Royal Mail Untracked Claims

AceCobra1

Hi guys,

I sold some lego figures on ebay. These figures vary in prices from £6 upto £15 each. I have been sending all my items via recorded delivery but the prices are starting to mount up. I was looking at RM's website and they said they are insured against loss upto £20 for both standard (untracked) 1st and 2nd class post. I have touchwood not lost any items yet but if I did, how do I go about proving that I have actually sent my items? I mean when I went to post something last week which was a large 2nd class letter, all I got was a receipt that I purchased 2 stamps? I mean surely that cannot be used as a "proof of postage" in an event of a claim??

Thanks!

Flyonthewall

Whenever I've posted something and wanted proof of postage I've always taken the item/letter to the PO and asked them to send it first/second class so I get proof of postage for the package/letter rather than buying the stamps.

campdave

Either ask for a proof of postage when you hand the items over at the counter, or download a form from the Royal Mail website and ask for it to be stamped when you give the items over.

AceCobra1

So is the proof of postage different from a receipt? Because when I went in to send the items, the lady over the counter just placed a stamp over it and told me to put the letter into the post box. The receipt which I got only says that I bought 2 stamps which doesn't look like it can be used as a proof of postage?

jeffuk

Are you using a Post Office to send? or just a corner shop that sells stamps.

jeffuk

http://www.royalmail.com/personal/help-and-support/online-postage-what-is-a-certificate-of-posting

olgadapolga

AceCobra1 wrote: »

So is the proof of postage different from a receipt? Because when I went in to send the items, the lady over the counter just placed a stamp over it and told me to put the letter into the post box. The receipt which I got only says that I bought 2 stamps which doesn't look like it can be used as a proof of postage?

You didn't get a proof of posting, you got a receipt (which cannot be used as evidence when making a claim from Royal Mail). The two are quite different.

If the Post Office gives you a printed proof of posting then it will have the postcode and house number/name of the addressee (otherwise you cannot prove where you sent it to, or even that it went via Royal Mail).

A receipt just tells you what you've purchased from the Post Office (stamps etc).

celestius

I have successfully used a receipt before as POP, and hand written the address and post code on it if the PO hadn't done it already.

Tallguy15

There is an extra twist to this thread. Recorded - i.e. signed for - delivery is to the address, not to the addressee. I recently sent an important document abroad, paying for tracking and signed-for delivery. It was eventually collected by the addressee, but had been signed for by someone else. Royal Mail explained that they deliver to the address, not to the addressee. So if your addressee lives somewhere where there are many people, eg apartment block, office, or factory, your parcel can be signed for by anyone around at the time. What happens to it after that is not Royal Mail's concern.

[Deleted User]

Tallguy15 wrote: »

There is an extra twist to this thread. Recorded - i.e. signed for - delivery is to the address, not to the addressee. I recently sent an important document abroad, paying for tracking and signed-for delivery. It was eventually collected by the addressee, but had been signed for by someone else. Royal Mail explained that they deliver to the address, not to the addressee. So if your addressee lives somewhere where there are many people, eg apartment block, office, or factory, your parcel can be signed for by anyone around at the time. What happens to it after that is not Royal Mail's concern.

It leaves you thinking that RD is more about tokenism than anything else, doesn't it. I've sent three RD letters recently, and the 'signatures' on the confirmation are not even an illegible signature, they're just scribble. This morning I got a card through the door notifying me there's a RD waiting for collection, and telling me to bring proof of ID, but not proof of address.

I've had three first class letters to the NHS go 'missing' in the last 5 weeks, I have certificates of posting, but if I were to pursue the issue I would probably just get the NHS and the Royal Mail blaming each other.

custardy

Tallguy15 wrote: »

There is an extra twist to this thread. Recorded - i.e. signed for - delivery is to the address, not to the addressee. I recently sent an important document abroad, paying for tracking and signed-for delivery. It was eventually collected by the addressee, but had been signed for by someone else. Royal Mail explained that they deliver to the address, not to the addressee. So if your addressee lives somewhere where there are many people, eg apartment block, office, or factory, your parcel can be signed for by anyone around at the time. What happens to it after that is not Royal Mail's concern.

Well for one. RM dont deliver abroad. So its down to the delivering company.
Surely you were already aware of this situation? Or have you been asked for ID every time you sign for something?