Does Royal Mail have a legal obligation to deliver your mail?

Jovialist

Thrugelmir said:

Why isn't possible for the Postie to drive up to the property?  

In the original post. Depending on the rain, it can get muddy and slippy for a van. But you can avoid the mud if you walk it.

Jovialist

unholyangel said:

Jovialist said:

theoretica said:

https://www.ofcom.org.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0023/78314/statement_delivery_exceptions.pdf

Is it a more than 7.5 minute walk?

Ah, very interesting. This is what I was after. I'm not sure to be honest, but I'd say it can be done in 5 minutes, each way, 10 minutes total, so it looks like I've got postie banged to rights on the rules.

Thanks for the replies, forumites!

Not sure you do have them bang to rights. 

I read it as 7.5 mins at a very casual and leisurely pace. While your comment reads 10 mins, if they're  walking at a brisk pace. 

ETA: it says measured "by a walking pace that is safe in all circumstances". Does that mean circumstances relevant to the road at any particular time? Relevant to the road generally? Or is it measured based on the worst possible conditions? 

I read it as 7.5 minutes each way, so 15 minutes is allowed?

P.S. I didn't say anything about a brisk pace or anyone having to rush. If I gave that impression, then I didn't mean to. I meant "I think it can be done" in 5 minutes, walking at a regular pace.

Thrugelmir

Jovialist said:

Thrugelmir said:

Why isn't possible for the Postie to drive up to the property?  

In the original post. Depending on the rain, it can get muddy and slippy for a van. But you can avoid the mud if you walk it.

Then your expectations may well be considered unreasonable. 

Jovialist

Thrugelmir said:

Jovialist said:

Thrugelmir said:

Why isn't possible for the Postie to drive up to the property?  

In the original post. Depending on the rain, it can get muddy and slippy for a van. But you can avoid the mud if you walk it.

Then your expectations may well be considered unreasonable. 

Looking at the Ofgem rules, I'm not sure you're right. But we'll see, I guess.

Thrugelmir

Jovialist said:

Thrugelmir said:

Jovialist said:

Thrugelmir said:

Why isn't possible for the Postie to drive up to the property?  

In the original post. Depending on the rain, it can get muddy and slippy for a van. But you can avoid the mud if you walk it.

Then your expectations may well be considered unreasonable. 

Looking at the Ofgem rules, I'm not sure you're right. But we'll see, I guess.

If the road was maintained to a satisfactory standard then wouldn't be an issue at all............

Jovialist

Thrugelmir said:

Jovialist said:

Thrugelmir said:

Jovialist said:

Thrugelmir said:

Why isn't possible for the Postie to drive up to the property?  

In the original post. Depending on the rain, it can get muddy and slippy for a van. But you can avoid the mud if you walk it.

Then your expectations may well be considered unreasonable. 

Looking at the Ofgem rules, I'm not sure you're right. But we'll see, I guess.

If the road was maintained to a satisfactory standard then wouldn't be an issue at all............

Yes, and if you'd read the original post, you'll see it was my relative's road, and I tried to persuade said relative to spend money on the road for years, but I failed.

Please appreciate I've been put in this position, and it's hard to get much done in winter.

Manxman_in_exile

Jovialist said:

...The relative lives in a slightly out of the way place, and the postal arrangement was a strange one, with a homemade box far away, down at the end of the road, and far away from the house. The box was basically falling to pieces, and it was a pain to collect.

...

You don't actually say how "far away" it is, "down at the end of the road".  Personally, I would not consider something that takes at most 7 minutes and 30 seconds to reach as being "far away".  (Have you told them that?  Perhaps you would have been better off describing it as "relatively close").

How far away is it terms of distance?  A round trip of 15 minutes at 3 mph (which might be considered by some to be a bit on the brisk side) would cover 0.75 miles.  So is the end of the road where the old box was more than 660 yards away?

Jovialist said:

...As I would be receiving important mail, I decided to set up new box next to the house ...

bris said:

They won't go anywhere they think is potetially dangerous.
They do have a point when they say stick to the original box location.

I assume it had been in the same place for years before hand.

How you officially informed RM and agreed with them that you were unilaterally changing an established delivery point might have a bearing on your problem... 

custardy

Jovialist said:

theoretica said:

https://www.ofcom.org.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0023/78314/statement_delivery_exceptions.pdf

Is it a more than 7.5 minute walk?

Ah, very interesting. This is what I was after. I'm not sure to be honest, but I'd say it can be done in 5 minutes, each way, 10 minutes total, so it looks like I've got postie banged to rights on the rules.

Thanks for the replies, forumites!

I would advise you dont think you have anyone on 'rules'
RM put the decision on safe delivery points to the staff on delivery.
Take a slip /bump a van on delivery and they will be out to see what decisions were made and whether for disciplinary/sick processes apply
Its for you to make the delivery point safe and accessible. 

Jovialist

custardy said:

Jovialist said:

theoretica said:

https://www.ofcom.org.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0023/78314/statement_delivery_exceptions.pdf

Is it a more than 7.5 minute walk?

Ah, very interesting. This is what I was after. I'm not sure to be honest, but I'd say it can be done in 5 minutes, each way, 10 minutes total, so it looks like I've got postie banged to rights on the rules.

Thanks for the replies, forumites!

I would advise you dont think you have anyone on 'rules'
RM put the decision on safe delivery points to the staff on delivery.
Take a slip /bump a van on delivery and they will be out to see what decisions were made and whether for disciplinary/sick processes apply
Its for you to make the delivery point safe and accessible. 

Well, I'd say it's safe to walk, in my opinion. The 70-something relative used to walk it each day. And it also looks like it's within the allowed timings, so, I'll tell them to always walk it?

pinkshoes

Jovialist said:

Hi,

So I'm in a bit of strange situation. I'm staying at my deceased relative's house while the will and probate is sorted, and forwarding my own mail on to here. The relative lives in a slightly out of the way place, and the postal arrangement was a strange one, with a homemade box far away, down at the end of the road, and far away from the house. The box was basically falling to pieces, and it was a pain to collect.

As I would be receiving important mail, I decided to set up new box next to the house and have a camera on it to improve security.

The problem is, the road, which can get a bit slippy and muddy when for cars and vans when it rains a lot. So the postie has been complaining about it - although it would be fine for the postie to walk down the road, but it would be time consuming for them. I have tried to take measures to improve the road, but due to various reasons and problems, they've come to not much above naught.

So the postie is now getting more and more awkward. Holding on to and not delivering mail for longer and longer periods - I'm also slightly concerned as to where they're keeping the mail in mean time, possibly in their van. They want me to put a box back at the end of the road, but I'm not happy with the security of this, as I can't sensible mount a CCTV camera there, or leave it with a neighbour, which I'm not happy with, either.

I do certainly have my sympathies for them, and I would be ok if they skipped some delivery days when conditions weren't so great, but I think it's now got to the point where they're now behaving unreasonably, in my opinion, and possibly even breaking their job contract. I have haven't received mail in over a week, and I was certainly expecting some, and the weather and road were fine for vehicles, Saturday, so it now seems to becoming a battle of wills, and an attempt to make me do what they want.

I'm going to phone up and complain, but I just want to know the legal situation, first. Does Royal Mail have a legal obligation to deliver my mail?

Thanks!

I think you're being unreasonable.

Firstly, it is a private road, so having some sort of post box on or near the boundary would be a good idea.

Secondly, if it is 7.5 minutes walk, then that is 15 minutes in total, possibly more, which is unreasonable.

Thirdly, the road to your property is not in good order so a health and safety risk.

You have therefore two options:

1. Put a lockable post box at the boundary of the property where the previous one was, or perhaps a short distance into the property where the road is still in a good condition.

2. You make good the entire road so the postie can drive up to the property. If you're planning on selling this might be a good selling point??