Customer not able to speak English

[Indy]

Got to a door with a signed for item this morning and the only person at home was a woman who hadn't a word of English in her! Despite going through all my usual tricks to let her know that she had to print and sign her name for the item she just shrugged sympathetically and said "no english" in heavy foreign accent.

Whats the official procedure to deal with these situations? I ended up giving her a 739 but thought that that was wrong as "Sorry you weren't in" wasn't quite right but then again I can't give her the item without a signature. I also needed to prove that a delivery attempt had been made.... so what to do?

In these times when managers are looking for 'any excuse' I thought I'd better ask!

[trythat]

I would have endorsed it 'refused'

[Indy]

I would have endorsed it 'refused'

Sorry, but is that a genuine reply???? I'm not criticising you if it is but isn't that a bit harsh?

[Caniel]

I would also send it back refused, same as when I get TV license letters back from foreigners that are addressed to "The Occupier" with "not known at this address" scribbled all over it. I take a dim view of people that come here and can't speak a word of English.

Also I believe that sending it back refused is the correct thing to do, you cannot deliver it without a signature and the person at the address won't sign for it = refused. Leaving a p739 is wrong because someone is home and you can't take it back to the office and try it the next day as technically that's wilful delay.

[Terry Butcher]

It's only happened to me a few times, i eventually get my point across with enough signature mimicking and pointing to their name on the packet/letter. If that isn't enough for them to understand then the language barrier isn't the only thing you are dealing with, worringly! It is annoying, though!

[Indy]

It's only happened to me a few times, i eventually get my point across with enough signature mimicking and pointing to their name on the packet/letter. If that isn't enough for them to understand then the language barrier isn't the only thing you are dealing with, worringly! It is annoying, though!

I can understand to an extent but looking at it the other way round if I was in a foreign country and a bloke give me a piece of paper to sign then without knowing what it was I was signing for would lead me to refuse... wouldn't you?

[Broxi51]

It's only happened to me a few times, i eventually get my point across with enough signature mimicking and pointing to their name on the packet/letter. If that isn't enough for them to understand then the language barrier isn't the only thing you are dealing with, worringly! It is annoying, though!

I can understand to an extent but looking at it the other way round if I was in a foreign country and a bloke give me a piece of paper to sign then without knowing what it was I was signing for would lead me to refuse... wouldn't you?

You've answered your own question mate. If you would refuse to sign because you didnt know what you were signing for then the postie should endorse it refused.
It's not our place to teach english to the people we deliver to. We show them letter but dont give it to them and then we imitate signing the card.
If they dont then it's refused.

[Terry Butcher]

It's only happened to me a few times, i eventually get my point across with enough signature mimicking and pointing to their name on the packet/letter. If that isn't enough for them to understand then the language barrier isn't the only thing you are dealing with, worringly! It is annoying, though!

I can understand to an extent but looking at it the other way round if I was in a foreign country and a bloke give me a piece of paper to sign then without knowing what it was I was signing for would lead me to refuse... wouldn't you?

I'd sign for it. Curiosity would get the better of me if i saw my name (or other known addressee) on a letter being held by a postie, foreign or not.

[Indy]

It's only happened to me a few times, i eventually get my point across with enough signature mimicking and pointing to their name on the packet/letter. If that isn't enough for them to understand then the language barrier isn't the only thing you are dealing with, worringly! It is annoying, though!

I can understand to an extent but looking at it the other way round if I was in a foreign country and a bloke give me a piece of paper to sign then without knowing what it was I was signing for would lead me to refuse... wouldn't you?

You've answered your own question mate. If you would refuse to sign because you didnt know what you were signing for then the postie should endorse it refused.
It's not our place to teach english to the people we deliver to. We show them letter but dont give it to them and then we imitate signing the card.
If they dont then it's refused.

If it were a 'confused' little old lady would it be the same?

[Broxi51]

When I need a signature at a door, I am obtaining any signature. It could be the burglar, the au pair or the confused old granny.
It could even be the kids if they are over 12.
The remit is to produce confirmation that the item has arrived at the destination. I dont really care so long as it is signed for by
someone rather than by me.
If burglar, au pair or granny doesnt sign and they cant communicate with me as to why they are not signing then it's refused.
Sorry but if granny is free to roam house then householder has to accept responsibility if said granny is confused and doesnt sign.

[clashcityrocker]

I've had the same problem but with blind people.
(Probably at some point a postie has had the problem of requiring a signature from someone who can't write.)

[REDLETTER]

You could always just put an "X" and "pretend" they can't write "English"

[PhilthyPhil]

No english = refused
Kids who are too young to sign = give them P739
Blind people = print their name for them and get them to put an 'X'
I also do the same for people who can't write, used to deliver to a gypo camp so had this a lot.

[fishtank]

(Probably at some point a postie has had the problem of requiring a signature from someone who can't write.)

Why would that be an issue?
There are no rules at all as to what the recipient puts in the area marked signature.
They could draw a little picture of a boat or sign it Pope Gregory....what exactly are you going to do about it?

[olilew]

i had an interesting one today. i knocked him up about 08:30 (tee hee hee) west indian guy comes to the door, eventually. "parcel for you" says i, "i need you to sign so i just need your surname" of course he's already pissed off cos i'd knocked him up. "i don't give out me surname" he says. "well i need a signature" i says. "i can't let you have the parcel without it". "you new int you?" he says. "no i've been on post for years and been here several times and the lady usually gives me her name, but if you don't want to sign.......". he then says "i dint say me no sign, i say i don't give out me surname. u can put anyting in that machine an i sign it" so i just typed an L in the pda, just cos it was the first letter my stylus landed on and sure enough he signed it! weird!