two parcels posted first class recorded- wait over 10 days?

[secondclass]

last part- i mean RM werent going to look for anything of mine missing, just give me the phone number

[secondclass]

I told the post office in town today my situation, and that it was very odd that 2 on seperate days could go missing. I also highlighted the fact that the RM website states both packets have been received by the PO, but not the sorting office. Not to put the blame on them, but to try and at least get them to search their office for my missing parcels. The result? They gave me an application form for missing parcels, and the same national number i told them 5 mins before that i had called. I will need to wait my 15 working days before it can be classed as missing.

When i talked to one of the staff about my 2 missing parcels today, and that one of them had been placed under a till, with the possibility of being accidentally left behind, they did look a bit guilty, which was odd.. i was then simply given the application forms. I will be waiting until next tues and fri now to see if they do turn up, but my hopes are not very high. If they do turn up, its certainly the last times i will use recorded delivery. Perhaps i have just been very unlucky, but even before sending i had doubts as to whether i should use it at all, or special delivery, with the idea that it could well disappear or be stolen. I had heard the special delivery was one of the most expensive recorded services, but i have nothing to compare it to aside from DHL that i have used for the first time recently, albeit for a larger parcel

[andy2007]

That guilty look is a bit worrying. Perhaps they did make a mistake. But that doesn't explain why the system still says that the parcels are still at the PO. It only records that a batch of Mail is collected at a perticular time and date. It CAN'T record which individual items are collected. Because until a couple of years ago, it was all done on paper, and it simply wasn't practical. So when they computerised it, they simply transfered the old paperwork, to a PDA. So when the Postie collects the bags of mail from the PO, he/she only records the number of bags, and parcels (if too big to fit in a Mailbag). And scans the Barcode, to prove that he/she was at the correct PO, and log the time and date.

This is definately a confusing one. The only silver lining I can see: Is that if they forgot to put it in the Mailbag. They will put it in as soon as they find it. And if they're honest (and the vast majority are, trust me), report the fact that it's late, so it will get priority at the Sorting Office. If that does happen, then the recipients will get a letter of apology. Although, it will be a "standard letter", rather than a personal one.

You're right about Special Delivery being expensive. But that's just because you get compensation, rather than a book of stamps, if anything goes wrong. I only ever use SD, if I'm sending something valuable. If you're not going to loose money if it doesn't arrive, then you're better off with Recorded.

Another thing that worries me: Is that this wasn't all explained to you when you posted the parcels. They are supposed to ask you if the items are valuable. And if they are, suggest using SD, and explain that it comes with insurance, up to a certain value (sorry can't remember how much off the top of my head).

[k979aaa]

Thought compensation was £500 for special delivery but it does get tracked at each stage and you can insure it for more and it is next day or get your money back and you can pay extra for before 9.00AM!.

[randompostman]

SD is a bargain and insurance can be purchased into the thousands for a few extra quid but i am not sure of the ceiling rate for that. recorded is only for sellers who dont trust the buyer on ebay because thousands say they have not recieved the item even though they did other than that its worthless except you dont need to fill in a proof of postage form but what do people expect for 80 odd pence. go sd every time i say.

[secondclass]

well thats 15 days up now.. for the first packet.. but only if i dont include the wkends! Lol. I should add that my parcels may have stood out from the rest, aside from my printed target addresses, as one held a clicking (on its last legs) hard drive! The other held a few dvds. It was very well packaged though, bubble wrapped for protection! :) the hd was not in a standard packet, essentially home made but not of an unusual shape. They told me it was fine at the PO and let me weigh it. With the parcel put under the desk, unsure which one is was, i can understand if that was stolen or accidentally left there, but the one accepted behind the glass as per usual, its a bit of a mystery. With the royal webpage for tracking still only mentioning the PO i sent them from, i can only come to the conclusion of being stolen from the same PO so far, but as you say, until my 15 days are up i should put any blame out or come to any quick conclusions for both packets. All i can do is wait until my 15 days are up and send my claims form away if both packets do not appear on the other side. How likely is it for thievery at the good old RM when its not full up with temp staff, i can only guess. I would like to be able to think the majority are trustworthy ;) haha. does anyone know if my parcels will remain on the track and trace only for a set period, and be erased if there are no changes

[andy2007]

Thefts in RM are quite rare. Although, the fact that any thieves are named and shamed in the Press, does create a false impression that it's more widespread.

I don't know how long they will stay on the Track and Trace system. It's not a situation which we come across much.

As for the unusual packaging making the Hard Drive stand out. You'd be surprised what some people use for packaging. So there's little chance of it standing out much, if at all.

Please let us know how you get on. I just wish there was something else we could do from here.

[secondclass]

I just heard that the closest in location and lightest parcel has now arrived! this morning :) hopefully i will hear word for the other one soon, and this will help verify it was just a case of slow delivery all along.. thanks everybody for all the help. I will let you know if the second one arrives soon, and will then be content with good old royal mail :) perhaps my parcels would have been alot quicker by special delivery, but then i suppose you get what you pay for in the end.

[secondclass]

Ps was it a holiday on monday? Perhaps that could be delaying the delivery, albeit for just one more day, haha. Still no word on the packet i sent on the 5th .. fingers crossed for this yr :( lol

[andy2007]

Yes, Monday was a Bank Holiday, so it would have caused a further delay. But only for 1 day.

[secondclass]

Ive been given the application for lost items to fill in and send- but ill be away in a wk on holiday, so unsure if i should wait until i come back or not to fill it in. With the form i fill in, is it simply a case of trying to get money back from the royal mail, or will they actually try and find my lost item, as impossible as that may be- especially if the majority are stolen? I would of course prefer the parcel to be found, but what happens if people claim, receive money, and a few wks down the line their item is eventually found? Would they still deliver it? Or since i have received money for my lost item, would it therefore now belong to the royal mail?

[andy2007]

I don't know to be honest. All I know for certain, is what people need to do, if something goes missing. I've no idea what actually happens next. Apart from the fact that for anything other than Special Delivery, you recieve a book of stamps to the appropriate value.

Hopefully, someone more knowledgeable will be able to fill in the details for you.

[k979aaa]

Ive been given the application for lost items to fill in and send- but ill be away in a wk on holiday, so unsure if i should wait until i come back or not to fill it in. With the form i fill in, is it simply a case of trying to get money back from the royal mail, or will they actually try and find my lost item, as impossible as that may be- especially if the majority are stolen? I would of course prefer the parcel to be found, but what happens if people claim, receive money, and a few wks down the line their item is eventually found? Would they still deliver it? Or since i have received money for my lost item, would it therefore now belong to the royal mail?

Fill the from in and claim for it like andy2007 said it normally is a book of stamps too the value of the item to a max of £30 as for finding it looks as it is somewhere in the system and 80 million items a day it may never turn up!. If it does and can be traced to you ie return address you may be able to claim it back if you repay the compensation if it cannot be traced it will go to auction and royalmail keep the money made from the sale of goods.

[secondclass]

i think i will wait until i come back from holiday before claiming, if by then it still has not arrived. not sure how much i would get for an old hard drive, not alot. the woman at the post office told me it would be money back as opposed to the value of the item in stamp form, but even £10 worth of stamps would be something, lol. Ill try and see if there is a webpage relating to claiming for lost items, and in what form you are 'repaid' for lost standard first class recorded items, although im sure you are right. Im so disappointed with sending, its a fairly old hd so didnt think it was worth going special delivery, and a fairly large parcel overall to go missing. I did keep thinking after sending it that no one (including who its addressed to) will probably ever see it again, haha. Im still holding out for a very late delivery, since i was sending from the highlands to the south of england- so unless the royal mail do try and find my parcel from my claim form details to deliver it, i will probably wait until i come back from hols to give it a further chance. thanks for all your help

[DGP1]

http://www.royalmail.com/portal/rm/cont ... tId=500201" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Compensation

Your Recorded Signed For™ item will be covered up to the value of 100 First Class stamps in compensation in the unlikely event of loss or damage.

For items posted which have no intrinsic value, or where, evidence of posting cannot be provided; there will be compensation available of a minimum of 6 x 1st class stamps. For items with proof of posting and evidence of value (such as an invoice or receipt) customers will be entitled to a postage refund plus compensation up to the value of the item, with a maximum of the value of 100 First Class stamps.

Cash and jewellery are not covered under this service. For more valuable items (e.g. cash, jewellery, tickets and vouchers) please use Special Delivery™Next Day or Special Delivery™ 9.00am.