Royal Mail Guaranteed Delivery 'Missing in Action.'

pennypincher3562

I sent quite an expensive item via Royal Mail yesterday using 'guaranteed next day 1pm delivery.' 1pm has passed, and it has not been delivered.

I have tried multiple times phoning their 'customer support line,' but the delay was so long, I had to give up, or face running out of mobile phone credit.

I am hoping that it will turn up, and will take things one step at a time. They have already failed on the 'guaranteed 1pm next day delivery.' Do I have any grounds for a claim on this basis?

I am hoping that the item has not been lost, but does anyone know how long it takes to get a compensation cheque if it has been lost?

I have to add that despite the above instance, overall I believe that Royal Mail in general do not a bad job!

BorisThomson

What does the tracking say?

You're entitled to the cost of postage back as they have not delivered in time. Your item is not considered lost until five days after the delivery date.

(There's no need to call them. All the information you need is on the website.)

theonlywayisup

https://www.royalmail.com/retail-compensation-policy-delay#Summary

https://personal.help.royalmail.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/325

pennypincher3562

Tracking says it is supposedly on a van making it's way towards the north of England. Under normal circumstances, it would have arrived by now and been delivered, even without guaranteed delivery by 1pm.

In my humble opinion, something has 'gone wrong.'

theonlywayisup

pennypincher3562 wrote: »

Tracking says it is supposedly on a van making it's way towards the north of England. Under normal circumstances, it would have arrived by now and been delivered, even without guaranteed delivery by 1pm.

In my humble opinion, something has 'gone wrong.'

Could it be weather related? There's snow it lots of the top part of the country at the moment.

Fosterdog

What time of day did you send it? Could it have missed the cut off so it will be guaranteed by 1pm tomorrow instead of today?

pennypincher3562

Thanks for the replies.

@theonlywayisup, I've read the T's & C's. Not easy to understand at first, but I reckon I might get minor compensation for delayed delivery after 24 hours, and slightly greater compensation for delayed delivery after 7 working days. Of course I am really hoping for an item of value it won't be missing in the system for 7 days!

As for the snow, I suppose it is a possibility, but I've not seen anything on news about blocked motorways?

@FosterDog, it was sent about 2pm yesterday, and even with a non guaranteed next day service, it would normally have arrived by now.

Anyway, fingers crossed, hopefully I will wake up tomorrow and it has been delivered. If lost, I am hoping Royal Mail will pay out in a timely manner, and with minimal fuss. Cheers!

waamo

I had a parcel delivered late using guaranteed delivery. They refunded the cost without any problems at all. You just fill the online form in.

POPPYOSCAR

Do you know it has not arrived? Have you spoken with the recipient?

pennypincher3562

POPPYOSCAR wrote: »

Do you know it has not arrived? Have you spoken with the recipient?

I have spoken to the recipient, and it has not arrived.

Fosterdog

Not necessarily, different post offices have different last collection times, one most of my local ones have one day of early closing each week where the last collection would be no later than 12:30 with the place closing by 3pm. Anything sent there after the 12:30ish collection would stay there until the next day, it wouldn't be classed as them failing if it is posted after the last collection for that particular post office on that day.

I beg to differ that even without guaranteed next day it would have been delivered by now, when posted we were only one day out of a double bank holiday weekend meaning all normal mail will be delayed by 1-3 days. On a normal week maybe but not on the first working day back after Easter weekend.

The item is not lost, if you know it is on its way to the north of England then at most it is delayed, a strange conclusion to jump to when you have the tracking telling you exactly where it is. If it has failed and it's not down to weather then the most you will be compensated is the original postage refunded.