Royal Mail Recorded Delivery Not Arrived....

Martin_o03

Hello all, 

I sent a parcel recorded delivery 1st Class last Sunday 20th November and it has still not arrived. I know the strikes were towards the end of last week but does anyone have any knowledge of them having backlogs which would effect the early part of the week, or do you think this should have arrived by now?

When I check the tracking online it just confirms that it has been posted at the post office, nothing since then. I called and they said to give it a bit more time, it could be due to a backlog.

The worry is it's a mobile phone worth £500...and I now have my head in my hands for sending it recorded delivery. I told the post office it was a phone and they did not advise or offer a special delivery, I had no idea. So it looks like it won't be covered now if it's lost.

MikeJXE

You were sending something worth £500 and  you didn't think to ask if it was covered by insurance if it was lost. Amazing 

soolin

Martin_o03 said:

Hello all, 

I sent a parcel recorded delivery 1st Class last Sunday 20th November and it has still not arrived. I know the strikes were towards the end of last week but does anyone have any knowledge of them having backlogs which would effect the early part of the week, or do you think this should have arrived by now?

When I check the tracking online it just confirms that it has been posted at the post office, nothing since then. I called and they said to give it a bit more time, it could be due to a backlog.

The worry is it's a mobile phone worth £500...and I now have my head in my hands for sending it recorded delivery. I told the post office it was a phone and they did not advise or offer a special delivery, I had no idea. So it looks like it won't be covered now if it's lost.

Firstly recorded no longer exists, did you send this signed for or Special delivery guaranteed next day? Signed for, incidentally, would have only given you up to £50 of cover, but you mention 1st class so I rather suspect it was only signed for unfortunately.

There are huge delays in certain areas and whilst it is overdue, it isn't necessarily surprising at the moment. It really dpends on areas and how quickly they can cover the 2 full days of strikes last week, bearing in mind this wouldn't actually have gone until Monday.

Occasionally signed for is not actually updated, I've had a few of them like that- but you need to keep watching that tracking and hope it turns up soon. If this was an ebay sale then also keep an eye on any claim opened by the buyer. 

GadgetGuru

Always check the coverage with any service you use - unfortunately you've leant this the hard way. 
A mobile phone in particular should be sent via Special Delivery (£500 coverage by default) or by another courier with the appropriate level of cover - especially these days with all the postal services not being 'as good as they used to be'!

I have also received signed for deliveries in the past that are never signed for - just handed to me - and the tracking never updates to say anything has been delivered at all! Hence buyer could easily claim item not received if this happens with him.

At this point, you need to keep your fingers crossed and hope Royal Mail pull through for you.....hopefully it's just held up in the post due to the strikes. 

At the moment I'm only using RM Signed For with very cheap items that I can afford to lose without hurting to refund!
Otherwise I use Tracked24 (which is currently discounted) or Special Delivery - both of which are prioritised during the strike periods. 

Buster_Danog

I stopped posting with Royal Mail due to the strikes. I sent one item by second class on a Saturday, but it arrived on a Monday which was six days later if I don't count the Sundays. Royal Mail signed for is sent along with the normal first and second class post. The only difference is that a signature is asked for from the recipient. Special delivery is handled seperately.

Martin_o03

Thanks for your replies guys. I completely accept it was my fault, an ejit. It was in my local Post Office and it was an older gentleman who served who never normally works there, I mentioned that it was an iPhone but he didn't suggest Special Delivery, but yeah I should have known, I've learnt the hard way.

It would have been collected on the Monday and I'm told it can take 1-3 days to deliver (but 1st Class is almost always next day) If it was 3 days it would take it into the first day of strike action on 24th November. Services resumed on Monday but as of today the tracking on the Royal Mail website is still the same 

- Your item has been posted at a Post Office. As you've used our Royal Mail Signed For service, the next update you'll see is after we've attempted to deliver to the recipient.

Hopefully something turns up but looking unlikely now.

GadgetGuru

None of my 1st class have been getting there next day lately - its always been around 2-4 non-strike days.

soolin

Don’t forget there is a strike today and tomorrow so the next opportunity for delivery is not until Friday now. 

km1500

by far the biggest probability is that it is delayed not lost.

noitsnotme

My collection postie told me yesterday they still have 800 york cages at the local Mail centre still untouched from the strikes last week.  That’s going to get worse over today and tomorrow. 

Yet I still have customers who only selected 2nd class post asking why their orders have not arrived after 3 or 4 days!

Martin_o03

Update - still not arrived but Royal Mail said it arrived in Croydon mailing centre on 23rd November,  nothing updated since then.. hopefully it is just delays then