Lost a Special... possibly!

[ozzy8mybaby]

Hello folks,

I've just got home after pouching off and realised I should have had an undeliverable special (letter, not packet) to sign over, but the thing is nowhere to be found, and definately wasn't in my pouch bag. I'm very cagey with my specials, so it hasn't fallen out of my bag or my pocket, but one of two things must have happened:

1. I've, stupidly, put it through with the card.

2. When I put it back into my bag, it's slipped inside a door-to-door and I've put it someone else's letterbox.


Basically, with Special Delivery being the golden child of our dear RM, on a scale of 1-10, how hard am I going to get my arse kicked when I go hat in hand into the office tomorrow...? FYI, only been on the job six months, get on well with the management and no other performance-related issues (that I'm aware of)

[gb93]

Going by your last paragraph I don't think you have too much to worry about apart from a knuckle rapping.
If you were a 20 year plus old schooler who didn't get on with the new breed then I'd worry.

[daveyeff]

you,ve probably put it through with the 739 card. it happens. my advice would be to say nowt, and if THEY come to you, THEN come clean, stating you werent sure what you had done. having said that, i am an old schooler, and i detest our current new breed/generation of management. and they hate me. so my reasons for keeping stumph, are obviously because the c**ts want me out and are just waiting for a chance like that to pop up. its hard to say,, if you are friendly with them and you,re face fits you should be ok ''fessin up''. good luck.

[clashcityrocker]

Honesty is the best policy.
You have made a mistake. We've all made them.
You are better off appearing honest and "stupid" than dishonest and stupid.
Mistakes can be rectified. Dishonesty is a bad trait for a postman.

[kingofmcr]

keep all your specials in a pouch ..no chance of them getting in with d2ds or other mail then

[wiganpostie]

One of our lot lost a special a couple of weeks ago and nothing happened, but in saying that, he is a DOM's pet. YMMV.

[Sliders]

Say nothing, and IF it comes to the point that they ask you about it, just say that you thought that you pouched it off with the recorded deliveries and packets by mistake and never thought anything about it since. You have only been there six months so say your still learning the ropes. For the first month I was at the RM I used to pouch off the specials, until they told me that I should not do that. So just say you did this by mistake if they ask, and its a big IF, as others have said, you most likely put it through the door with the P739, or with the other mail going to the same address.

[Cheetah]

With the current situation regards any miss demeaner, would it be an option to take a ride to the address where you delivered the P739 and put your cards on the table to see if you have delivered it with the P739. It's 99.9% going to come to light somehow, so I don't realy think just taking no notice is a good policy. If you have delivered it to them and they are nice understanding people get a card and a signature, grovel and appologise sincereley, as this in my opinion is the only hope of your miss demeaner going away. Some things can be ignored by cocking a deaf 'un, loosing a special is not one of them.......

These things happen, we're not perfect, if you have an understanding manager all should be okay, however if he has his discipline hat on you have made every attempt to recover the special, which will work in your favour. In just ignoring it in my opinion you are just showing neglect and incompetence, as we all know if our specials do not tally with the returns and signatures, or we are being damn neglect full if we don't.

If they don't have it I would report the incident to the locker immediatally.

This is just the way I would play it, it's realy down to you to make the descision, anyhow good luck.....

[kendo1]

It does happen a lot .
Only realy a problem if the person complains.I know of a few people who have lost specials ,only 1 got a 2 year warning.

[fishtank]

If you take the advice of some on this thread and the customer did not receive the special they will obviously complain and you will be under suspicion of theft and dishonesty
This is gross misconduct and will likely lead to your dismissal.
What are you going to do when they ask you for your card....forge a signature or eat it?

[RedBagMan]

would it be an option to take a ride to the address where you delivered the P739 and put your cards on the table to see if you have delivered it with the P739.

Certainly worth a shout IMHO ...

[Sliders]

would it be an option to take a ride to the address where you delivered the P739 and put your cards on the table to see if you have delivered it with the P739.

Certainly worth a shout IMHO ...

Yes I would try that tomorrow morning, before you start work. If they did not get it then ask the next door neighbours, you might have posted it through their door by mistake, with the d2d's. Its worth a shot. Anyway good luck I hope it all turns out alright for you.

[dvbuk55]

In the case of a Special Delivery I would definitely fess up.

[muzzy]

Honesty is the best policy.
I lost a recorded package last month, I think I left it on my bike pannier rack and rode off and it fell off somewhere.
I reported it as soon as I got back, good job too as the customer came in later with his P739 to get it.
If I'd not said anything I'm sure I'd have been in the s**t. I was asked to write out a report on what happened and bring it in the next day, which I did and I've not heard anything more about it

[CharlesSpooner]

I'd mention it to the manager. As has been mentioned a missing special can be a mistake - not mentioning it though will only be seen as dishonesty in the eyes of the new breed.

I've done exactly the same a few years ago, posted it with the P739. It's getting easier to do now you're stood at the door juggling a bundle, an armful of packets, a special and a PDA . Had a little look around the walk (thought I'd dropped it) and then knocked on the customers house a bit later when he was home - He was OK about it as I'd posted it through so he had it and my manager (old breed) was OK with that.

More recently I did the same with a recorded. Didn't bother mentioning it to the manager as I knew I'd pushed it through with the P739. The customer came in with the P739 and obviously it's not in the office so I got asked about it the next day. Said I was sure I'd put it in the box so the manager got back onto the customer. Customer claimed he didn't have it (sensing a payout) so the manager laid it on a bit thick and said he'll notify the police as there was the possibility of theft. Customer then suddenly remembered the letter had a barcode on the envelope.

Sadly that manager no longer works for RM as he didn't subscribe to the mantra that bullying and lying are viable alternatives to a well planned and thought out workload. There was one of the new breed in the office at the time and he was relishing the prospect of dragging me through the conduct code.