Royal mail

sgary2992

Can any one help me here.
Royal mail delivered a parcel which was first class signed for.unfortunatly the post man signed for it and left it on my door step.when I got home from work and found a ticket through my door ,which said parcel on door step,the parcel had gone/Missing.i have contacted royal mail and filled out one of there claim forms online all of which was a waste of time as my claim form was rejected as they said parcel was signed for and delivered.parcel was worth 170 quid,what can I do please.

davidmcn

Have you followed their complaints procedure? 

Pollycat

I thought if you were not at home to accept a parcel, RM left a card and it was taken back to the sorting office for you to collect.

Has this changed?

What happens if you can’t deliver my mail?

If you’re not at home, we’ll attempt to deliver your item* to your neighbour and leave a card. If we can’t deliver to them, we’ll leave a card and take the item back to the Customer Service Point. You can then either collect it or arrange a Redelivery (full details will be on the card).

https://personal.help.royalmail.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/7171/~/what-happens-if-you-can’t-deliver-my-mail?

davidmcn

Pollycat said:

I thought if you were not at home to accept a parcel, RM left a card and it was taken back to the sorting office for you to collect.

Has this changed?

They're not currently getting signatures, but I think they're still meant to confirm successful delivery and not just dump things on doorsteps. As has always been the case, some posties consider it more efficient just to sign for stuff themselves and get on with their day.

OP, was the service really "first class signed for"? That only has cover for £50 anyway?

Pollycat

davidmcn said:

Pollycat said:

I thought if you were not at home to accept a parcel, RM left a card and it was taken back to the sorting office for you to collect.

Has this changed?

They're not currently getting signatures, but I think they're still meant to confirm successful delivery and not just dump things on doorsteps. As has always been the case, some posties consider it more efficient just to sign for stuff themselves and get on with their day.

Yes, I know about non-signatures as I've had a few things delivered since March.

The items that need a signature but will fit through the letterbox are pushed though (I'm fine with that) and for the items that are too big, the postman puts the parcel on the doorstep, knocks and makes sure I open the door before walking off (I'm fine with that too).

I've never missed a delivery but if I didn't open the door, I'd expect him to leave a card and take the parcel back with him.

I have to say that our posties are really great.

Some posties might see signing themselves and leaving the parcel on the doorstep 'more efficient' but surely that's against RM policy?

I had a postie friend who was disciplined (many years ago) because he signed for a package and pushed it through the door to save the recipient having to go to the Sorting Office but they complained about him.

I wonder whose signature it was? The postman's or the recipient's (which would be a forgery).

elsien

Pollycat said:

I thought if you were not at home to accept a parcel, RM left a card and it was taken back to the sorting office for you to collect.

Has this changed?

What happens if you can’t deliver my mail?

If you’re not at home, we’ll attempt to deliver your item* to your neighbour and leave a card. If we can’t deliver to them, we’ll leave a card and take the item back to the Customer Service Point. You can then either collect it or arrange a Redelivery (full details will be on the card).

https://personal.help.royalmail.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/7171/~/what-happens-if-you-can’t-deliver-my-mail?

A minority of posties CBA. I had a temp one sign for a special delivery item then leave it dumped in the porch which is against all their procedures. I also complained because I was furious. There’s a reason for using special delivery, and dumped in the porch (he didn’t even use the letter box) isn’t it. 
OP you need to make a formal complaint disputing the signature. 

Were_Doomed

In the current COVID times the postie is required to sign on behalf of the recipient ... it is not currently allowed for them to get an actual signature from the recipient. (Per my conversation with our local postie recently). However, as you say, they are supposed to wait until delivery is confirmed before signing (either by delivery through the letterbox or the householder opening the door).