Polite reminder after mail incident

[TrueBlueTerrier]

http://www.malverngazette.co.uk/news/47 ... _incident/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

ROYAL Mail has reminded people that postmen are only allowed to collect mail from post boxes, and cannot take letters or cards that are handed to them.

The Malvern Gazette contacted Royal Mail after a postman refused to accept a letter from a woman as he emptied a postbox in Malvern Link at about 5.30pm on Thursday, December 10.

On this occasion the postman made no attempt to explain the situation to the woman, who was left visibly shocked by the incident.

Royal Mail spokesman Jaquie Stenson said: “Postmen and women are not allowed to take mail from people in the street - the mail must be posted securely in the postbox. We would however like to apologise if this wasn't explained politely at the time.”

[ExSG]

Been there, done that and God help you if the item goes missing

[AnotherLimey]

been a postie for 21 years and never knew of this rule, seems silly i can not take mail off an old dear to save her walking to the local piller box, Madness

[opgpat]

Who says they're not allowed? Royal Mail? What a total disgrace, we are supposed to be a customer service and someone can't hand a letter to a collection driver who has just emptied a box? No wonder the competition are doing so well.

[Roy Mayall]

How absurd. Yet another example of Royal Mail's bad-natured attitude to its own staff and customers. Me: I'd trust a postie on the street 1 million times more than I would trust Crozier. A postie can only steal a letter. Crozier is stealing the whole postal service.

[Grinder64]

I regularly collect mail (birthday cards normally) that an elderly, infirm lady leaves out for me to put into the pipeline (no Crozier, she's a person - not a 'customer' :cfo ). We are primarily a SERVICE and I intend to keep to that mindset despite the anti-social corporate slavedriver leeches that want to see the personal touch eliminated and replaced by targets, projections, budgetary restraints or whatever white-collar buzzword is thrilling them this week.

[mydaily]

I never knew that. At the risk of Being bombarded by everyone. If the rules say we can't then I will explain the next time I'm asked as to why and tell em if they have a prob speak to RM.

[savo]

when i did rurals, several customers would leave post for you to collect, usually wedged in their letter box in protective plastic bag..... mind you, we also used to deliver newspapers to some houses as well, different rules out in the sticks !

[chewi]

It's all to do with responsibility and ownership. Once a piece of mail has been posted it belongs to the government and does until you've put it through the recipients letterbox(notice not handed to them in the street or on the garden path) This rule is to do with us being an arm of government not a private or profit making company.

As for the rural question. The rules say that if you live a certain distance from a pillarbox(can't remember how far) then the postie will collect your mail(again service not business) as he does his delivery.

[shadow]

I was told when I done my training a few years a go that we can take mail from the public but only from people that are disabled as not doing so infringes their rights or something along those lines.

[POSTMAN]

The report says that it's while he's emptying a post box,does that mean he was actually emptying the fecking thing and she came up to him.Why didn't he just take it then,that's what i would of and have done.

[TrueBlueTerrier]

One of my safe drops is at a Sub PO - I went in there Yesterday about 12:20 - thats about 25 minutes from closing time - you should have heard the panic in the queue when they thought they would be missing a collection. .

[norbert]

How absurd. Yet another example of Royal Mail's bad-natured attitude to its own staff and customers. Me: I'd trust a postie on the street 1 million times more than I would trust Crozier. A postie can only steal a letter. Crozier is stealing the whole postal service.

very mean minded

[Spedley]

One of the rules I break on a regular basis.
I even collect mail from two unofficial post boxes in OAP homes, I even wrote it in the walk log so I can't be accused of hiding anything ... after all it is in the walk log!

[Lounge Lizard]

Firstly, if it os a rule can anyone on here quote where it says we can't accept mail for posting ?
Secondly, somewhere I have an old copy of the 'Post Office Guide' in which the public are informed that post can thus be handed over in rural areas but not in urban areas.