Unreported Incident

[Kafinater]

Yeah, I know its really stupid and i suppose I could give a few excuses but the bottom line is that I failed to report an "incident" The Incident in question is clipping a low wall while reversing out of a driveway. I knew I'd knocked it, but didn't think it would cause any damage...the damage is light and none to the van but someone saw it, reported it to the landlord of the property who had a chat to my Line Manager.
Fact Finding Interview has taken place and I had a reply from my line manager telling me its been moved to DOM support...So, what are my chances?

I can see a lot of you cringe as I tell you that I'm not a union member.

Maybe if nothing else you can learn from my mistake, no matter what and under all circumstances tell your line manager about EVERY incident no mater how small...if only I'd told myself that!!

[DGP1]

Is it too late to deny everything?

[krussel]

I think a lot will depend on whether there is any claim against RM for any damage caused. What did you say in the report ? Did you say that you knew that you had hit the wall etc ?

It all comes down to the Dom really. In my office you would get away with a wrist slap but depends on how strict your office is.

I think you can learn by this and I would recommend joining the CWU as you can take a rep in with you for guidance during any interview.

Welcome to the forum by the way.

Hope things go ok.

[Stella102]

umm personally i would drive round to the landlords house, and say your sorry offer to pay any damages and say to him that they are going to try to sack you over this. Hopefully he rings up and drops the complaint. CASE CLOSED.

or


You can hope you have a good office, by the sound of it though you don't. In ours the DOM would not give a s**t about this we are so understaffed so they aren't going to sack over something like this, if your office is overstaffed or they want to make cuts then this is a good opportunity for them. If this is your first offense then it should be a warning just plead ignorance.

[fishtank]

Is it too late to deny everything?

Clipping a wall is not in itself a serious offence but deliberate dishonesty is.
If you decide to deny something it has to be believable and based at least mostly in truth.
The best thing he could do is admit clipping the wall but stick to the belief that he mistakenly thought that no damage had been done to either party and therefore he mistakenly believed that there was no need to report it.
Plausible deniability.

[Kafinater]

Denying everything? Hmmm...tricky that! We're past the undeniability stage as the fact finding and admission of fault has been made.

As for the landlord...well...you won't believe this....actually, I can't say...not on this forum...In fairness to the landlord he has an agent who looks after the property, my guess is that they will claim although I have offered to pay in the fact finding interview.

One thing I do find annoying is that I did report an incident last year when I reversed into a parked car. literally no damage at all. I spoke with the owner who was sat in the car, we agreed there was no damage but I reported that incident anyway, that flagged up a driving training session...

Its interesting to see how different offices look at things. I was a bit dismayed it was pushed up to DOM support going beyond my own DOM.

[Stella102]

Denying everything? Hmmm...tricky that! We're past the undeniability stage as the fact finding and admission of fault has been made.

As for the landlord...well...you won't believe this....actually, I can't say...not on this forum...In fairness to the landlord he has an agent who looks after the property, my guess is that they will claim although I have offered to pay in the fact finding interview.

One thing I do find annoying is that I did report an incident last year when I reversed into a parked car. literally no damage at all. I spoke with the owner who was sat in the car, we agreed there was no damage but I reported that incident anyway, that flagged up a driving training session...

Its interesting to see how different offices look at things. I was a bit dismayed it was pushed up to DOM support going beyond my own DOM.

ok the reason it went to DOM support may be because it was an official complaint rather than the landlord calling up your DO and complaining to manager. Normally the manager would just tell you off and keep it in office, but since it's out of office then an unbiased view point needs to be brought in, which does suck but should NOT cost you your job, just a serious warning at the worst unless they really want to make cuts, then thats when you need union support.

[DGP1]

Sorry, I forgot something on my post.....................

[Kafinater]

As things stand at the moment I've been withdrawn from driving. Its looking like this may become permanent after the DOM support takes a look. That would be a bit of a pain to say the least as I am from the era of driving money £6 a week, I assume that would go. Not to mention the sched attendance collection. As much as I would be sorry to lose my driving rights, I'd accept that over losing my job. What I've been told by the manager in our office that deals with "Transport" is that I will be removed from driving permanently, so it was his decision to remove me the day I did report the incident (It was within the 24 hours required on the ERICA by the way)....but not until I had completed my delivery...then suspended from driving!! Ironic or what?

[DGP1]

As things stand at the moment I've been withdrawn from driving. Its looking like this may become permanent after the DOM support takes a look. That would be a bit of a pain to say the least as I am from the era of driving money £6 a week, I assume that would go. Not to mention the sched attendance collection. As much as I would be sorry to lose my driving rights, I'd accept that over losing my job. What I've been told by the manager in our office that deals with "Transport" is that I will be removed from driving permanently, so it was his decision to remove me the day I did report the incident (It was within the 24 hours required on the ERICA by the way)....but not until I had completed my delivery...then suspended from driving!! Ironic or what?

Depends on the amount of drivers in your office, I know nobody in my office gets removed from driving unless they actually lose their licence.

[krussel]

We have a few that gave up driving duties to re assign to walks and they still get the £6. I doubt it will come to that though

[north london driver]

would not worry its only a wall and no ones hurt.i doubt if much will happen managers know that its hard to get anyone to drive nowdays i know drivers who have had accidents to get of driving.if you dont get driving allowance i would go back to walking no hassle then.

[daveyeff]

Is it too late to deny everything?

Clipping a wall is not in itself a serious offence but deliberate dishonesty is.
If you decide to deny something it has to be believable and based at least mostly in truth.
The best thing he could do is admit clipping the wall but stick to the belief that he mistakenly thought that no damage had been done to either party and therefore he mistakenly believed that there was no need to report it.
Plausible deniability.

plausible deniability you've been watching ''independence day''.

[NWpostie]

Once I got dragged through the coals by a bastard of a DOM, I immediately withdrew from driving and asked to revert to foot delivery, shortly after that he asked me to stop on as he was short of drivers, naturally out of the kindness of my hearts and in consideration of my conscience and I searched within my being and said "NO" should have thought about that before giving me crap.

The driving licence was paid for by you, its yours to offer and to withdraw for Royal Mail purpose, do as you feel is right for you.

[Kafinater]

An update on the current situation is that I have been summoned to formal interview by the DOM support to see if there are any charges to be made under the conduct code. More to come later then. Meanwhile I've loaned out to a rural office on a bike round...yeah we still have a few bikes left in my office. I have to say that its less hassle than driving.

Update on Monday then. Interviews at 8am