Registered Mail from Europe - signature requirement question

[Afik32]

Hi. Is there any way to force signature requirement for registered letters (priority airmail) that are sent from EU to UK ? Or is it enteriely up to the postman that delivers the letter in the UK ? My friend is sending 4-5 registered letters to UK every month, and although all are delivered in good time, only part of them are confirmed to be delivered using Royal Mail Track and Trace system - http://www.royalmail.com/trackdetails" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; Most of the time tracking only shows "RECEIVED IN UK, HEATHROW WORLDWIDE DC" and nothing more, despite the fact that registered letter was successfully delivered. "Registered Mail" (Priority Airmail) service that is used provides tracking number with online tracking but there are additional services that can be used:

"Signed For" service, using red CN 07 form, similar to that one. Does this kind of from holds any value when it comes to deliveries by Royal Mail in UK ? Is it used at all or is it just thrown away ? I'am asking because when using this additonal service, delivery confirmation using RM Track and Trace is just as random as when using only standard "Registered Mail" service. Sometimes tracking shows that letter was delivered, and sometimes not.

"Priority Express" service. When used, registered letter is addionaly marked as "EXPRESS" using black/red marker. And again, does it mean anything for Royal Mail ? Is the letter treated differently than regular registered letter ? Even when this services is used (and without "Signed For" serivce) tracking confirmation is just as random as with regular registered mail, sometimes tracking shows DELIVERED and sometimes it doesnt.

I would like to better understand how this works when it comes to foreing mail that is sent to UK. Because from the looks of it, it appears that signature upon delivery is completely random regardless of the service that is used. Also, letters are sent from Poland, but i doubt that this dependent on country.

[barrowc]

I've seen a few CN07 forms going back to the origin country with a signature. I think this just gets a paper copy of the signature and doesn't change the online tracking, however

[SpacePhoenix]

Items from Poland are treated as normal 1st class recorded once they reach the UK, as for no confirmation of delivery sometimes, best guess is that the posties PDA has crashed at some point after delivery and they've lost the data before the PDA transmitted it

[chrisnee]

Hi. Is there any way to force signature requirement for registered letters (priority airmail) that are sent from EU to UK ? Or is it enteriely up to the postman that delivers the letter in the UK ? My friend is sending 4-5 registered letters to UK every month, and although all are delivered in good time, only part of them are confirmed to be delivered using Royal Mail Track and Trace system - http://www.royalmail.com/trackdetails" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; Most of the time tracking only shows "RECEIVED IN UK, HEATHROW WORLDWIDE DC" and nothing more, despite the fact that registered letter was successfully delivered. "Registered Mail" (Priority Airmail) service that is used provides tracking number with online tracking but there are additional services that can be used:

"Signed For" service, using red CN 07 form, similar to that one. Does this kind of from holds any value when it comes to deliveries by Royal Mail in UK ? Is it used at all or is it just thrown away ? I'am asking because when using this additonal service, delivery confirmation using RM Track and Trace is just as random as when using only standard "Registered Mail" service. Sometimes tracking shows that letter was delivered, and sometimes not.

"Priority Express" service. When used, registered letter is addionaly marked as "EXPRESS" using black/red marker. And again, does it mean anything for Royal Mail ? Is the letter treated differently than regular registered letter ? Even when this services is used (and without "Signed For" serivce) tracking confirmation is just as random as with regular registered mail, sometimes tracking shows DELIVERED and sometimes it doesnt.

I would like to better understand how this works when it comes to foreing mail that is sent to UK. Because from the looks of it, it appears that signature upon delivery is completely random regardless of the service that is used. Also, letters are sent from Poland, but i doubt that this dependent on country.

I am experiencing the same problem. My item was sent from Sweden last Friday and it was due to be delivered today at the latest. But now on the tracking system I only saw "RECEIVED IN UK, HEATHROW WORLDWIDE DC" and it was updated at 20:27 yesterday (Tue 6 Aug).

I am worried if my item will be lost or delayed.

[Afik32]

My item was sent from Sweden last Friday and it was due to be delivered today at the latest. But now on the tracking system I only saw "RECEIVED IN UK, HEATHROW WORLDWIDE DC" and it was updated at 20:27 yesterday (Tue 6 Aug). I am worried if my item will be lost or delayed.

Nothing to worry about. Processing in HEATHROW WORLDWIDE DC usually takes additional 2-5 days before mail is delivered.

I've seen a few CN07 forms going back to the origin country with a signature.

Well, i know that these forms should be returned to the origin country, but as far i know these were never returned from UK when "Signed For" service was used. From France/Italy yes, but never from UK. I guess that Royal Mail may keep these forms in case of non-delivery claim, am i right ?

I think this just gets a paper copy of the signature and doesn't change the online tracking, however

Thats correct. But from my understanding, when signature is required, postman should also scan the barcode on delivery so online tracking can be updated. But sadly, it looks like this step is omitted quite frequently.

Items from Poland are treated as normal 1st class recorded once they reach the UK

Thanks. But what about additional "Express" service from foreign country ? Can you tell me if Registered Mail is treated differently when it is marked as EXPRESS by foreign postal service ? This is a google translation from Polish that desribes this service:

express service is the delivery of consignments and transfers as soon as possible after their arrival to the office of destination, most commonly by deliberate messenger. On senders request, and with additional payment for the service, "priority mail" for the destination country, where the postal administration has agreed to service "treat as express mail" is delivered to the addressee as soon as they arrive to the post office.

Is there any truth to that ? Or is it just an useless service ?

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Thats correct. But from my understanding, when signature is required, postman should also scan the barcode on delivery so online tracking can be updated. But sadly, it looks like this step is omitted quite frequently.

Mainly due to not all of us having scanners or PDAs, if we haven't got them we can't scan.

[Afik32]

@TrueBlueTerrier, many thanks for your input. That perfectly explains why delivery confirmation is so randomly present on both tracking sites ( http://www.royalmail.com/track-trace" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; & http://www.royalmail.com/trackdetails" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; ), regardless of the service that it used. I suspect that this bothers a lot of people, including senders and recipients, especially when there are delays caused by customs for example.

[chrisnee]

Thats correct. But from my understanding, when signature is required, postman should also scan the barcode on delivery so online tracking can be updated. But sadly, it looks like this step is omitted quite frequently.

Mainly due to not all of us having scanners or PDAs, if we haven't got them we can't scan.

Many thanks, and that is a very reasonable explanation.

Do you mean some postmen do not have scanners or PDAs even if they are delivering registered or express mails with barcode? But in this case how can I know my item has been delivered or not, or there is no way of knowing it at all.

[chrisnee]

Thats correct. But from my understanding, when signature is required, postman should also scan the barcode on delivery so online tracking can be updated. But sadly, it looks like this step is omitted quite frequently.

Mainly due to not all of us having scanners or PDAs, if we haven't got them we can't scan.

Is it possible that my item is stuck at Heathrow due to custom clearance, but it is just a letter containing my passport and two pieces of documents?

[Sidley]

Do you mean some postmen do not have scanners or PDAs even if they are delivering registered or express mails with barcode? But in this case how can I know my item has been delivered or not, or there is no way of knowing it at all.

I do not YET use a PDA or scanner for registered/recorded delivery items but will start using them in the next few weeks.
At the moment all registered mail is scanned when it arrives in the delivery office, I deliver it and get a signature and it is then scanned as delivered when I return the signature to the office.

[chrisnee]

Do you mean some postmen do not have scanners or PDAs even if they are delivering registered or express mails with barcode? But in this case how can I know my item has been delivered or not, or there is no way of knowing it at all.

I do not YET use a PDA or scanner for registered/recorded delivery items but will start using them in the next few weeks.
At the moment all registered mail is scanned when it arrives in the delivery office, I deliver it and get a signature and it is then scanned as delivered when I return the signature to the office.

Thanks for letting me know this.

When I track my registered mail sent from Sweden on http://www.royalmail.com/trackdetails" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;, it said RECEIVED IN UK HEATHROW WORLDWIDE DC since last night. Does it mean my item is still at Heathrow, is there any possibility that it is delivered but no signature is obtained so I cannot see the status updates from this tracking webpage? More seriously, is it possible that my item has been lost? I am quite worried about it because it is my passport inside.

[Lounge Lizard]

CN07 cards are probably often overlooked by the delivery postman because they are attached to the back of the envelope which wouldn't be looked at.
Registered from abroad with a large 'R', a thirteen digit code and usually a barcode will probably be ignored more regularly now that a red 'Signature Required' stamp or sticker is no longer applied by HWMC.

[Afik32]

I do not YET use a PDA or scanner for registered/recorded delivery items but will start using them in the next few weeks.
At the moment all registered mail is scanned when it arrives in the delivery office, I deliver it and get a signature and it is then scanned as delivered when I return the signature to the office.

So, for me it looks it all depends on the delivery office, because from all the tracking numbers i checked at least half of them were not scanned on delivery and online tracking was never updated. And my friend confirmed that he never received signed CN07 forms from UK, from few other EU countries yes, but never from UK.

CN07 cards are probably often overlooked by the delivery postman because they are attached to the back of the envelope which wouldn't be looked at.
Registered from abroad with a large 'R', a thirteen digit code and usually a barcode will probably be ignored more regularly now that a red 'Signature Required' stamp or sticker is no longer applied by HWMC.

Now that sounds disturbing, to say the least. So it looks like delivery confirmation, both, via online tracking and signature on CN07 form are completely random at this point. Even if the sender payed for "Registered Mail" (with online tracking) and "Signed For" service (signature on red CN07 form), it still may not be scanned on delivery and CN07 form most likely will be overlooked by the delivery postman. I wonder if this looks the same when using RM "International Signed For" service.

And i would like to ask again about EXPRESS service from foreign countries, in this case from Poland. Is there any agreement between Royal Mail and Polish postal service (Poczta Polska) regarding EXPRESS delivery when sender payed for this kind of service ? Or maybe all mail is treated as normal 1st class recorded once it enters UK ? I'm sure other countries also offer EXPRESS service for priority registered mail, so if there is anyone who dealt with this kind of mail it would be nice to know if deliveries are faster or treated any differently.

[Lounge Lizard]

I do not YET use a PDA or scanner for registered/recorded delivery items but will start using them in the next few weeks.
At the moment all registered mail is scanned when it arrives in the delivery office, I deliver it and get a signature and it is then scanned as delivered when I return the signature to the office.

So, for me it looks it all depends on the delivery office, because from all the tracking numbers i checked at least half of them were not scanned on delivery and online tracking was never updated. And my friend confirmed that he never received signed CN07 forms from UK, from few other EU countries yes, but never from UK.

CN07 cards are probably often overlooked by the delivery postman because they are attached to the back of the envelope which wouldn't be looked at.
Registered from abroad with a large 'R', a thirteen digit code and usually a barcode will probably be ignored more regularly now that a red 'Signature Required' stamp or sticker is no longer applied by HWMC.

Now that sounds disturbing, to say the least. So it looks like delivery confirmation, both, via online tracking and signature on CN07 form are completely random at this point. Even if the sender payed for "Registered Mail" (with online tracking) and "Signed For" service (signature on red CN07 form), it still may not be scanned on delivery and CN07 form most likely will be overlooked by the delivery postman. I wonder if this looks the same when using RM "International Signed For" service.

And i would like to ask again about EXPRESS service from foreign countries, in this case from Poland. Is there any agreement between Royal Mail and Polish postal service (Poczta Polska) regarding EXPRESS delivery when sender payed for this kind of service ? Or maybe all mail is treated as normal 1st class recorded once it enters UK ? I'm sure other countries also offer EXPRESS service for priority registered mail, so if there is anyone who dealt with this kind of mail it would be nice to know if deliveries are faster or treated any differently.

Disturbing indeed but sadly it doesn't look as if anyone is suggesting I'm wrong about that, and I'm not sure what the implications are for any claim resulting from the absence of any signature on delivery.
I've seen a few EXPRESS, but not Registered, ones from Poland and they're usually delivered just a few days after the Polish postmark but probably only someone from HWDC could explain if they get faster treatment.