Royal mail fraud ?

Legacy_user

I had a card from royal mail popped through the door today. The delivery man didn't even bother to knock.

On the card it says £2.77 is due as the sender didn't pay the full postage (includes £1 handling fee)

If I go down to collect the parcel myself I should not have to pay anything. Furthermore I should not have to collect it myself, if the sender did not cover the cost why was he allowed to send the parcel?

I want to know if I go down to collect this am I entitled to my parcel without having to pay? Depending on the attitude of the person at the post office I may fly off the handle and I don't want to do this by being prepared and knowing my right.

This all seems fraudulent to me, how do I deal with this? You could say it's only a small fee to pay, but if lots of people are paying this then the post office is making a lot of money and potentially defrauding people

shaun_from_Africa

If you want your package then yes, you will have to pay.

It might not be fair but if enough postage wasn't paid then RM have to collect what is owed from somebody and the only person that they can ask for this is the intended recipient.

If you know who sent the package then you could contact them before collecting it and ask them if they will send you the money to cover the cost. If they refuse and you don't want to pay then don't pick it up and it will be returned to the sender if possible, if not it will go to the RM depot in Belfast (If it's still there) and will be disposed of at a later date.

System

shaun_from_Africa wrote: »

If you want your package then yes, you will have to pay.

It might not be fair but if enough postage wasn't paid then RM have to collect what is owed from somebody and the only person that they can ask for this is the intended recipient.

If you know who sent the package then you could contact them before collecting it and ask them if they will send you the money to cover the cost. If they refuse and you don't want to pay then don't pick it up and it will be returned to the sender if possible, if not it will go to the RM depot in Belfast (If it's still there) and will be disposed of at a later date.

Why was the sender allowed to send the item if they did not pay the postage? This is bizarre

It's a UK mainland package it is not coming from abroad.

This is a textbook example of extortion/blackmail

soolin

Gold_Anaconda wrote: »

I had a card from royal mail popped through the door today. The delivery man didn't even bother to knock.

On the card it says £2.77 is due as the sender didn't pay the full postage (includes £1 handling fee)

If I go down to collect the parcel myself I should not have to pay anything. Furthermore I should not have to collect it myself, if the sender did not cover the cost why was he allowed to send the parcel?

I want to know if I go down to collect this am I entitled to my parcel without having to pay? Depending on the attitude of the person at the post office I may fly off the handle and I don't want to do this by being prepared and knowing my right.

This all seems fraudulent to me, how do I deal with this? You could say it's only a small fee to pay, but if lots of people are paying this then the post office is making a lot of money and potentially defrauding people

As Shaun From Sfrica says you are under no obligation at all to collect and pay for your package. You can ignore the card and item will be returned to the sender assuming they put a return address on it.

You cannot be chased for the payment or be harassed in any way to collect it.

However, I worry about your temper if you are likely to 'fly off the handle ' at Royal Mail employees- why are you blaming then when they did not send the parcel or put the postage on it?

As for how it was sent with the wrong postage, have you not heard of a post box?

mije1983

Gold_Anaconda wrote: »

I had a card from royal mail popped through the door today. The delivery man didn't even bother to knock.

He/She wouldn't as it would be pointless. They wouldn't have the item with them, and wouldn't be able the take payment for it.

Gold_Anaconda wrote: »

If I go down to collect the parcel myself I should not have to pay anything. Furthermore I should not have to collect it myself, if the sender did not cover the cost why was he allowed to send the parcel?

Correct. But you issue is with the sender, not Royal Mail. How would Roayl Mail know he hadn't paid enough postage unless he took it to Post Office counter to get it weighed?

Gold_Anaconda wrote: »

I want to know if I go down to collect this am I entitled to my parcel without having to pay? Depending on the attitude of the person at the post office I may fly off the handle and I don't want to do this by being prepared and knowing my right.

No. And flying off the handle is not going to help.

Gold_Anaconda wrote: »

This all seems fraudulent to me, how do I deal with this? You could say it's only a small fee to pay, but if lots of people are paying this then the post office is making a lot of money and potentially defrauding people

I'm not sure how they are defrauding people, unless the sender did put the correct postage on it, but if was removed by an employee in order to obtain £2.77 from you? Royal Mail charge £x for a service, but the sender only paid £y, so of course they want the shortfall. They will argue the admin fee covers their loss in processing this.

I suppose the alternative is just to dispose of items that don't have correct postage on them, but I'm sure that would upset far more people than the current system does!

If you want the item you need to get the sender to either give you the £2.77, or pay for it yourself. Alternatively just leave it and it will eventually be returned to sender or disposed of.

lovinituk

Gold_Anaconda wrote: »

Why was the sender allowed to send the item if they did not pay the postage? This is bizarre

It's a UK mainland package it is not coming from abroad.

This is a textbook example of extortion/blackmail

Actually its a text book example of you flying off the handle over something you clearly don't understand.

Sounds like someone stuck the wrong value of stamps on and shoved it in a letter box.

The only person you should be angry with is with the sender.

Faith177

Gold_Anaconda wrote: »

Why was the sender allowed to send the item if they did not pay the postage? This is bizarre

It's a UK mainland package it is not coming from abroad.

This is a textbook example of extortion/blackmail

If they just brought some stamps and chucked it in the letterbox who was going to stop them?

It is standard practice with the RM tbh with you.

My nans friend has never gotten the hang of large 1st class and standard (apparently lol) so often on Birthdays and Christmas we have to pay the extra postage on his behalf.

If you're that bothered by the charge speak to the person who sent it and get them to give you the money back

pvt

Anaconda,

It isn't your letter/parcel until it has been delivered to you.

Agree with all the other responses save that I am not sure RM have any obligation to return an underpaid item to the sender.

In my opinion they do the very decent thing of taking it to the recipients local sorting office, and offering to let the recipient pay the shortfall before they destroy it.

SnowTiger

Gold_Anaconda wrote: »

This all seems fraudulent to me, how do I deal with this?

http://www.actionfraud.police.uk/

Let us know how it goes.

SnowTiger

Gold_Anaconda wrote: »

This is a textbook example of extortion/blackmail

Forget Action Fraud. This is a matter for the Police. Let us know what they say.

williham

Gold_Anaconda wrote: »

I had a card from royal mail popped through the door today. The delivery man didn't even bother to knock.

On the card it says £2.77 is due as the sender didn't pay the full postage (includes £1 handling fee)

If I go down to collect the parcel myself I should not have to pay anything. Furthermore I should not have to collect it myself, if the sender did not cover the cost why was he allowed to send the parcel?

I want to know if I go down to collect this am I entitled to my parcel without having to pay? Depending on the attitude of the person at the post office I may fly off the handle and I don't want to do this by being prepared and knowing my right.

This all seems fraudulent to me, how do I deal with this? You could say it's only a small fee to pay, but if lots of people are paying this then the post office is making a lot of money and potentially defrauding people

It's probably a packet but whoever sent it only paid for a large letter. If you get a nice postie they might let you see the parcel before you pay, so you can decide whether you want to pay or not.