Are Royal Mail allowed to leave parcels outside?

brazilianwax

I live in 2 places. One during the week, and another at weekends. I usually arrange for parcels to be delivered to the week-day property, because there are porters that take the parcels in and keep them safe.

A company has sent me a parcel to my weekend address. I don't come here every weekend, and I'd have thought that the postperson would have realised in the last 2.5 years that most of the time the house is empty. Luckily, I am here today, and have just come home to discover this parcel on my front door step. Since Christmas I have also had parcels left by the back door and in the garden Often I have come home on a Thursday night and parcels have obviously been there for a while (several days), and have gotten soaking wet. :mad:

Today's parcel was worth a fair bit of money, and has just been left on the front step - okay, it's a cul de sac so not many people pass accidentally, but that's not the point. What would have happened if the parcel had been stolen??

As I say, I usually get things delivered elsewhere, but is there anything I can do to stop this happening? I don't mind going down to the sorting office to collect things, but I do mind them being left out, possibly for more than a week, with no security whatsoever!!!

superscaper

This was brought up on another thread only this week I think. Phone your local branch and tell them. They are most definitely not allowed to leave it on the doorstep. I'm sure Custardy will be able to correct me with the best procedure/approach to use.

gypsyroseloz

I too have had this from Royal Mail delivery twice now! Once whilst away, a neighbour saw them leave it & took it in know ing that we were away & once just left outside when I WAS IN!!!! Nobody even knocked at the door & it was pouring it down!
No idea as to whether they are allowed to just abandon things though, probably not much help, other than you knowing that its not only you!

brazilianwax

superscaper wrote: »

This was brought up on another thread only this week I think. Phone your local branch and tell them. They are most definitely not allowed to leave it on the doorstep. I'm sure Custardy will be able to correct me with the best procedure/approach to use.

Had a great one 18 months ago when OH's Wii arrived. Despite the car being on the drive, and lights on in the house, the postperson didn't knock our door. Instead he went over the road, woke up a neighbour (whose baby was about a month old) and asked her to have the parcel for us because we weren't in (we were!). He didn't bother leaving a card for us to tell us where he'd taken it either.

When I left for work, the woman over the road came and virtually threw the parcel at me!!!

superscaper

brazilianwax wrote: »

Had a great one 18 months ago when OH's Wii arrived. Despite the car being on the drive, and lights on in the house, the postperson didn't knock our door. Instead he went over the road, woke up a neighbour (whose baby was about a month old) and asked her to have the parcel for us because we weren't in (we were!). He didn't bother leaving a card for us to tell us where he'd taken it either.

When I left for work, the woman over the road came and virtually threw the parcel at me!!!

About a month ago I had a courier (CityLink) turn up, didn't bother getting out of the van and then drove off. Next thing I know tracking says failed delivery and carded, and at a time later than the courier turned up and drove off. But they could "prove" they'd tried to deliver because they knew the colour of my front door. Well of course he did as he was parked right outside and didn't get out!!! I was at the window watching but he'd already gone by the time I got to the front door. I was actually in all day and waiting for them to turn up.

I've also spent six months claiming just £12 from royal mail from a recorded delivery parcel they lost. I only just got the cheque today and also at the same time today is news about my specific local delivery branch http://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/blackpoolnews/Lazy-postie-39too-tired39-to.3854938.jp
Makes me wonder how much stuff goes missing that I don't know about.

custardy

rm's phrase for this is doorstepping.
its not permited.
the official procedure for customers wanting to use a safe place to leave items is to place it in writinmg to your local delivery office.
RM are trying to get online retailers to add safeplace details to their delivery address forms as well

however i digress
doorstepping is a tricky one.many many people are more than happy for posties/drivers to leave items
just as many are not and its(was) a judgement call
RM are supposed to be cracking down on this,however ive yet to hear it.
the cynic in me thinks rm are happy to let it slide as it means they can keep staffing in the collection offfices even lower.
anyone thats stood in a long queue to collect an item will know that #

for yourself,you should contact your local delivery office manager(make sure you ask for a manager) to get it sorted.
however make sure the items are delivered via RM.ive had plenty of people kicking up a storm as they assume any parcel left is delivered via RM

brazilianwax

custardy wrote: »

rm's phrase for this is doorstepping.
its not permited.
the official procedure for customers wanting to use a safe place to leave items is to place it in writinmg to your local delivery office.
RM are trying to get online retailers to add safeplace details to their delivery address forms as well

however i digress
doorstepping is a tricky one.many many people are more than happy for posties/drivers to leave items
just as many are not and its(was) a judgement call
RM are supposed to be cracking down on this,however ive yet to hear it.
the cynic in me thinks rm are happy to let it slide as it means they can keep staffing in the collection offfices even lower.
anyone thats stood in a long queue to collect an item will know that #

for yourself,you should contact your local delivery office manager(make sure you ask for a manager) to get it sorted.
however make sure the items are delivered via RM.ive had plenty of people kicking up a storm as they assume any parcel left is delivered via RM

Thanks Custardy. Deffo RM delivery. I rang and spoke to someone who is going to get a manager to contact me.

Right now I'm just glad I checked - we don't use the front door! I'm not happy about it. If we have a regular postie, then surely they'd realise the house is usually empty?

brazilianwax

superscaper wrote: »

About a month ago I had a courier (CityLink) turn up, didn't bother getting out of the van and then drove off. Next thing I know tracking says failed delivery and carded, and at a time later than the courier turned up and drove off. But they could "prove" they'd tried to deliver because they knew the colour of my front door. Well of course he did as he was parked right outside and didn't get out!!! I was at the window watching but he'd already gone by the time I got to the front door. I was actually in all day and waiting for them to turn up.

I've also spent six months claiming just £12 from royal mail from a recorded delivery parcel they lost. I only just got the cheque today and also at the same time today is news about my specific local delivery branch http://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/blackpoolnews/Lazy-postie-39too-tired39-to.3854938.jp
Makes me wonder how much stuff goes missing that I don't know about.

Thay aren't called Sh1ttyLink for nothing!!!

custardy

brazilianwax wrote: »

Thanks Custardy. Deffo RM delivery. I rang and spoke to someone who is going to get a manager to contact me.

Right now I'm just glad I checked - we don't use the front door! I'm not happy about it. If we have a regular postie, then surely they'd realise the house is usually empty?

depends,if its a large item then it was most likely delivered by a driver.
drivers cover a far larger delivery area.
easily covering the duty area of 6 foot deliveries,so they dont get ot know areas/customers so well.
then theres the whole issue of less and less regular drivers/posties

brazilianwax

custardy wrote: »

depends,if its a large item then it was most likely delivered by a driver.
drivers cover a far larger delivery area.
easily covering the duty area of 6 foot deliveries,so they dont get ot know areas/customers so well.
then theres the whole issue of less and less regular drivers/posties

few inches bigger than A4 and about 2 inches deep.

we'll see. i will double check that no-one sends anything here in future, and just use my other address

dounome

brazilianwax wrote: »

Had a great one 18 months ago when OH's Wii arrived. Despite the car being on the drive, and lights on in the house, the postperson didn't knock our door. Instead he went over the road, woke up a neighbour (whose baby was about a month old) and asked her to have the parcel for us because we weren't in (we were!). He didn't bother leaving a card for us to tell us where he'd taken it either.

When I left for work, the woman over the road came and virtually threw the parcel at me!!!

Im also one of those damned lazy posties, So if you were in and the light was on etc, why wouldnt he knock the door, it would be easier for him to knock your door rather than a neighbours, doesnt make sense to me.
Did you ask him why, i know from personal experience where ive knocked on peoples doors and seen and heard them in yet still no answer.