Protocol and poor training... Is it commonplace?

[IloveMYredTROLLEY!]

Here's a few instances that have happened to me during my first year as a postie, that at the time I was clueless what I should be doing, as a result of insufficient training...

A missorted item in a bundle... Now believe that if I will be going past that address again or I know I have time to go back and still finish within contracted hours, I deliver, else I endorse it and take it back to depot.

A customer moans at me for delivering item to them with wrong name but correct address... Names should always be ignored (we don't know who might be temporarily living somewhere), always deliver to address line, it is upto "moaner" to confront correct receiver of item if mail meant for 75B is constantly addressed to 75A.

Someone approaches me in the street and says, "Have you got anything for no. 40?" ... I should not be handing them mail, even if I recognise them or I get shown ID, mail should always be put through the letterbox (or handed to shop staff).

Someone chases after me with a 739 I left earlier that day... I should not give them the item under any circumstance, I attempted delivery at door, they now have to wait 24 hours to pick up or arrange re-delivery.

I cannot deliver an item due to access issues in reaching the letterbox, including health and safety or door boarded up... I should inform lino and attempt delivery of failed items for 7 days, before then informing lino again and "kill" mail off until situation at address is rectified.

A company gets a special or recorded on a Saturday when they are closed... A 739 should be posted through the letterbox, to satisfy the delivery deadline insurance. The items should not be left untouched on the frame, to be entirely dealt with on Monday, as this in theory leaves Royal Mail open to compensation claims (as guaranteed next day mail shows no sign of having reached its destination).

Walking posties should always carry all specials in their pouch, on their person, even when using a (HCT) trolley... They should not be placed in bundles or be loose packets in the trolley, in case the trolley is "attacked" while I am away from the trolley doing a 20-30 minute "loop" of deliveries, leaving the HCT locked up.


The final one is a real worry for me as regards training. On my pre-resign going live training day, my "trainer" stored all special items in a bag within the trolley, despite locking up the trolley several times along the walk to deliver bundles by foot, with one section taking upto 30-odd minutes to deliver. Until this last week , I've employed a similar approach fro the last 8 months, but then I thought more about the security implications (i now keep all specials on me for the whole walk, of which I typically get 6+ per day). Getting close to Xmas, I began to think of the increased likelihood of theft attempts, as we carry all those extra packets. If the HCT was broken into while I was on a loop and specials were stolen, my job would be on the line, right?

[ihatedogs]

Yes. It`s unfortunate, but true, that the majority of RM managers will turn a blind eye to unsafe/incorrect working practises to get the job done. But when the sh*t hits the fan (and It will) they`ll deny all knowledge and you`ll be on your own.

[Throgg]

I cannot deliver an item due to access issues in reaching the letterbox, including health and safety or door boarded up... I should inform lino and attempt delivery of failed items for 7 days, before then informing lino again and "kill" mail off until situation at address is rectified.

If a house is boarded up, all mail is returned to sender.

Health and safety issue with an address or letterbox, inform manager asap and stop delivering mail until the issue has been resolved.

If delivery can't be made to a building due to a controlled access door (e.g. tenement building) then 3 attempted deliveries are made before a letter is either placed under or stuck to the access door. Mail is then held for 3 days after which all mail for that building is returned to sender until the problem is resolved. That's the official way in our office.

A company gets a special or recorded on a Saturday when they are closed... A 739 should be posted through the letterbox, to satisfy the delivery deadline insurance. The items should not be left untouched on the frame, to be entirely dealt with on Monday, as this in theory leaves Royal Mail open to compensation claims (as guaranteed next day mail shows no sign of having reached its destination).

A record of all adrresses that are shut on a Saturday or have opted out for a delivery of mail on a Saturday is kept in the office. All mail including Specials, Recorded, Tracked or packets are left until Monday for delivery. Unless the sender has paid for Saturday Guaranteed delivery, they cannot claim compensation for failure to deliver on a Saturday. The PHG will scan the item as being held in the office and scan it out to the walk on the Monday.

[NewPostieUK]

Good post but:

they now have to wait 24 hours to pick up or arrange re-delivery.

Why should they have to wait 24 hrs?

and

(i now keep all specials on me for the whole walk,

What happens when you get to your first bag pick up point, if you've weighed it and it's 11Kg you'll be over that as you'll already be weighed down by specials for further down the walk.

[IloveMYredTROLLEY!]

Good post but:

they now have to wait 24 hours to pick up or arrange re-delivery.

Why should they have to wait 24 hrs?

and

(i now keep all specials on me for the whole walk,

What happens when you get to your first bag pick up point, if you've weighed it and it's 11Kg you'll be over that as you'll already be weighed down by specials for further down the walk.

We are instructed to put "24" hours before a customer can respond to a "form left" (739). When we approach Xmas, this will increase to "48" if things happen like last year. If anyone responds earlier, there is every chance that an item may not be officially back in the Callers Office.

My own personal walk is taken out in entirity in my trolley, I simply lock my trolley up to do certain bits of my round, as it is quicker to not push the trolley for the whole walk. I believe you should be accounting for the weight of your specials for each pouch of mail you deliver, so you conform to the health & safety protocols as regards to pouch weights (16/16/11/8 Kg for subsequent?). Having the specials anywhere but on your person (in pouch) opens up the possibility of theft, which I now believe will cost us our job if they are stolen from anywhere but ourselves.

The real concern is that the realtively new postie who "enlightened" me to this dangerous routine of keeping specials in the trolley must have been shown this by his "trainer." How far does this dangerous protocol break go in my depot? Management in my depot need to know that important postal proceedures are failing because of poor training, but how the heck do you approach this without risking discplinaries for myself and others?

[taurus88]

Poor training?

At least that implies you've had some training.

Personally, I just watched a guy do the job for two days. That's not training. He didn't take me aside and teach me the finer nuances of the job. As regards specials, signatures, etc., nothing whatsoever. I didn't know you had to keep specials on you at all times until recently. It was the same with another lad in our office who used to keep them in the relevant bag and have his bags dropped off - until his bags were stolen. Hazard a guess as to where his bags were dropped off. Clue: it was outside .

Still, on your head be it. Even if you didn't know what "it" was .

[jockstrapp]

How do you keep special packets on you all the time??????????????????????????????????????????????? (f#ck that)

[london sub]

If your meant to keep specials with you at all times then what about when it comes down to van sharing...do you keep it in the van?

What happens if the van gets broken in to or the van is in a collision while stationary.

[Indy]

Here's a few instances that have happened to me during my first year as a postie, that at the time I was clueless what I should be doing, as a result of insufficient training...

A missorted item in a bundle... Now believe that if I will be going past that address again or I know I have time to go back and still finish within contracted hours, I deliver, else I endorse it and take it back to depot.

A customer moans at me for delivering item to them with wrong name but correct address... Names should always be ignored (we don't know who might be temporarily living somewhere), always deliver to address line, it is upto "moaner" to confront correct receiver of item if mail meant for 75B is constantly addressed to 75A.

Someone approaches me in the street and says, "Have you got anything for no. 40?" ... I should not be handing them mail, even if I recognise them or I get shown ID, mail should always be put through the letterbox (or handed to shop staff).

Someone chases after me with a 739 I left earlier that day... I should not give them the item under any circumstance, I attempted delivery at door, they now have to wait 24 hours to pick up or arrange re-delivery.

I cannot deliver an item due to access issues in reaching the letterbox, including health and safety or door boarded up... I should inform lino and attempt delivery of failed items for 7 days, before then informing lino again and "kill" mail off until situation at address is rectified.

A company gets a special or recorded on a Saturday when they are closed... A 739 should be posted through the letterbox, to satisfy the delivery deadline insurance. The items should not be left untouched on the frame, to be entirely dealt with on Monday, as this in theory leaves Royal Mail open to compensation claims (as guaranteed next day mail shows no sign of having reached its destination).

Walking posties should always carry all specials in their pouch, on their person, even when using a (HCT) trolley... They should not be placed in bundles or be loose packets in the trolley, in case the trolley is "attacked" while I am away from the trolley doing a 20-30 minute "loop" of deliveries, leaving the HCT locked up.


The final one is a real worry for me as regards training. On my pre-resign going live training day, my "trainer" stored all special items in a bag within the trolley, despite locking up the trolley several times along the walk to deliver bundles by foot, with one section taking upto 30-odd minutes to deliver. Until this last week , I've employed a similar approach fro the last 8 months, but then I thought more about the security implications (i now keep all specials on me for the whole walk, of which I typically get 6+ per day). Getting close to Xmas, I began to think of the increased likelihood of theft attempts, as we carry all those extra packets. If the HCT was broken into while I was on a loop and specials were stolen, my job would be on the line, right?

I've been in the job years and I still need to ask what the OFFICIAL way of doing things is.... there appears to be no handbook, resource or reference anywhere.... each office seems to do it differently ..... ask 10 people and you'll get 12 different answers.... its totally crazy! and to cap it all off IT'S YOURS AND MY JOB ON THE LINE!

[IloveMYredTROLLEY!]

If your meant to keep specials with you at all times then what about when it comes down to van sharing...do you keep it in the van?

What happens if the van gets broken in to or the van is in a collision while stationary.

I've no idea what protocol is regarding vans, as a van driver is not limited to a maximum of 8 specials per day. I know my driver had something like 20 one day, a couple of months ago.

[Indy]

If your meant to keep specials with you at all times then what about when it comes down to van sharing...do you keep it in the van?

What happens if the van gets broken in to or the van is in a collision while stationary.

I've no idea what protocol is regarding vans, as a van driver is not limited to a maximum of 8 specials per day. I know my driver had something like 20 one day, a couple of months ago.

I used to hand out low 30's and know of an office where it was low 40's