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

Norman_Castle

Does the property have a history of mail theft? Could it be delivered to a post office for you to collect? There's a reason the post box is where it is and its not so the 70 year old got some exersise.

https://www.screwfix.com/c/security-ironmongery/post-boxes/cat810240#category=cat810240&page_size=100 Charge it to the estate.

Jovialist

pinkshoes said:

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??

No, it's 5 minutes each way, the Ofgem rules allow 7.5 minutes each way. So Ofgem don't seem to think I'm being unreasonable. You're incorrectly reading my posts.

Maybe also worth mentioning that if the box stays where it is, it'll also make the house harder to sell, which probably needs to happen.

As stated, I haven't had the chance to improve the road yet, and it'll probably cost not insignificant money, but yes, you're right on that.

I think I'll bow out of thread, as everyone suddenly seems to want to argue with me.

I'll see how it goes, anyway. Thanks to the helpful people. Bye!

Thrugelmir

Jovialist said:

pinkshoes said:

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??

Maybe also worth mentioning that if the box stays where it is, it'll also make the house harder to sell, which probably needs to happen.

Surely the state of the road is going to be the greatest concern..........

Norman_Castle

Jovialist said:

pinkshoes said:

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??

I think I'll bow out of thread, as everyone suddenly seems to want to argue with me.

No they don't.

TELLIT01

Presumably the 'alternative delivery point' must have been formally agree with RM, and therefore any change to that may also have to be formally agreed.  As a short term solution, couldn't post be held at the nearest Post Office and collected from there?  I wonder also if the OP would be held liable if the postie slipped and injured themselves when trying to deliver.

JGB1955

I'm just confused as to why the Energy Regulator is involved in delivery of mail!

the_lunatic_is_in_my_head

TELLIT01 said:

Presumably the 'alternative delivery point' must have been formally agree with RM, and therefore any change to that may also have to be formally agreed.  As a short term solution, couldn't post be held at the nearest Post Office and collected from there?  I wonder also if the OP would be held liable if the postie slipped and injured themselves when trying to deliver.

OP would have to be negligent for there to be any liability, a private track being muddy isn't unreasonable. 

Having a chat in person with the DO manager is the best way to address this, the address should have an official delivery point, hopefully they can tell you whether it's the box or the house.

OP if the current box as falling to pieces can you not buy a decent and secure box that would accept up to A4 letters and then ask any parcels are delivered to the house?

Ergates

Jovialist said:

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.

Whose fault it is that the road isn't in good condition is irrelevant,  only the condition of the road is.

sheramber

If it is easy for the postman it is easy for you to walk down the road.

A lockable box would quite safe. You probably know the usual time he calls  and you could ask the postie to sound his horn when he delivers if necessary.

It is quite normal for post boxes to be a road ends of country properties and farms.

mattyprice4004

Ergates said:

Jovialist said:

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.

Whose fault it is that the road isn't in good condition is irrelevant,  only the condition of the road is.

This is definitely the key part of the thread. The road is poor, therefore they can choose not to serve the property. 
It doesn't matter *why* the road is poor. 

My parent's house is served by a similar system - they just throw gravel down every year where holes appear and it's been fine. Gravel is (literally) dirt cheap.