What to do if local Royal Mail manager for my post code is ignoring me whenever I call?

user225688

Sorry it is rather long; I tried to cut it down but wanted to explain the issue fully.

I am trying to get an issue resolved where my post is not delivered to me but rather dumped at a management office of the new build apartments I live at since the postman seems to be loath to do any extra work. There is no delivery arrangement made at the office it is delivered to either it is just an ad hoc arrangement where they dump it all in a pile and have to sift through every piece of mail for anything which may be addressed to you.

From what I have gathered from 2nd hand sources, since I have never seen him deliver or spoken to him myself, is that he is complaining that he will have to deliver to all 60 odd flats individually because it will make his shift last longer and so is digging his heels in to do anything he can to avoid it.

I recently installed a mailbox myself outside my property since the building managers could not be bothered to do it themselves after months of asking but after giving detailed instructions of how to get to it, which is only about 20 metres from where he gives the mail in a bunch to the office, he has ignored my instructions after giving it on two separate occasions.

I have tested sending mail to myself as well and one letter 'disappeared' while the other turned up at the office. Even though it would only take him a few extra seconds to go to where I placed the box I gather that he is resisting because he thinks if he does it for one then everyone would ask for it and he maybe thinks he can just ignore it and nothing will change.

All the advice I have received so far on here and elsewhere has told me that I am entitled to receive my post to a post box I own and control, since where he hands it is not that addressed on the letter, rather than handed to their office and I have read the that I am entitled to this on the royal mail website in more than one place.

The problem is that, after ringing many times, the post code manager for my area seems to not care about these obligations and only cares about not making any extra work for his staff so is now ignoring any calls, probably as they know what my number is and ignore it if they see it is mine.

I was able to get through one time about 2 weeks ago for a brief call where someone, whoever picked up, agreed they would deliver it directly if I installed one myself, which is why I installed one in the first place as I thought I had the all clear and presumed all would be smooth from there, but now I can't get any response.

So far I have only gotten the contact number of the supposed manager for delivering my to my area's post code of which no one will now respond on that number. I am wondering who I should contact next since he and those below him seem to all be in cahoots in ignoring my issue to try and avoid extra work I guess.

I am wondering if there will be higher ups in the delivery office I could contact who will take responsibility for this issue or whether they would likely all try and get out of it in that office and I would have to make a formal complaint. I would try to avoid making formal complaint but if no one will respond at that office I would have to wouldn't I? Though so far I have not investigated who else I could contact there which I will look into first.

On the website for the delivery office there is only the generic national number for royal mail where you get put onto one of those automated dial-tone options menus rather than a direct number for their local office. I am not sure if they do that on purpose to avoid having to deal with customer issues which I suspect it might be. I only got the current number by going in and the lady at the counter gave me this number saying it was the number for the manager for my post code.

So wondering what my next steps should be?

Fosterdog

Why are you starting a third thread on the same topic? Your complaint is not with RM but with your landlord or the management company of the new development.

I really do understand why you are frustrated with this and I would be too however it's not as simple as you adding your own mailbox and it starts getting delivered to you. With new developments there are processes to go through and all new build developments will initially have all mail delivered centrally to the management office.

For RM to start deliveries to you they need to have initial sign off from the developers, including site plans with plot numbers and actual house names/numbers and a risk assessment carried out to ensure it is safe for deliveries. When deliveries start it will be on overtime because there is no time allocated to their rounds for your delivery yet, that won't happen until the entire development is complete where they would have to restructure several rounds to accommodate a new estate. Are there still properties being built on the new estate?

You cannot just randomly add a letterbox inside a block of flats and claim that that is now the delivery point. At some point either every flat will be given mailboxes at their doors or a central mailbox will be added to a foyer area and the postie would have to be given access to the whole block (either a trade code or trade key fob).

user225688

Because it seemed more related to consumer rights than rent/house buying. I don't see the problem with that if the issue veers to different areas.

Yes there are some still being completed on the site but 75% are completed. I don't see why everyone else has to wait indefinitely for that? and even if this is the case why couldn't the management say that if it were the case. I don't think that would be a big secret and I am sure they would want to give that excuse if it were so so then they could ameliorate responsibility.

The management have been absolutely uncooperative and they have no legal obligation to install the boxes whereas royal mail have a legal obligation to do it. This is the first time I hear that there is more redtape to it?

All the other information I received so far on this forum was that it should be a simple process to put it in and inform the delivery office so forgive me for going on what the majority advice has been so far?

The new post is because I haven't been able to contact Royal Mail.

It is the being absolutely stone walled by all parties which is the worst thing and not given even any attempt at an explanation. Just being told what the issues were by anyone would help me to 'bear with them' as they keep telling me rather than that they are making no attempt at all at resolving the issue. The management selectively ignore my emails when I discuss the matter and royal mail won't respond either.

davidmcn

If you do want to pursue a complaint against Royal Mail, you should be following their complaints process as explained on their website.

DoaM

Fosterdog said:

Why are you starting a third thread on the same topic?

I thought this seemed familiar.

mjm3346

One of the drawbacks to new builds according to Which is

"everything about your home will be new - not just the building, but the infrastructure too. You might have issues with getting the broadband, TV and even heating working, particularly if they will be shared with other properties and you're one of the first in. Getting post delivered can be a nightmare as well.

Manxman_in_exile

It seems obvious to me that with a new development of 60 properties there would be a quite considerable amount of red tape to get through before RM could deliver mail to individual properties.  They'd need a site plan detailing each of the plots at least.  Do you think each of the 60 residents would have to individually submit their own plans and arrangements?  Royal Mail aren't telepathic so they have to rely on other people to tell them - and those other people are the developers/landlords/management agents.  I would have thought this would be all part of the development sign-off.  Have you not asked them?

If you still want to complain to RM (and to be fair to you I don't understand why RM have not explained this to you themselves - or have they?) use the link provided above.

user225688

Royal mail have said nothing to me. As I said they briefly said one time on the phone they would deliver to me provided I put my own box in and after that would not pick up the phone or reply to emails.

I see what you guys are saying though in terms of it being more the responsibility of the management. As said above RM should have just taken a minute or two to inform me of that rather than burying their head in the sand.

Manxman_in_exile

If that's what RM told you in response to your explanation of the situation, then I'd certainly consider making a complaint.  Are you sure they understood what you were asking and that you understood their reply?  I mean, even if you put in your own letter box, how would the postman know it was there or even where it was?  Is he going to have to go searching each day to see which flats have now put in a letter box?

Mind you I'm a bit surprised that you've already been allocated a post code (presumably a new one?) but delivery arrangements have not been finalised as well.  I don't know what the procedures are but I'd have thought they would go together.

Manxman_in_exile

Just looking at your other thread, your property doesn't meet the RM criteria does it?  "Each residence has its own unique delivery point that is clearly identified as a letter box for an address (e.g. numbered, lettered or named), or a secure, lockable box that corresponds to an address within the building."  That's not true of each residence in your development, is it?

I must admit I can't understand why the management company haven't made better provision so far.  It must be a real PITA for them taking delivery of everyone's mail.