The postman never rings once, says disabled Karen

[TrueBlueTerrier]

http://www.thisistotalessex.co.uk/postm ... story.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

A DISABLED woman who relies on Royal Mail for notice of her hospital appointments became baffled when she realised that her postman was coming to the door but not leaving any post.

Karen Reed, of Meadgate Avenue, who suffers from diabetes and arthritis, noticed that she was not receiving her mail and began to watch out for the postman.

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THE BELL NEVER TOLLS: Karen Reed at the entrance to her flats in Meadgate Avenue CMAC20110901C-235_C.JPG
When she realised he was coming to the front door of her block of six flats but not ringing any of the bells, or leaving any post, she grew increasingly angry.

The 45-year-old said: "Our tradesman door closes at 10am, so if the postman came before that he would be able to enter through the open door.

"However, he doesn't often get to us until 3pm now and so the door is locked.

"All he has to do though, is ring on one of the flats and the door could be opened for him."

Mrs Reed, who was a cleaner before her disabilities set in a year ago, confronted the postman, asking him why he was not taking an extra minute to ring on one of the flats.

She said: "He turned around and said that he just didn't have time.

"Since postmen have not been able to deliver on bikes, they have had stricter timetables.

"However, we get other postmen who sometimes deliver to us and they can take the minute to ring on one of the bells."

Sally Hopkins of Royal Mail said: "We are concerned to hear of this customer's experience.

"Households are responsible for allowing us access to their properties to deliver the mail.

"We continue to work with customers and staff and we would ask all premises with time locks either to provide us with keys or move the time locks to enable us to deliver the mail."

Since the modernisation programme to make deliveries more efficient was introduced last year, fewer bicycles have been used to deliver post and vans have been introduced, changing the layout and timing of rounds.

Councillor for the Great Baddow area, Trevor Miller, said: "The tradesman door on Meadgate estate does close early due to a local agreement and residents seem to want to keep it this way.

"After complaining to Royal Mail on Mrs Reed's behalf, they said it was quite wrong that the postman had not been ringing the door bells and that he was supposed to do what he could to make sure post was delivered. Hopefully that will put this chap right.

"Also the fact that Royal Mail can no longer guarantee a time that they will be delivering your post does make you wonder why it would be beneficial to change the time the tradesman door closes."

[Judgee]

Could always give him a key? No that would be far too easy!

[POSTMAN]

Or the lazy arse postie ring the buzzer that he/she has mail for.

[Stormproof]

Have'nt we had this story before, last month? The trade button going off at 10am is stupid anyway, surprised shes had any mail since SDD

[cyclemech1]

I've got a small block on my walk where the tradesmen button does'nt work on Saturdays.

If I haven't got any packets, just letters, I mark them 'no access Saturdays' and leave them in the office.

Can you imagine ringing someones bell fairly early on a Saturday to ask them to let you in with just letters? It's hard enough trying to get people to answer their doors when you've got a packet for them before 11am!

[bunkerland]

Or the lazy arse postie ring the buzzer that he/she has mail for.

That would seem to be the obvious solution to the problem,if indeed there should be a problem.

[POSTMAN]

I hate timelocks,but they are there for a reason.
Posties not being bothered to buzz those who have mail are just asking for trouble.

Just saying how it is,not how i want it to be.

[clashcityrocker]

Could always give him a key?

If you've got 60 blocks on your walk the idea of carrying 60 keys is ridiculous.
And if there is a burglary in the block, will the Old Bill be round to see you as well.
And does handing out keys to postmen effect their insurance?

[Eric]

I hate timelocks,but they are there for a reason.
Posties not being bothered to buzz those who have mail are just asking for trouble.

Just saying how it is,not how i want it to be.

So do you buzz the first one with mail then wait 2-3 minutes and if she doesn't answer buzz the next one and so on and so on? We aint paid enough or given enough time to make those decisions.

[Judgee]

I hate timelocks,but they are there for a reason.
Posties not being bothered to buzz those who have mail are just asking for trouble.

Just saying how it is,not how i want it to be.

Not being bothered? Well my past experience of ringing doorbells on flats has been...

"Why you bloody wake me up I work nights"

"You stupid cock you woke my baby"

"No I won't buzz you in, I don't live here I'm just visiting (more like subletting from the official council tennant)"


The obvious solution is to make the timelocks a reasonable time. Which most tennants wont do because they think that thier postie will bust his nuts to get there early to catch them in time!

There are various types of key that can be used and chances are there is a skeleton one for these mythical 60 blocks someone thinks they will need 60 keys for. Failing that there are also firemans keys which will open many entrance doors. Which can also be bought on ebay so security in most of these places ain't worth a s**t and they may as well just leave the bloody door open any!

[Lounge Lizard]

I've got a small block on my walk where the tradesmen button does'nt work on Saturdays.

If I haven't got any packets, just letters, I mark them 'no access Saturdays' and leave them in the office.

Can you imagine ringing someones bell fairly early on a Saturday to ask them to let you in with just letters? It's hard enough trying to get people to answer their doors when you've got a packet for them before 11am!

But surely letters are a greater priority than packets, not only the USO obligation but also that they might be those all important hospital appointments and bank statements.

[Post Off]

There's only six flats in the building -- right, so it's not going to take longer than a couple of minutes hanging around waiting for an answer. Twenty seconds is all I wait for each ring or buzz.

Sorry to say this, but that postman is an idiot. I mean, what's the point of walking up to her building when he has no intention of ringing anyone's bells or buzzers?

Those fireman's drop keys are really a time-saver, but only for now. I get the distinct impression that their use will soon become short-lived. What I mean is, that I only see the access hole / lock for them on really old council estates. All the other newer developments don't appear to have them, leaving me wondering how firemen are able to access these buildings?

Funny thing about those drop keys is that the council will charge its own workers £70 quid a pop, while they're considerably cheaper on eBay.

[Stormproof]

How about the owner of the block puts individual boxes outside the flats by the door. The local housing assosciation around here has done it to quite a few of their older blocks.

[POSTMAN]

Aint got time for buzzers,aint got time for D2D's,aint got time for this,aint got time for that,what time does Jeremy Kyle start nowadays?

[Straight4ward]

Aint got time for buzzers,aint got time for D2D's,aint got time for this,aint got time for that - - -

"Ain't got time to ring the buzzers,
ain't got time to knock the door."

POSTMAN, are you really Shakin' Stevens?