Left parcel with neighbours, but didn't inform us? Normal?

[soundbox]

Hey everyone,

I've been trying to find information about this online to no avail, so hopefully I can get some answers here :)

We've recently moved into a new neighbourhood, not far from where we lived before. In the last couple of months, we've had numerous parcels delivered. Most of the time we're in, but the odd time we weren't, our postman has left our mail with the neighbours. I don't have a problem with this personally - however, what I do have a problem with is that there was no note left by the postman to explain that our parcels HAD been left with the neighbours.

Normally, in our last neighbourhood, if the postman attempted a delivery and we weren't in, he would scribble a note on a "Sorry you were out" card simply saying "Parcel at 134" or whichever neighbour had been kind enough to look after it for us. This meant we knew it was an attempted delivery, and where exactly it was, so we could call around and pick it up from them.

However, in this neighbourhood, that practice doesn't seem to take place - he simply leaves it with the neighbour without telling us, and it ends up becoming the neighbours responsibility to deliver the parcel, something which in my opinion, isn't right. It's also causing us some frustration at times; twice we've had tracking numbers showing our parcels as "successful delivery", making us concerned as to where our orders are, entering into complaints procedures over non-delivery which embarrassingly had to be dropped, as a week later our neighbour finally left the package around, after 'forgetting' about it.

is anyone aware if it is common practice for the postman to leave a package with a neighbour without informing you? Or do they have the duty of informing you somehow where your parcels have ended up, whether with a neighbour or a delivery office?

Personally I'm getting very annoyed with our local postie's lack of information, as we're so new to the neighbourhood and don't know anyone - what's to stop someone else from just keeping the parcel if he leaves it at another house someday, and we have no proof the parcel was delivered anywhere? :/ I'd also like for my neighbours to know where to call if they're expecting a delivery that's important, as a few times I've taken care of parcels for others. It just seems like it should be common courtesy to inform customers where their goods have ended up!

Thanks for any replies, I'd like to know how others feel about this matter and hear about any experiences others have had in this regard.

-soundbox

[newtimes]

Managers like the workers who get the mail delivered quickly, writing out the P739s takes time. If the worker is not going fast enogh he is bullied to go quicker. There are many more reasons why this can happen, I am sure more will follow.

[mandelsons_toenail]

How about he just cards parcel and returns to delivery office

Don't see why we should deliver to neighbour

[soundbox]

How about he just cards parcel and returns to delivery office

Don't see why we should deliver to neighbour

As I said, I personally don't have an issue with it being left with my neighbour, I'd just like a head's up from the postman that's where it is, so I'm not left wondering where my deliveries are, should my neighbour and I not cross paths for a few days, or if it ends up a neighbours house that turns out to be not so trustworthy! At least then I would have peace of mind.

I can understand why others wouldn't want it left with their neighbours & would rather it end up at the delivery office, but I'd rather it not go back to my delivery office - our nearest one if half an hours drive away, and I don't own a car. With Xmas coming up and an influx of parcels due at our house, I don't want to be faced with going up there every couple of days. It's £10 for a return ticket and a good hour's walk, that's just not affordable or feasible for me right now being 7months pregnant!

I'm considering asking the postman the next time I catch him about their policy on this issue, and if there was some way he could let us know.

[Sidley]

Policy is to leave a note if it's left with neighbour, on the odd occasion one may meet a neighbour who says not to bother as they'll see you come in from work. Lends itself to all sorts of dilemmas. Best practice is to leave a card anyway.

[mandelsons_toenail]

Best practice is to take it back to office

[NewPostieUK]

I'm considering asking the postman the next time I catch him about their policy on this issue, and if there was some way he could let us know.

What's to consider? Like a lot of things, all that's needed is a little communication. He isn't doing his job properly, hopefully a few words, or a note left on your door, will put him right.

I had the same problem so I left a note on the door. He started leaving a note and all was well. When I saw him I thanked him for leaving letting me know now, and explained why we should be told where our packets are and why it shouldn't be just left to the neighbour to deliver it.

Now I have park and loop, and I nothing is left with neighbours anymore

[TeeferTiger]

Unfortunately, RM staff are only human and will sometimes forget to leave P739s. If it happens again then perhaps a word is in order to ask if they can let you know where they're leaving it (as they're meant to).

[soundbox]

It's good to hear replies from some actual postmen! Thank you for your input -it's reassuring to hear that our local postman should indeed be leaving a note.

I know this isn't a case of 'forgetting' to leave one, as it seems no one gets them around here - when we first moved in, we were asked to look after 2 parcels by the postman on separate occasions, and waited for someone to come by and pick them up after knocking the neighbours door more than a few times. Eventually we reached them, but we hadn't realised they weren't informed where their parcel was until of course, the same situation happened to us. To me, it's bad practice and leaves people hanging wondering where their deliveries are. I do think that trying to get things done as fast as possible is why our postman is neglecting to do this in our neighbourhood.

I'll be mentioning and asking for our postman to amend this, as encouraged here - hopefully a quick word with him will resolve the issue. If not, I'll be going over his head to try and sort out the problem.

[newtimes]

"I do think that trying to get things done as fast as possible is why our postman is neglecting to do this in our neighbourhood."
RM "is neglecting" , please do not always blame the postie, if you want to understand whats happening to YOUR postal service please read other posts.

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Best practice is to take it back to office

Unofficially maybe - officially you would be going against policy.

Not saying your are wrong, just saying you have to be careful what you say.

[NWpostie]

Why not create a left with designated neighbour card they can peel or tear off and post through the box, it would save scribbling out.

Personally I would take it back and leave a P739 however if it is officially written on the walk log that the recipient has a designated neighbour or a safe place for parcels, I would be happy to oblige.

[avenger]

Why not create a left with designated neighbour card they can peel or tear off and post through the box, it would save scribbling out.

Personally I would take it back and leave a P739 however if it is officially written on the walk log that the recipient has a designated neighbour or a safe place for parcels, I would be happy to oblige.

The P739s already have a left with neighbour space
it only requires the number to be filled in

[NWpostie]

I was thinking of a different coloured card to distinguish it from an Item taken back to office.

That said its only a suggestion.

[mandelsons_toenail]

Best practice is to take it back to office

Unofficially maybe - officially you would be going against policy.

Not saying your are wrong, just saying you have to be careful what you say.

Policy is "postmans discretion"