1st class large letter still hasn't been delivered?

MissL65 · Post by **MissL65** » 03 Oct 2019, 13:33

Hello,
I sent a large letter via first class on Saturday 28th around 3pm and it still hasn't been delivered (today is the 3rd October).
Should I worry it's been lost?
I wanted it to be tracked but the cashier at the post office (she's not very friendly) and she said it couldn't be tracked without being signed for (which I didn't want).
So I said will I get the reference number so I can check it's been delivered... She said yes and then once I'd paid she said oh no you don't get a reference number with large letters. With that she chucked it in the box and called her next customer forward.
I didn't really have time to process what had happened etc so I just left...
So now I'm really worrying it's s been lost.
Can anyone reassure me or tell me I should be prepared that's it's gone.
Is 4 days a normal time frame? I don't know. Any help would be great. Thank you, much appreciated!

Post by **Snaggletooth** » 03 Oct 2019, 15:08

It is correct that the Post Office don’t sell any services that are tracked but not signed if the item is going to the UK. You might be able to get such a thing if you buy direct from Royal Mail.

The size of the item (letter, large letter, etc) is irrelevant to whether you get tracking, reference number etc. It is the service used (first class, Special Delivery, etc) that determines this.

Royal Mail do not collect on Saturday afternoons. Therefore your item will have sat in the Post Office until Monday before being collected. So it has only been three working days so far. That is still a bit of a long time, but not massively unusual.

MissL65 · Post by **MissL65** » 03 Oct 2019, 17:13

Thank you for your reply, I really appreciate it ^^^
When would you be worried it was lost? After another day? I've never had any problems with 2nd class posting, typical when I go for 1st class this happens!

swindonandy · Post by **swindonandy** » 04 Oct 2019, 07:13

Snaggletooth wrote: The size of the item (letter, large letter, etc) is irrelevant to whether you get tracking, reference number etc. It is the service used (first class, Special Delivery, etc) that determines this.

Actually parcels sent at a post office now provide a code on the receipt that links to the 2D barcode.

Post by **Snaggletooth** » 04 Oct 2019, 09:26

swindonandy wrote:
Snaggletooth wrote: The size of the item (letter, large letter, etc) is irrelevant to whether you get tracking, reference number etc. It is the service used (first class, Special Delivery, etc) that determines this.
Actually parcels sent at a post office now provide a code on the receipt that links to the 2D barcode.

Apologies, I am clearly getting out of date due to the time since I left the PO and lack of eBay selling.

Celgar · Post by **Celgar** » 13 Oct 2019, 10:03

There can be many reasons for delays including staffing issues where part or whole deliveries are not completed, industrial action etc. Having said that you should have received the item by today(13th October).