Postal error stops firm appealing OFT fine

[TrueBlueTerrier]

http://www.building.co.uk/story.asp?sec ... 155152&c=0" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Administrative error prevents Fish Holding's application from reaching Competition Appeal Tribunal within deadline

A contractor found guilty of bid-rigging in the Office of Fair Trading inquiry has been denied the opportunity to appeal its fine following a postal error.

The last day for lodging an appeal to the Competition Appeal Tribunal was 23 November, but the Tribunal Registry did not receive Fish Holding's notice of appeal until 26 November.

The contractor blamed the delay on an administrative error which saw the notice of appeal being sent by post to the tribunal's previous address. The recipient then forwarded it by post to the tribunal's current address, meaning it arrived after the deadline.

Mr Justice Barling, president of the Competition Appeal Tribunal, said the application had been refused an extension of time, because the tribunal had been based at its current address since 2003.

He added that the Fish Holding's representatives were “rather optimistic in relying upon the commercial guarantees offered by Royal Mail in order to ensure that the notice of appeal was receive by the tribunal in time.

“I do not think that what happened when the documents arrived at the Carey Street address, already a day out of time, can properly be described as unforeseeable,” he said.

“Moreover, experience showed that in circumstances where the time remaining for lodging documents was very short the only way to be sure that an important document reached the tribunal in time was to arrange for personal delivery.”

Read more: http://www.building.co.uk/story.asp?sec ... z0Zg9bf0Y5" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[G O Root]

I believe Royal Mail are also to blame for world peace, famine etc etc

[not me]

we have a couvil office where we get appeal docs through a lot
all sent via SD 9am
if its was so important.....

[steven100]

I believe Royal Mail are also to blame for world peace, famine etc etc

We are also to blame for BA staff voting to go on strike along with all other industries voting to go on strike. In fact just blame RM staff

[smokerjim]

Typical bloody lazy sub editors - blame the postman in the headline, but leave the story to tell the truth, that the "victim" of incompetence have none to blame but themselves

[Pat Ostman]

Well technically the title of the article was correct, it was a postal error, only problem was they made the error, not RM

[smokerjim]

Well technically the title of the article was correct, it was a postal error, only problem was they made the error, not RM

Well, technically, when I first saw it, I thought "Aw f*ck - what are getting blamed for now *sigh*!" - That's what grinds my gears so bloody much!

[Pat Ostman]

Well technically the title of the article was correct, it was a postal error, only problem was they made the error, not RM

Well, technically, when I first saw it, I thought "Aw f*ck - what are getting blamed for now *sigh*!" - That's what grinds my gears so bloody much!

Oh yeah, you are bang on. The title is misleading.

[coxie]

lol trying to use royal mail as a scapegoat. I wonder if the other company had a redirection in place or if they didnt bother.

[mydaily]

They should think themselves lucky it got forwarded to the correct address.
New title: 'Customer incorrectly addresses letter but Royal Mail still re-delivered it to the correct address at no extra charge to them - ok it took longer but what a great service as it made up for customers stupidity'