that got us!

So you only want rules followed that suit you?

Carrot007

2sides2everystory wrote: »

got my signature a couple of times for Signed For but have now started just leaving it with the normal post - surely this isn't allowed?

Signed for is a pointless service designed for people who want to pay more for nothing. There is no requirement for a signature. The additional part for signed for is however repyable if not signed for. I bet 95% of them that could be are never claimed for.

Special delivery is the only service to require a signature.

Most delivery people are under time constraints and so do not bother to get a signature for signed for.

Still I have had special devilery signed for and left on my back doorstep before now. And have never been asked for any ID at the times they take it to do depot (the card is enough for them).

advantix

I've never been asked for proof of id (either mine or the person i am collecting for) They just take the card, give me the package / letter or whatever and ask me to sign if required. Never been asked to prove who i am or my address.

DCFC79

967stuart wrote: »

My dad has recently moved to the coast so I nipped back to his old place today to grab any mail to forward on.
In with all the usual, there was a card to say a letter needed signing for.

The only ID I have of my dads is his post office payment card with his details on and a photo ID from his old work.
So I went in the collection office only to be told that all this ID still isn't enough and they need a full driving license or credit card as apparently I could have stolen these the ID and the photo card as well as the 'sorry we missed you card" ..... (but apparently not a credit card or drivers license).

I think every time I have to deal with the Royal Mail I get a little greyer. :mad:

Its the rules, not sure why your angry since its not the fault of RM, unless your angry at yourself.

advantix wrote: »

I've never been asked for proof of id (either mine or the person i am collecting for) They just take the card, give me the package / letter or whatever and ask me to sign if required. Never been asked to prove who i am or my address.

I and everyone else is asked for ID everytime I collect a parcel from the local RM pickup point.

custardy

Carrot007 wrote: »

Signed for is a pointless service designed for people who want to pay more for nothing. There is no requirement for a signature. The additional part for signed for is however repyable if not signed for. I bet 95% of them that could be are never claimed for.

Special delivery is the only service to require a signature.

Most delivery people are under time constraints and so do not bother to get a signature for signed for.

Still I have had special devilery signed for and left on my back doorstep before now. And have never been asked for any ID at the times they take it to do depot (the card is enough for them).

sorry but you are wrong
RD should always be delivered with a signature

aileth

Interesting thread this. My OH normally picks up signed for etc packages for me from our normal depot with his ID only and has never had a problem. One time it went to a different post office and they refused to give it to him on his ID, but they wanted mine and I didn't have to attend? Not quite sure how they'd ID check him against my ID, he could've stolen my driving licence after all.

He took my driving licence in and they handed it over no question. It does seem the rules are interpreted variedly by RM staff.