Test Letters.

[Brainache]

Is it true that some Test Letters now have trackers in them ? - simple enough with todays knowhow. Doesn`t bother me either way as no point in not delivering something that keeps you in job.

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Is it true that some Test Letters now have trackers in them ? - simple enough with todays knowhow. Doesn`t bother me either way as no point in not delivering something that keeps you in job.

Yes they use RFID chips and they have not kept it secret either

Royal Mail posts RFID tags to monitor deliveries http://www.computing.co.uk/computing/ne ... z0xK54PUqy" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Royal Mail to spend £2m on RFID http://www.silicon.com/legacy/research/ ... 187,00.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

in fact we have had this issue raised before: http://www.royalmailchat.co.uk/communit ... ID#p208907" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

http://www.royalmailchat.co.uk/communit ... =RFID+test" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Lounge Lizard]

Is it true that some Test Letters now have trackers in them ? - simple enough with todays knowhow. Doesn`t bother me either way as no point in not delivering something that keeps you in job.

Yes they use RFID chips and they have not kept it secret either

Royal Mail posts RFID tags to monitor deliveries http://www.computing.co.uk/computing/ne ... z0xK54PUqy" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Royal Mail to spend £2m on RFID http://www.silicon.com/legacy/research/ ... 187,00.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

in fact we have had this issue raised before: http://www.royalmailchat.co.uk/communit ... ID#p208907" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

http://www.royalmailchat.co.uk/communit ... =RFID+test" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

So these trackers must be very thin to fit inside letters.

[mclovin]

Test letters stick out like a sore thumb anyway, they always have done.

[bandit650]

The trackers are quite chunky so you would have to be blind and without feeling to miss them,like someone else has said Test Letters have always stuck out like a sore thumb

[DGP1]

RFIDs can be very small so unless RM are using 90's ones then I don't know how you can spot them (unless you have a list of the addresses they're going to ).

[TrueBlueTerrier]

They may be chunky now, (RM keeping the cheaper option) but not that far into the future and when they get cheaper RM will use ones like this:



you would probably still be able to detact them by touch, but it would be harder to do.

[bandit650]

The trackers that are in the letters that come up on a regular basis to a company in our area are round with a leader of the base you can feel that it's a tracker because it is a lump and it makes the letter heavy at on end,the reason that we know it has a tracker in it is because it is one of those companys that feel that Royal Mail is there for them and them only(not anyone else) if they could get away with it they would ask for thier own postie that got there at 09.00 on the dot with thier mail in a gold pouch,you get my drift.

[TeeferTiger]

We're not supposed to know where they're going to...

[POSTMAN]

Our test letters come down seperate and the managers give them to us personally.

[TeeferTiger]

So what happened to that WTLL session I had to give that told us all to let our manager know if we knew who they were being sent to?!

[Brainache]

Thanks for the replies- some years ago I had a letter in my rounds mail addressed to somewhere in Scotland 300 miles away.
Before I chucked it in the missorts I noticed " £10 cash" written on the corner of envelope in pencil. Gave it to Line Manager instead . Next day IB jumped on night sorter who had been lifting credit cards off my round. Phew!!

[Steviea34]

Our test letters come down seperate and the managers give them to us personally.

Our' manager dosen't know, we have the RFID readers, however as he says, if he knew what items they were in, he would ensure
they got delivered, then he could easily argue he must clear everyday. The other thing to remember is they are posted in a box &
then used to measure the entire pipeline not just the D.O, so the Inward M.C, outward M.C collection hub etc all give a read on the time
& date the item passed through the exciter, thus measuring the entire pipeline.

[mandy1962]

can you tell me if a test letter has been missed. Would managers be able to prove their was one and would they have to show you the evidence?.

[UnhappyGremlin]

can you tell me if a test letter has been missed. Would managers be able to prove their was one and would they have to show you the evidence?.

Yes. Otherwise what would be the point of them.
The are fully trackable, from start to finish (technically).
The Panel Member posts in a box/POC or whatever, and fills the information in online for the company, Time/Date/Location etc.
The chip is then scanned in the collection hub, arrival and departure time/date recorded, and again in the MC, and again in the DO.
The recipient then fills in the information online for the company of arrival at destination, Time/Date/Location etc.

However, even managers don't know who the Panel member is, nor do they know exactly where the item was posted. They only get basic information.
For example, they'll be told it was a postbox/POC, the postcode area (not specific address), at X time, the final collection time at that collection point, the date it was sent/arrived at destination.
They can tell pretty accurately where it went wrong.

But, it is highly improbable that they can actually prove a specific person to be at fault.
For example, if it was due to be delivered by you on X date, and wasn't, but was scanned in the building, it doesn't mean you're at fault.
It could have been mis-sorted/mis-delivered by another staff member, over which you would have zero control.
The issue with that is, if there was a failure, and they think it was you (as most managers would immediately blame a postie - with no evidence at all), they would proceed to repeatedly test you for some time.

I knew one postie who got dragged into the office for this, and they went way over the top.
It only stopped when it was confirmed the letter was never posted, the panel member had filled in the info online, taken the letter out, forgot about it, and left it in their pocket.

They're big on this at the moment, I think it's privatisation related.