Royal Mail Lying Delivery

lady_lucan

In defence of RM: I used to work as a postie in Glasgow and it is an incredibly hard job. When you first start (and yes you are criminally vetted, and have to sign an agreement saying mail is your responsibility, even though it is HM property(?)) you never have a regular 'walk' (round) for months on end. Drivers take your additional bags (usually 3-4, 3 stone weight bags) to drop boxes round the route and often there are no spare keys or some idiot child has knackered the lock tinkering with it.

Special delivery, because it is a premium service, is a particular headache because you personally can be fined for not meeting the deadline - it may be near the end of your run, and if you don't know the route, you're stuffed because you may not finish until 2pm.

Recorded delivery: as a guesstimate I would say that 1 in 8 addressees for RD were actually in when I called. So you end up having to carry the blummin things all the way round with you, as well as any items for multi-occupied flats etc you haven't been able to access. Larger items are the preserve of RM drivers. If you don't receive a large Recorded or Special Delivery item call the depot and ask to speak to the regular driver for your route (there will be one - it's a promoted post). If the driver is off sick the gaffer will usually do the route themselves.

Pet peeve: poster tubes! They are too long for a RM bag and constantly joggle out of your bag as you go round. Add to this dogs, common stairways covered in bodily fluids, old people who treat you as a free psychotherapist and you've got a really tough job. And you have to get up at 4.30 for a pretty low wage. Mistakes do happen, but the majority of posties I've ever worked with are under a lot of pressure yet try their best!

Dingdangdoforme

recently my sister has had problems with Royal mail delivering a couple of parcels or not, when complaining she was told that she "didn't understand the role of the postman" - priceless.

Heinz

Dingdangdoforme wrote:

recently my sister has had problems with Royal mail delivering a couple of parcels or not, when complaining she was told that she "didn't understand the role of the postman" - priceless.

I think that just about sums up the 21st Century demise of what used to be a proud and efficient service.

trace-j

Re the initial issue of the phones, I have a mate who works for Parcel Force. They get loads of complaints about Mobile phones going missing. My mate says if you do complain it does get looked into and the police do get involved as it's theft. My mate also says, the phone companies don't do themselves any favours because their packages are easily identifyable and the phones come with pre-registered sims.

Although theft of mail is unacceptable, I don't appreciate being preached to about mobile phone security when the phone company don't have a clue about consealing a valuable item in bag!:mad:

webmasterpolo

What is it with RM and theirt brilliant idea of handing your parcels over to strangers who just happen to live around you if you're not in. I certainly never agree to this option when placing orders, is there some kind of legal thing that lets them give out your post to a mystery third party?

The other day I was standing on ther pavement outside my house when the postman came up to me and asked if I knew the people who lived @ number 19, now I don't even know which house is number 19 so I said no, he then said can you give this parcel to them as their not in. I said no cause I don't know them. How many of you are thinking well if I'm a guy standing in the street and the postman offers me a parcel for someone else - big security problem here! I might not even live in the area!! Yet RM is more than happy to give me some strangers parcel! Crazy system!

mah_jong

Webmasterpolo....what makes you think that the other delivery copanies dont do exactly the same.

My parcels have been delivered elsewhere at times and other times I have been asked to hold other peoples ! Admitadly I live in a small place and know everyone ...but just like the posties they like them delivered (to anyone), rather than take them back !!!