Signed for put through letter box with out signature

[Kelz]

If a letter has been sent to you that is meant to be signed for, can the post person just post it through the door without a signature?
My mother and I have been in ill health, so I have been staying at her house. While I have been there, my house has had an attempted break in, leading to me not being able to get in and out of the house. Because of this I have not been able to collect my mail for quite sometime.
After accessing the house and collecting my mail, I had 5 'signed for ' letters. These were from the pawnbrokers stating that my sentimental items would be sold if I didn't pay within a certain time.
I didn't open the letters, I just knew what they were about as their name was written on the back, so when I phoned them they told me what was in the letters.
Do you think that I might have a chance of getting compensation, as if the letters were returned to sender as not signed for, then they would have to hold on to the items until they could make contact with me?

[TrueBlueTerrier]

As the receiver, you won't be able to claim postage against royal mail for the lack of signature - but the sender may be able to. Though at the moment (till 4 April) we are not getting signatures on delivery from residents because of covid restrictions.

As to making a claim against Royal Mail for the actions of a pawnbroker that would require us to give you legal advice which is not something we can do under UK law as we are not qualified to do so.

However, the chances would be very small I think as if they had left a "we have something for you" card it won't be returned for 18 days.

There is also the fact that if you did not have access to your own home, you could have made other arrangements to ensure any mail was either held or delivered to another address for you.

But as I said for legal advice you probably need to approach citizens' advice, they can and do give free legal advice.