Despite MP's evidence RM deny postal service in Watford poor

[POSTMAN]

http://www.watfordobserver.co.uk/news/9 ... ains_poor/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Royal Mail managers have denied claims they are running a poor service in Watford during face-to-face talks with the town’s MP this morning.

Conservative Richard Harrington said last week that customers were still experiencing delays, months after a new sorting system was introduced.

The Ascot Road sorting depot has been inundated with complaints since the system was first implemented in August, but bosses have since claimed the service is back to normal.

Mr Harrington sent out 50 letters to Watford addresses to test their claims earlier this month and the results, which he said showed customers were not getting the service they deserved, led to this morning’s meeting.

Royal Mail this morning admitted there had been problems in the past but said services are currently at an acceptable level.

Management told the politician that compensation would be looked at as an option for those who have been badly affected by delays but added that 92 per cent of post is currently being delivered on time.

Royal Mail representative Sally Hopkins said: "This is a serious matter for Royal Mail. The meeting was constructive and we will continue to monitor services in Watford and keep in close contact with Mr Harrington to ensure we provide a consistent, high quality service to our customers.

"Our latest performance figures, issued yesterday, show that in the WD postcode area, 92.1% of First Class stamped and franked mail was delivered the next working day. This was against a postcode area target of 91.5 per cent.

We recognise, however, that we have not always got everything right in Watford and some of our customers have not always received the service they have come to expect and deserve.

"We are investing in our mail operation and opened a dedicated packet sorting hub in Watford on Monday 28 November to help process parcels and packets for our customers in the run-up to Christmas. We are hoping for a successful Christmas in Watford."

The new mail centre due to be opened in Caxton Way in February will deliver a new start for the service in Watford, according to Royal Mail.

Mr Harrington says he plans to carry out another test, sending out 100 letters in the coming days and monitoring when they arrive at the intended addresses.

He said: “I welcome assurances that there will be a new start with the relocating of the delivery centre but my main concern is the service that people are receiving now.

“I really do hope that services are back to an acceptable level but I fear this is not the case. This is why I feel it is important to test it again and will continue to do so until I and my constituents are content they are getting the good service they are paying for.

“In the meantime, I will continue to raise the individual cases my constituents are still raising with me about the services in their area”.

[POSTMAN]

LOL this has been going on for yonks.

[fishtank]

It's a river in Africa apparently.

[DirtyHarry]

You have to laugh, don't ya?
Who, do you think, is more, errr, how shall I say, errrmm, economical with the truth?
The Tory, the RM bosses, who?