Can neighbours grab your sensitive package, asks Post Office

[TrueBlueTerrier]

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2012/07/11 ... _delivery/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;



The Post Office has asked for permission to drop parcels and recorded delivery letters with a neighbour, so Ofcom wants to know if you're OK with that.

Trials of deliver-to-neighbour started last summer and apparently went very well, so the regulator is considering allowing the postie to leave packages with a neighbour unless there's a sticker on your door saying you don't trust 'em.

During the trials post was dropped with a neighbour unless such a sticker was displayed on the letterbox, and the vast majority (90 per cent) were very happy with that. Six per cent didn't care one way or another, and only 1 per cent were unhappy, but more important was the 40 per cent drop in undeliverable packages, which are expensive to process.

Perhaps more surprising is the detail that only a third of those questioned following the trial were even aware that it had taken place, and only half of those knew they could opt out (though just about all of them vaguely remembered getting a flyer through the door explaining the trial). In rural areas, and some urban ones too, delivering packages to neighbours is common practice despite being against Post Office rules.

And those rules only apply to the Post Office, as Ofcom points out. Alternative delivery companies, already cherry-picking the profitable bits of the market, are at liberty to deliver anywhere they like and often make clear in their terms and conditions that packages may be left with a neighbour.

Letting the Post Office legally do the same seems only fair, and Ofcom* plans to have the rules in place by Christmas assuming no significant objections are raised to the consultation (PDF, but adds little) which is open until 24 August. ®

* Ofom took over regulation of the Post Office last December, as it had so much spare time on its hands.

[Red Robbo]

I think this is going to be a grave error, mail order is not just for dvds, books, clothes, and many other consumables, some packages are really personal to some people and if these items fall into the wrong hands it could be very embarrassing and cause unwelcome stress to many.

[skull]

The Post Office can do what they want, I just hope Royal Mail don't adopt this way of working.

[Stormproof]

The Post Office can do what they want, I just hope Royal Mail don't adopt this way of working.

Yep the article lost all credibility when it failed to define between the PO & RM. I for one won't be delivering anyones packet to a neighbour. If they want it delivered to the neighbours they will have to use the neighbours address

[Lounge Lizard]

The Post Office can do what they want, I just hope Royal Mail don't adopt this way of working.

Yep the article lost all credibility when it failed to define between the PO & RM. I for one won't be delivering anyones packet to a neighbour. If they want it delivered to the neighbours they will have to use the neighbours address

Will you really have a choice, and if you don't deliver to neighbours won't that be refusing a reasonable request ?

[skull]

What if your on Park and Loop and you get paired with someone who will go to the ends of the Earth to get rid of a packet. It's already hard enough working out when you will get finished without putting operation "Packet Offload" into the equation. Maybe it will save RM so much money they will be willing to make our walks smaller.

[skull]

Will you really have a choice, and if you don't deliver to neighbours won't that be refusing a reasonable request ?

This is frightening, on a busy and everybody's out day, walks will be huge. Walk time spans are going to be all over the place.

[Lounge Lizard]

Will you really have a choice, and if you don't deliver to neighbours won't that be refusing a reasonable request ?

This is frightening, on a busy and everybody's out day, walks will be huge. Walk time spans are going to be all over the place.

Agreed, but if it means cutting the budget for Callers Offices that's what's going to happen.

[SpacePhoenix]

Probably will end up with more people sending stuff recorded, meaning more 739s and bigger callers offices needed

[POSTMAN]

http://www.cwu.org/news/archive/rollout ... ikely.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[fishtank]

http://www.cwu.org/news/archive/rollout ... ikely.html

Dave Ward, said: "It's high time that Royal Mail had the same freedoms as other postal companies to leave parcels and other mail items with neighbours when the customer is not at home."

Why Dave?
Name one benefit to members from this system...members,remember them?
The flyers will love it of course.....

Dave Ward, said:Our only concern is that it could take postal workers longer to complete their deliveries under this scheme so we want to ensure that sufficient time is built into the shifts if and when this is rolled out UK-wide.

Shouldn't that have been a condition negotiated before the trial started Dave...along with a guarantee that no member would be disciplined on the basis of a deliver to neighbour cock up...?

Dave Ward, said:no negative feedback from postal workers on the initiative.

Really Dave?...not what i heard from Edinburgh at least.
Try asking them rather than listening to a branch that doesn't listen to it's members anyway.
More and more like Moya's little poodles every day.

[crazyshrew]

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2012/07/11 ... _delivery/

Trials of deliver-to-neighbour started last summer and apparently went very well, so the regulator is considering allowing the postie to leave packages with a neighbour unless there's a sticker on your door saying you don't trust 'em.

During the trials post was dropped with a neighbour unless such a sticker was displayed on the letterbox, and the vast majority (90 per cent) were very happy with that. Six per cent didn't care one way or another, and only 1 per cent were unhappy, but more important was the 40 per cent drop in undeliverable packages, which are expensive to process.

A thought occurs to me,the same thought i had when I first read about this.

Surely the better way of doing this is for it to be opt in with the info and stickers being sent out to everyone with space to list 2 alternative addresses, ideally within 50 yards, (to be stuck on the inside of a window to prevent thieves) this way the package will hopefully end up with a trusted neighbour.

extra stickers available and offered by staff the callers office for people who realise it would be better option.

As a reserve, who has absolutely no idea who gets on with who in any area, I know I would would be much happier leaving a package with a designated neighbour rather than some random stranger.

just my thoughts, I have probably missed something but I'm sure this would be a better way

[Stormproof]

Hope they take the different types of property into account with the timings

[RedBagMan]

Surely the better way of doing this is for it to be opt in with the info and stickers being sent out to everyone with space to list 2 alternative addresses, ideally within 50 yards, (to be stuck on the inside of a window to prevent thieves) this way the package will hopefully end up with a trusted neighbour.

extra stickers available and offered by staff the callers office for people who realise it would be better option.

As a reserve, who has absolutely no idea who gets on with who in any area, I know I would would be much happier leaving a package with a designated neighbour rather than some random stranger.

just my thoughts, I have probably missed something but I'm sure this would be a better way

Totally agree - in fact argued the same option on a "news" thread - in so many areas of life it's easier - and better - to "opt in" rather than "opt out" ...

[ganda]

It was not that long ago that "Left with neighbour" was on the 379. They removed it for security reasons, not a new idea by a long, long way.