What happens if parcel not collected?

danlightbulb

Hi guys,

There isn't really a specific forum for my question but I know you guys here are generally worldly and wise.

If I send a parcel privately, via the post office, and the reciever doesn't collect it from the delivery office (if they miss the delivery), then what happens? I would assume it is returned to me, but how will they know where to return it to if I didn't put a return address on the parcel?

Thanks
Dan

bazzyb

It will be returned to the return address if there is one.

If not, and the item was stamped (rather than franked), it will be sent to a central hub where it will be opened to try to identify a return address inside, and then forwarded on to you. This process will take several weeks.

danlightbulb

Thanks, so to be safe I should put a return address on the back of the parcel then? Sounds a silly question this, but there is a genuine reason why a parcel Im about to send may deliberately not be collected.

winspiration

They won't, unfortunately. I think all undeliverable mail like this gets sent somewhere (possibly Belfast) where they may open it and investigate further.

Just had a google:

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/royal-mail-national-returns-centre-1713249

bazzyb

danlightbulb wrote: »

Thanks, so to be safe I should put a return address on the back of the parcel then? Sounds a silly question this, but there is a genuine reason why a parcel Im about to send may deliberately not be collected.

Yes, put a return address on all mail to avoid this problem.

Linda32

Google signed for postage I think that is what you need. If so, just ask for that at the post office.

bazzyb

Linda32 wrote: »

Google signed for postage I think that is what you need. If so, just ask for that at the post office.

Nope. Signed For post doesn't either magically add a return address nor find its way back to you without a return address.

Geoff1963

Could you contact the post office, describe the parcel, explain where it was being delivered to etc.
Armed with all of this information, maybe the delivery office would be able to return it more quickly.
Maybe the non-delivering office could sent it back to the sending post office ( for a price ).

Is it near enough that you could call in at the delivering office to explain it in person ?

Is there anything inside the parcel which would uniquely identify you, even if not with a name or address ? I'm thinking of how a lost property office convinces themselves that you are the rightful owner. The more you can say that only the packer would know ( type of internal packing etc. ) the better.

custardy

Geoff1963 wrote: »

Could you contact the post office, describe the parcel, explain where it was being delivered to etc.
Armed with all of this information, maybe the delivery office would be able to return it more quickly.
Maybe the non-delivering office could sent it back to the sending post office ( for a price ).

Is it near enough that you could call in at the delivering office to explain it in person ?

Is there anything inside the parcel which would uniquely identify you, even if not with a name or address ? I'm thinking of how a lost property office convinces themselves that you are the rightful owner. The more you can say that only the packer would know ( type of internal packing etc. ) the better.

Sorry,what is all this?
Some random phones up to get a parcel returned early to some random address?

Return address,use them.

culpepper

If you know it probably wont be picked up then why wouldn't you put a return address on it?
I believe you can put just house number and post code as return information.
When the postie leaves a card, it doesn't usually say who its from or what is to be delivered, just things like parcel wont fit through door or needs signing for or similar.

Geoff1963

how will they know where to return it to if I didn't put a return address on the parcel?

I take that to mean the OP is already in the situation.

If the post office tries to return undelivered parcels, they might welcome someone making it easier for them. There should be no harm in the OP getting all that help to the delivering office, in preparation for the forecast failed delivery.