Postmen's 'Sorry, you were out' cards: the law

[TrueBlueTerrier]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/ ... e-law.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

The Royal Mail has been accused of misleading its customers by allowing “rogue” postmen to deliver “Sorry, you were out” cards when the householder was at home. We explain what you can do if you feel you have been duped, and what could happen to the Royal Mail if found guilty.

f a consumer has been let down by a company, after they have handed over money for a goods or service, they can often prove there has been a breach of contract.

This catch-all consumer law gives customers the power to take a company, however large, to the small claims court. There they can fight to win back up to £5,000.

However, under the 1969 Postal Office Act, someone who buys a stamp and posts a letter, is not deemed to have entered into a contract with the Royal Mail.

A consumer who feels they have been duped should, instead, approach Consumer Direct, the new official Goverment body that deals with all consumer complaints.

Consumer Focus, the postal watchdog, is keeping a close eye on the subject but warned it would be difficult for any consumer to prove they have been misled. It suggests consumers should complain directly to the Royal Mail. Any compensation from the Royal Mail is unlikely to be much more than a book of stamps, however.

Royal Mail, itself, however, could be in trouble. Under its licence, granted by the regulator Postcomm, it promise to “use reasonable endeavours [to] appropriately deliver, or to procure the delivery of, any postal packets its receives in the course of its business as a postal operator, within a reasonable time”.

Failure to do so would constitute a breach of the license because it would have failed the “mail integrity” test.

The last time Postcomm found Royal Mail guilty of failing the “mail integrity” test was back in 2006, when it imposed a fine of £11.4 million (later reduced on appeal), after it found workers were not being checked properly before being hired.

This allowed a series of thefts by Royal Mail workers to take place, which severely dented the reputation of the company.

A source at Postcomm said that such a heavy fine would only be levied again if a major failing at the Royal Mail had been discovered.

The rash of deceptive “Sorry, you were out” cards is unlikely to lead to a fine. The Royal Mail is more likely to be investigated by Postcomm, with rogue postmen being disciplined.

[Viewfindergeneral]

"rogue postmen" LOL

I can picture the scene:

"Clint Eastwood cruises into town on his trusty Pashley bike, posts a P739 card and rides off into the sunset!"

You couldn't make it up!

[chunk]

"rogue postmen" LOL

I can picture the scene:

"Clint Eastwood cruises into town on his trusty Pashley bike, posts a P739 card and rides off into the sunset!"

You couldn't make it up!

i don't believe this can be widespread for two reasons.
1:theres little or no benefit in this for the postman ,
He leaves parcels back at the office and yet still posts the customers p739?
THESE HAVE TO BE FILLED IN USING INFORMATION FROM THE CUSTOMER PKT
,name, address,postcode, time, type of parcel, tear of ticket attached/ 10 digit code number if special.
takes about 2 minutes
if you could dash one off in a minute you still got to walk the garden path.

2:you cant leave parcels back at the office as the delivery office manager has to check the office is clear after the postman leave.
its possible he could take the parcels in his van but then the two minutes filling thep739 would be nonence as it would be quicker to deliver the pkt

I wish the Telegraph could put could clarify the who the where and the when of this non story.

[chunk]

"rogue postmen" LOL

I can picture the scene:

"Clint Eastwood cruises into town on his trusty Pashley bike, posts a P739 card and rides off into the sunset!"

You couldn't make it up!

i don't believe this can be widespread for two reasons.
1:theres little or no benefit in this for the postman ,
He leaves parcels back at the office and yet still posts the customers p739?
THESE HAVE TO BE FILLED IN USING INFORMATION FROM THE CUSTOMER PKT
,name, address,postcode, time, type of parcel, tear of ticket attached/ 10 digit code number if special.
takes about 2 minutes

2:you cant leave parcels back at the office as the delivery office manager has to check the office is clear after the postman leave.
its possible he could take the parcels in his van but then the two minutes filling thep739 would be nonence as it would be quicker to deliver the pkt

I wish the Telegraph would clarify the who the where and the when of this non story.