More reports of Specials going missing in Plymouth

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More reports of Special Delivery post going missing in Plymouth

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A WOMAN battling cancer and a couple due to travel to India for a wedding have become the latest victims of Royal Mail's missing post.

The Herald reported last week how a Plymouth couple and Herald Defence reporter Tristan Nichols lost their passports after they were sent on the same day using a 'special delivery' service.

Since then, more missing mail has come to light.

Fay Kiely, who recently underwent a mastectomy, sent a package containing £150 cash from Ernesettle Post Office on January 6, using the 'special delivery' service which guaranteed delivery by 1pm the next day.

But the 52-year-old said her daughter, to whom she sent the post, never received the envelope.

The cash was to repay her teacher daughter who had taken a week off work unpaid to help look after her younger sister while Fay underwent a mastectomy in hospital.

Fay said: "I really wanted her to have the money as she helped so much, but now I've had to shell out twice. I've already got enough on my plate without this."

She said that she used the Post Office's Moneygram service to re-send the cash.

She added: "I'm annoyed about this as I had to send the money again as she really needed it. I wouldn't use the 'special delivery' service again."

On the same day, David Evans sent a package containing his and his wife Janet's passports 'special delivery' to the Indian Embassy.

The couple needed visas for a month-long trip to India for a family wedding.

They are due to leave for Mumbai on February 11 but have been told they will have to wait until later this week, 15 working days since they sent the items, to be told if their post is officially lost.

It is only then that they will be able to apply for new passports and then visas.

Mr Evans said: "Our travel insurance will not cover us for lost passports before the trip. It doesn't look like we'll be able to make our flights and it looks like we'll lose the cost of the travel – £900."

Fay Kiely has also been told to wait 15 working days while other victims had been told ten days.

On Friday, Tristan Nichols and Jane and John Barton, were told by the mail service provider that their post, which they also sent on January 6, was now officially lost.

Mr and Mrs Barton stand to lose a £4,600 cruise as their lost post was an application to the Indian Embassy for visas.

They were due to leave for Hong Kong, Singapore, Bangkok, Vietnam and India on February 22.

A Royal Mail spokesman said: "The Royal Mail Security Team is investigating the loss of a bag containing a number of Special Delivery items posted in the Plymouth area on 6 January.

"We take the safety and security of items in our care extremely seriously and apologise to any customers affected by this lapse in our service.

"We are keeping those customers who have contacted us informed of any developments and discussing what actions can be taken to help resolve their individual circumstances."