Signed For To Large Organisations

[drlabman]

This week I sent a letter to the US Embassy in London. I chose to send it Signed For 1st Class, which aims to deliver in 3 working days. I did this simply to have some confidence that it was delivered without paying a ridiculous amount.

The tracking information is showing "We've got it", meaning that the Post Office I sent it from have it. It's not changed in 3 days.

Now, I find it hard to believe that a letter hasn't reached London in 3 days. So, I have a quandary as to whether I should send it again but also a wider question about Signed For letters.

I've seen it mentioned on the internet that a letter sent Signed For to a large organisation, a large business, or in this case the US Embassy, is never going to be signed on receipt. Thinking about it I can believe this. I can imagine a postie turning up at the embassy with a big bag of mail and no-one is going to stand around waiting for someone to go through it and sign for the letters that need signing for. I'm hoping that's what's happened to my letter.

If that's the case, there's no point ever using this method of postage to recipients like this. It's about £1 more but that's not the point.

Does anyone know what happens to Signed For letters when delivered to an organisation such as this? Are they ever going to actually be signed for?

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Embassies are notorious for a long delays in updating the tracking system. I think its something to do with how they are handled and perhaps some security procedures.

However, in the vast majority of cases, it does get delivered on time so my advice would be to trust they received it and hope the tracking updates over the next week or so.

[drlabman]

Embassies are notorious for a long delays in updating the tracking system. I think its something to do with how they are handled and perhaps some security procedures.

However, in the vast majority of cases, it does get delivered on time so my advice would be to trust they received it and hope the tracking updates over the next week or so.

Cheers for that.

I know they stopped Signed For during COVID but it's back now. I'm somewhat confused though. Would the embassy have access to the tracking system? I imagined it would be the person doing the delivery that updates the system?

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Embassies are notorious for a long delays in updating the tracking system. I think its something to do with how they are handled and perhaps some security procedures.

However, in the vast majority of cases, it does get delivered on time so my advice would be to trust they received it and hope the tracking updates over the next week or so.

Cheers for that.

I know they stopped Signed For during COVID but it's back now. I'm somewhat confused though. Would the embassy have access to the tracking system? I imagined it would be the person doing the delivery that updates the system?

No, for reasons of security that I can't go into, mail for embassies is treated differently as it's considered their sovereign territory. They don't usually have a postie actually physically delivering their mail.

[drlabman]

Embassies are notorious for a long delays in updating the tracking system. I think its something to do with how they are handled and perhaps some security procedures.

However, in the vast majority of cases, it does get delivered on time so my advice would be to trust they received it and hope the tracking updates over the next week or so.

Cheers for that.

I know they stopped Signed For during COVID but it's back now. I'm somewhat confused though. Would the embassy have access to the tracking system? I imagined it would be the person doing the delivery that updates the system?

No, for reasons of security that I can't go into, mail for embassies is treated differently as it's considered their sovereign territory. They don't usually have a postie actually physically delivering their mail.

Ah, OK, that makes sense. Thanks for that.