LS26: Outcry after deliveries are delayed

Post by **TrueBlueTerrier** » 21 Nov 2008, 15:37

http://www.rothwelltoday.co.uk/news/LS2 ... 4716315.jp

Postal staff in have been grappling with a mail backlog that has left customers in LS26 claiming they have a first class cause for complaint.

Royal Mail bosses have admitted items have been delayed at their Garforth delivery office because of workload pressures.

They say the backlog only involves "a small number of parcels" from earlier this week.

But one business in the area served by the office tells a different story.

Caroline Sanders, who runs Oulton-based Hilton Sanders Photography, has been waiting for the arrival of a vital package of prints since November 6.

She says, that while chasing up her complaint, postal workers told her that Garforth had a backlog that mainly consisted of two or three weeks' mail.

Some items, though, were said to have been in the office's storage area since the start of October.

Miss Sanders says she was told the delay had affected parcels, rather than letters.

She said: "This is an outrageous state of affairs.

"We are a relatively new business, trying to build up a reputation for reliability.
"How are we expected to do that when we don't know when our post is going to arrive?"

A spokeswoman for Royal Mail, however, denied there were major problems at the Garforth office, which serves the LS25 and LS26 postcode areas.

She said: "Due to a large volume of items for delivery, there are a small number of parcels from earlier this week which are awaiting delivery. We apologise to customers for the delay."
The spokeswoman said it was hoped the situation would be sorted out by the start of today .

Asked about the reported disruption, the Communication Workers Union said it was aware of a "small backlog" at Garforth earlier this week.

Royal Mail paid out nearly £1m in compensation to disgruntled customers in the Yorkshire area last year – a 30 per cent increase compared to the previous 12 months.

Post by **dvbuk55** » 21 Nov 2008, 16:25

Anyone remember when we had dedicated packet deliveries?

Ah the price of progress.

Post by **POSTMAN** » 21 Nov 2008, 16:54

Due to a large volume of items for delivery, there are a small number of parcels from earlier this week which are awaiting delivery.

She has actually admitted wilful delay

Post by **fmrPOSTIE** » 21 Nov 2008, 17:36

POSTMAN wrote:
Due to a large volume of items for delivery, there are a small number of parcels from earlier this week which are awaiting delivery.
She has actually admitted wilful delay

I was just gunna say, this is Wilful Delay if ever I saw a case. Yet it's OK if it's sanctioned by RM, or more likely: they have an incompetant management team there.

MEL · Post by **MEL** » 21 Nov 2008, 22:46

i thought wilful delay didnt apply to packets 9thats wot we have always been told lol)

k979aaa · Post by **k979aaa** » 21 Nov 2008, 23:11

MEL wrote:i thought wilful delay didnt apply to packets 9thats wot we have always been told lol)

And you a right we had auditor's in our office some month's ago and all the packet's were over looked how do i know i was thier at the time while they looked everywhere else!. And nothing was said the next day apart from the office had passed with flying colour's said the very happy DOM.

Post by **dvbuk55** » 22 Nov 2008, 10:21

It has always been a source of wonder to me that the packets aren't streamed in date order but piled one on top of another so that in the true biblical sense the first shall be last - because any overtime is carried out from the top of the pile and the earlier packets are left until the next day and then the next ad infinitum.

Wilful delay cannot be levelled at management, they have operational difficulties - fewer now than before because they have to take the mail out - but I've never seen them load a van with packets - despite the fact that people have also paid for a first class service, which truly isn't adhered to.

banner18 · Post by **banner18** » 22 Nov 2008, 14:44

How strange it is that packets, some with first class on them, are treated this way.
I'm pretty sure that most people value their parcels above their letters nowadays.
What if a business is awaiting a vital part to fix a machine?
Mind you, businesses and the public showed no sympathy and told us all to get back to work when we were on strike last year, so I say stuff 'em. They are getting what they deserve, a second class service. Wait till it gets worse, which it will.