Right Royal storm over mail misery

[POSTMAN]

http://www.mk-news.co.uk/News/Right-Roy ... misery.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Missing and late letters, post delivered to the wrong addresses and packages being returned to sender - and Royal Mail has still not admitted there is a problem.

When MK NEWS published a front page article (22/12) after Brinklow sorting office claimed postal deliveries were back to normal following modernisation, our readers were in uproar.

We received calls, e-mails and letters from people in Middleton, Monkston, Oldbrook, Kents Hill and across the city saying they are still experiencing lots of problems with their post.

Pauline Morris, 58, of Abbeydore Grove, Monkston, said her problems started in November.

She sent complaints to Royal Mail and received a first-class letter in response 17 days after it was posted.

She said: "We've not had some mail we were expecting in November, I'm missing at least ten letters.

"Hardly a day goes by that we don't get any mail as there are four people living here, but it stopped coming. We had a weekly publication that stopped.

"I spoke to neighbours and we have all been having these problems.

"A lady up the road had some glasses sent by recorded delivery, but they were returned six weeks later to the sender. She said there was no letter put through the door saying they had tried to deliver it.

"One gentleman said he hadn't had any post for weeks, and then was getting other people's letters.

"I would like an apology, and I'd like an explanation. I'd like to know what they are putting in place so it doesn't happen again."

Mrs Morris had no delivery on Tuesday, so went ot the sorting office where there were eight items of mail waiting for her.

Mrs Morris said: "I've now asked four or five people across the country and one in Canada to send me mail, and I'm going to see how long it takes to get here."

Another reader experiencing problems is David Horbury, of Middleton, who has been recording his deliveries since December 13.

One first-class delivery took 15 working days to arrive, a first-class business letter took 13 working days to drop, and a first-class letter containing a cheque took 11 working days.

He said he worries for those people who are expecting credit card and other bills, who might miss their payments.

He added: "I'd love to go in there and see what the stack of mail is like."

When asked for a comment before Christmas, a Royal Mail spokesman said changes were being made at Brinklow delivery office as part of a £2billion country-wide investment, but the new practices were now running smoothly.

Royal Mail will now not comment any further other than to say deliveries are going out on a daily basis, and: "The vast majority of Christmas mail was delivered despite the most hostile start to winter weather in the UK in living memory. We will continue to deliver any remaining items posted before Christmas as quickly as possible."

Royal Mail reiterated anybody with problems or complaints should call 08457 740 740.

If you want to make us aware of any problems you are experiencing, e-mail adam.grinsell@mk-news.co.uk

[gazza82]

Its getting beyond a joke now, from John O Groats to Lands End, totally, disgraceful ! It really is shocking to see what the big wigs have done.

[Coggz]

Mrs Morris said: "I've now asked four or five people across the country and one in Canada to send me mail, and I'm going to see how long it takes to get here."

No doubt the letter from Canada will arrive 1st!!

[vinnieb5]

if the mail is running so smoothly why did an item ordered from amazon on 9 dec despatched by amazon 12 dec arrive at my door 5 jan ? and why have we got staff working this sunday morning & nights being kept on ? sorry RM your full of sh**te & your only running the company into the ground ready for privitisation !! you have failed the customers this xmas & should be totally ashamed you have also ashamed & embarrased us posties who actually care about our customers & the job :dcfo :ncfo :vcfo

[the deliverer]

Story here in the Stratford upon Avon Herald today:

MP DISAPPOINTED AFTER ROYAL MAIL FAILS TO DELIVER

STRATFORD-upon-Avon‘s MP is to meet with Royal Mail a second time after the group failed to follow through on its promise to deliver all letter and parcels posted before the delivery deadlines in time for Christmas.

Royal Mail managers have also blamed ongoing issues on an unexpected but significant increase in postal traffic.

Will the managers be getting their bonus!

[janitor]

So does this mean that management didn't foresee an increase in mail at christmas, or that mail volumes have increased, which can't be right as we are always told mail volumes are falling.

[guvenor]

shouldn,t mgmt resign for failing in their duty and out of respect for all the people they have let down
xmas has been shambolic and mismanaged totally
maybe we should introduce individual performance standards for mgmt

[unkul]

I for one will never use Royal Mail to send a parcel again. First class signed for is a Joke. What does " is being progressed through our network for delivery." actually mean!!!!

Not a single parcel i sent or received over the Christmas periods arrived within 10 days of the expected delivery whereas as the commercial competition delivered as promised with minimum disruption.

And what exactly happens to the lost parcels i have been told i cannot claim for. Sent to auction houses i can only assume!!!

I am out of pocket and at the end of my tether.

A truly disappointing service!!

[TrueBlueTerrier]

I for one will never use Royal Mail to send a parcel again. First class signed for is a Joke. What does " is being progressed through our network for delivery." actually mean!!!!

As Recorded delivery is a signature on delivery only service and not a tracked one it means that the bar code has entered the system and the item is going through the system. Its what is says on the tin

Not a single parcel i sent or received over the Christmas periods arrived within 10 days of the expected delivery whereas as the commercial competition delivered as promised with minimum disruption.

Blimey you were lucky my experience was the exact opposite. RM items arrived on time and in good condition - City Link and HDNL items were 5 and 10 days late. Also in Scotland most if not all courier companies refused to accept any more consignments from around the week of 16 Dec 2010.

And what exactly happens to the lost parcels i have been told i cannot claim for. Sent to auction houses i can only assume!!!

If they have a return address they will be RTS, if not they will go to Belfast who open the parcels to track down any addresses and then send it on. Belfast also enter all details onto a computer system so searches can be made by customer services. If the item cannot be returned to sender or they are not claimed then they are disposed of according to various acts of parliament. A very tiny fraction is indeed passed to an auction house after a period of time and sold to recoup administration costs (no I don't agree with it I am merely providing the information).

You can claim for list items after 15 days but there are limits so how much you can claim. If you had sent the items by special delivery the insurance is higher and tracking is complete from dispatch to arrival.

I am out of pocket and at the end of my tether.

Ring customer service and get a claim in then http://www.royalmail.com/portal/rm/cont ... d=80300750" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; for details of limits on compensation.

A truly disappointing service!!

[nohope]

Brinklow is a joke, went there tonight to collect my post as given up any hope of ever getting mail delivered. Most concerning thing is they gave me the letters without checking any ID or proof of address, I could of asked for anyone's address and they would of given me the post !
Got an envelope back tonight in the pile they gave me, I posted it to myself from Milton Keynes on the 21st December (1st class) to see how long it would take. 17 days without even one attempt to deliver it - what is going on ?

[BELIAL]

Got an envelope back tonight in the pile they gave me, I posted it to myself from Milton Keynes on the 21st December (1st class) to see how long it would take. 17 days without even one attempt to deliver it - what is going on ?

Nice to see our "customers" taking such a pro active approach .

[Lounge Lizard]

Brinklow is a joke, went there tonight to collect my post as given up any hope of ever getting mail delivered. Most concerning thing is they gave me the letters without checking any ID or proof of address, I could of asked for anyone's address and they would of given me the post !
Got an envelope back tonight in the pile they gave me, I posted it to myself from Milton Keynes on the 21st December (1st class) to see how long it would take. 17 days without even one attempt to deliver it - what is going on ?

Postmen struggling with mail volumes incresed by unnecessary letters sent just to see how long they take.