Wandsworth street left without post because postie was sick

[TrueBlueTerrier]

http://www.thisislocallondon.co.uk/news ... __was_sick_/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

A woman who did not receive any post for a week was told her postman was off sick and there were not enough staff to cover for him.

Diane Meaney, 63, of Carmicheal Mews, Wandsworth then complained to the Royal Mail head office in Nine Elms who denied there was a problem and promised to send her a letter of explanation.

The letter has yet to arrive.

Many other residents in the road have also complained they did not get any post last week.

Now their case has been picked up by Sadiq Khan MP who has asked the chief executive of Royal Mail to invstigate it "as a matter of urgency".

Mrs Meaney first complained to her local sorting office in Twilley Street early last week when she realised she had not had any mail for days.

Staff there told her her post man was sick and there was not enough staff to cover him.

Head office then denied this claiming her postman was off for half term but agency staff were covering for him.

But when she went back to the sorting office she was told agency staff simply can't be relied on to deliver all their mail and often dump it in a bush.

Mrs Meaney who is retired said: "I was so flabbergasted, these people are dealing with important information.

"It may be bills or a notice that has a time limit which could cause distress if not received. This is totally unacceptable it is very worrying."

She started receiving letters again last Thursday, November 3, but her husband has still not received his car tax disc and credit card details sent two weeks ago.

A spokeswoman for Royal Mail said: "Royal Mail is delivering mail to all residents in the Wandsworth area on a daily basis. We are sorry if this customer feels they have not received the high standard of service they deserve.

"Any customers who have any queries should contact our customer services department on 0845 740 740."

But Julie Curry, 66, one of over 30 residents in Carmicheal Mews said: "I have noticed we have not had a postman, because I often seen him walk past. If someone is on holiday we should have somebody to take his place. It is stressful."

Natasha Dare, spokesperson for post regulator, Consumer Focus, said: "Royal Mail has an obligation to ensure householders have their post delivered six days a week.

"If there has been a disruption in service or post is believed to have been lost then we would recommend raising these issues with Royal Mail directly."

Mr Khan said: “I am extremely worried about this.

“Many residents, particularly those with mobility problems, rely on Royal Mail for important deliveries and letters.

“I have asked the Chief Executive of Royal Mail to investigate this case as a matter of urgency. Particularly, at this time of year we need reassurance that packages and letters will be safely delivered in good time.”

[pinstripe]

This happens all the time. Even my office which has still to go through its revision has walks let in most days.

Also this,
“Many residents, particularly those with mobility problems, rely on Royal Mail for important deliveries and letters."
Why are we told that the service we provide is not important due to the increase in e-mail etc and the ever declining mail volumes then?

[DirtyHarry]

This problem is endemic in Britain, deliberate under-staffing.
If a company in Britain needs, let's say for argument's sake, 250 people to have that company running like clockwork, whether some staff are on holiday, or, off sick, you can bet your bottom dollar, that the tight-arse company will try to get away with employing only 160 people, thereby ensuring that cock-ups are the order of the day.
Royal Mail are a very good example of this idiotic business practice.

[singingpostman]

Theres a two whole villages whose mail is sitting in a frame in a sorting office not a million miles away from where I am typing this, because there postman is on holiday and his releif is sick. Agency staff can cover town walks but they have not got a hope in hell of completing a rural with no tuition. Years of cutback's has simply left our office with a very low knowledge bank on rurals. But our manager doesnt seem to give a toss, remember the days you were proud to work for this company ?????

[bakerstreetirregular]

Where's the bush, in which the mail gets dumped!. But seriously if you know the mail's getting dumped somewhere and you know its happening and don't report doesn't that make you complict to the act?. Well done the PHG who told the public that!.

[General Mannerheim]

Theres a two whole villages whose mail is sitting in a frame in a sorting office not a million miles away from where I am typing this, because there postman is on holiday and his releif is sick. Agency staff can cover town walks but they have not got a hope in hell of completing a rural with no tuition. Years of cutback's has simply left our office with a very low knowledge bank on rurals. But our manager doesnt seem to give a toss, remember the days you were proud to work for this company ?????

Err NO!

[DirtyHarry]

Theres a two whole villages whose mail is sitting in a frame in a sorting office not a million miles away from where I am typing this, because there postman is on holiday and his releif is sick. Agency staff can cover town walks but they have not got a hope in hell of completing a rural with no tuition. Years of cutback's has simply left our office with a very low knowledge bank on rurals. But our manager doesnt seem to give a toss, remember the days you were proud to work for this company ?????

Errrr, errrmmm, No, sorry. Must have been decades ago.

[The prisoner]

if the postie is off sick and they're short of staff how does she get the letter of explaination that Royal mail has sent her.

[Darren Bent]

If Royal Mail are very short staffed they could deliver this post one day and do other area next day instead of ignoring one area for a week.