A Hypothetical Question regarding Specials ...

[RedBagMan]

Here's the "hypothetical" scenario ...

It's Saturday - you have an undelivered Special in your possession - Post Offices are all shut so you can't get a stamp on your card - DO is shut because it's after 1400 hrs and you haven't got a swipecard to get into the building ...

Any suggestions ? I ask purely for information ...

[fishtank]

Here's the "hypothetical" scenario ...

It's Saturday - you have an undelivered Special in your possession - Post Offices are all shut so you can't get a stamp on your card - DO is shut because it's after 1400 hrs and you haven't got a swipecard to get into the building ...

Any suggestions ? I ask purely for information ...

If you do not believe you will be able to deliver a special or dispose of it using the correct procedure then contact your manager at the earliest opportunity and allow him/her to make that decision.
Basically...don't get yourself into that situation to start with.
Once you have i always find the managers home phone number comes in handy.
If you are desperate your local M/C will still be open ...or even a police station.
Do NOT obviously take it home.

[albops]

Lock it in a pouch box, and leave a message for the office/locker for it to be picked up.

[Glenno]

Snappy Avatar albop

[clashcityrocker]

Basically...don't get yourself into that situation to start with.
Once you have i always find the managers home phone number comes in handy.
If you are desperate your local M/C will still be open ...or even a police station.
Do NOT obviously take it home.

The problem is the people most likely to find themselves in this situation are the ones least likely to know the solution.
For the record I asked this question during my training and I was told to take it to the police station.

[fishtank]

Lock it in a pouch box, and leave a message for the office/locker for it to be picked up.

The obvious risk with this plan is that once you place that special in the pouch box it is no longer under your control but it is still your responsibility...if it goes missing...you're screwed.

[lekker]

My advice for what it is worth. If you think you are going to get stuck with it tell the manager and get him to give it to a driver to deliver it. If he gives you some stupid instruction like take it to a police station, put it in a pouch box or hide it up a tree - tell him to put it in writing. Asking them to commit themselves usually does the trick - they are good at giving you crap instructions then denying it when the proverbial hits the fan.

[TeeferTiger]

My advice is that every member of staff should have access to the building and there should be someone responsible for locking up that building who doesn't go home until everyone's card/PDA/van is back or accounted for.

I've been stuck in the RLE until nearly 4pm on a Saturday before now because someone was late back. I made sure I got paid and some extra for it but the point was that everyone was accounted for.

I would have thought there was a duty of care to a) ensure the staff have actually finished their duty, in other words, they're not lying dead in a gutter somewhere and therefore still RM's responsibility and b) ensure all the mail has been delivered or is accounted for.

There shouldn't be a scenario where offices are being locked while people are still out on delivery without prior arrangements being made if necessary. It's wrong on so many levels. I'm sure it should be a Health and Safety (welfare of the staff) issue and well as a safeguarding the mail issue.

[taurus88]

I've never understood why the d.o. closes early on a Saturday, it doesn't make sense and basically isn't right. Thankfully, I've ne'er been stuck with a parcel because I always get back in time, but still.

[chelseachris]

Basically...don't get yourself into that situation to start with.
Once you have i always find the managers home phone number comes in handy.
If you are desperate your local M/C will still be open ...or even a police station.
Do NOT obviously take it home.

The problem is the people most likely to find themselves in this situation are the ones least likely to know the solution.
For the record I asked this question during my training and I was told to take it to the police station.

Not much good in my town the police station used to be part-time now it is bloody closed

[jimt81]

just a thought, all post offices that sell lottery tickets are open until 5.30pm, if you have to go out of your way to get there make sure you book it, its worth it because your not then responsable for the special....

[redspartapost]

crown post offices stay open until 4.00pm on saturdays (i think) take it to nearest one and add on o/t for travelling there.

[POSTMAN]

Ok easy one,do all the reg 1st regardless of where it is on your walk,do what part of the walk you can in your time the cut off!
Job done.

Dare i mention the reg should of went on the vans when SDD came in as it would of been much easier for all concerned..........................unless your rep was a driver that is.

[lekker]

crown post offices stay open until 4.00pm on saturdays (i think) take it to nearest one and add on o/t for travelling there.

you'd be bloody lucky to find one in this day and age