Undelivered letter not returned

[LewisF]

I sent a letter on 27th April, tracking has been saying 'Pending' since 29th April, Royal Mail are supposed to return to sender via the address written on the back after 18 days but I have still not received it back, I've tried calling Royal Mail but they are no help, it's very important to me that I get it back if it can't be delivered, what do have to do to get my letter back?

Ref: 0216-3850-04A3-A996

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Sorry, we are not a Royal Mail official site so it's better to contact them directly.

We are an unofficial site and we only have access to public information whilst we can offer insights and advice, we can't actually sort out problems like this.

You are probably better off making a claim as well.

[LewisF]

I understand that, I'm just after some advice, would a claim help towards getting the letter returned to me?

[TrueBlueTerrier]

I understand that, I'm just after some advice, would a claim help towards getting the letter returned to me?

100% yes - it gives them information which will help them find it. Give them as much information as possible even own to the color of the envelope and the contents, it all helps. They enter it on a databse and the returns letter branch use that to locate and/or return items.

[SpacePhoenix]

On the tracking it also says:

We're holding this item at Paddington DO. We've received a request not to deliver mail to the property your item is addressed to today. We'll attempt delivery as per the instructions we've received, which is usually on the next working day.

Was it due to be delivered to a business?

[LewisF]

Yes it is fan mail to a celebrity who is managed by BMG UK, which is the company I'm trying to send the mail to. Thanks for the advice. I called them again Friday and they said it could be that it wasn't scanned when delivered, that could be the case but there's no way of being sure unless I make a claim anyway.

[LewisF]

Also before I go ahead, if the claim results in a refund and they still had my letter, would they then dispose of it? I surely hope not as it contains a portrait which I spent weeks drawing so it's important to me that either myself or the recipient receives it

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Also before I go ahead, if the claim results in a refund and they still had my letter, would they then dispose of it? I surely hope not as it contains a portrait which I spent weeks drawing so it's important to me that either myself or the recipient receives it

No if you explain that in the claim they should return it.

The claim is for lack of service, they should either send the item to the receipient or back to the sender. Make sure to say its a unique item.

[LewisF]

Thanks very much

[LewisF]

I've submitted the claim and today I received 8 postage stamps from Royal Mail as a refund, so what will they now do with the item I sent? I'm worried they will discard it as they've refunded me

[yellowbelly]

If the item is found, I would have thought (we)RM would either finally deliver it (if addressing is all correct etc.) or
return it to sender (if the recipient address is not clear but the return address is).

It might even have been delivered without being scanned (by mistake). How certain can you be
that is hasn't been delivered but without a scan? It seems BMG deal with loads of celebrities and I would imagine
they get quite a bit of mail. Would they have the time to search for a particular item and acknowledge
receipt on behalf of a particular celebrity? If it's been forwarded by BMG to the particular celebrity
might the celebrity/their staff have sackfuls of mail to deal with/acknowledge?

If it's found I don't think RM will intentionally discard it just because they've sent you some stamps, that's a refund
for the service failure. They should only discard it if it can't be delivered or returned due to addressing issues
as there's nowhere for the item to go.

Sounds like you put a lot of effort into drawing the portrait and it means a lot to you. Hope it's delivered
or returned to you.

[Snaggletooth]

If your item is still in the mail system, it would be more effort to find it and destroy it than it would be to deliver it. It might also be illegal for them to destroy it. Which is why I don’t think that will happen.

[LewisF]

Ok thanks everyone for all the input, I've just been gritting my teeth about it because there's no way of being 100% sure of delivery or what's happening with it, but I'm starting to feel assured now that it will sort itself out eventually, only way to find out now is by hopefully getting a response by post from the celebrity I've sent to and possibly get an autograph thanks again all.