Royal Mail - not even garbage service

molerat

We are now getting mail regularly, maybe not the full 6 days but at least 4 or 5. Strange thing Tuesday was the door cam triggering at 8.30am and post dropping on the doormat. The local DO doesn't get mail from the MC until 7.30 so it was likely Monday's delivery that didn't go out.

Our open 2 hours a day counter is rubbish. A relative had a PF signed for attempted delivery card stating it was left at the local DO. Went there and told that PF items would not be left there and go to the PF depot 40 miles away. Luckily they were going that way anyway as they told them the parcel was at the local DO and not with them. Sent his partner to the DO and the parcel was there !

Purple_Jumper

We have a postbox in our garden wall and also a parcel locker within sight of our home and both have daily collections, yet Royal Mail aren't delivering daily, even weekly in many areas.

There must be such a mountain of mail held somewhere if these collections aren't being delivered regularly, it's not surprising so much mail is getting lost now

Albermarle

More than one poster has mentioned missing hospital appointment letters.

As of April this year - 64% of all appointments/letters can be seen on the NHS app, and this is increasing all the time. Already for acute hospital trusts, 100% of appointment letters can be seen on the app.

Of course some people can not ( or will not) have/use the app, but 41 Million people are registered on it, and it has approx 15 million users per month. In any case ( in my experience anyway) as well as getting appointment letters in the app, I also get notified by text with a link to the letter, so it still works without the app, although you do still need a mobile phone of course.

So apart from the Post problems, NHS appointment hard copy letters are being slowly phased out anyway.

soolin

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82131020#Comment_82131020

'Some' of ours are shown on NHS but not all- and it appears some of the London specialist centres are not yet on the system. My OH is currently waiting for a particular set of blood test results which never show on the app- we were told previously to wait 14 days and if no letter has arrived to phone them- he is planning to phone on Thursday .

KittenChops

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82131020#Comment_82131020

Unfortunately, not all NHS appointments show on the NHS app. I recently had a routine mammogram, for which I had a letter in the post, (and then when I had to rearrange it, I got a text message to confirm the new details). Nothing about either of these appointments appears in the app.

When you go to "hospital & specialist appointments" in the NHS app, it tells you "Not all appointments may show in the NHS app. If you cannot find what you need, contact your healthcare provider"

Marvel1

Same, I was waiting for a refund from energy company, live chat 29/08/2026 they said sent by cheque10th August - cancelled and re-issue, 01/09/2026 - post arrived cheque/letter dated 10/08/2026 - now got to wait for new one.

On the other end, posted a birthday card, got there within 2-3 days on time.

I haven't bothered with NHS app, last time I did, it said on the Internet you can look at history (travel insurance purposes) - it's not, oh that's because it only applies NHS England 🙄

Albermarle

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82131046#Comment_82131046

I did say in my post as of April this year, about two thirds of appointment letters could be seen in the app., so one third still can not.

The whole digitisation of the NHS is a very big job and it is still a work in progress. However the trend to paperless is well advanced and the coverage will no doubt keep increasing. Can only be a good thing with the apparent state of postal services in some places.

KittenChops

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82131206#Comment_82131206

Yes you did - I must not attempt to read things quite so quickly!

soolin

Just remembered another recent incident. 5 weeks ago I printed, signed and returned some forms to a solicitor , correct stamp, 1st class applied. Late last week I chased the solicitor to find out where we were with the issue- only to be told that they had not yet received the forms. Another lot went out at the weekend, and I was just prompted to phone and check with solicitor- who has not yet got them. Luckily it is not an urgent issue, but annoying none the less.

molerat

If you are in Scotland then snail mail is the only way for NHS appointments. (edit, it seems there may be a few on a trial of a so far pretty useless app). They sometimes text appointment reminders, they sometimes contact you by phone for vaccination appointments, very hit and miss.