PPI mail getting out of hand !!!!!

[2791dean]

Being a collections driver I've seen a lot of changes over the past 16 years in the job, PPI being one of them, I collect a lot of PPi from customers who have a collection but more and more people are not just happy with giving it at collection they are also dropping a hell of a lot into the Post offices I collect from ('m not the only one with this problem I bet!) were not just talking the odd bag here either! first post office of the second run last night for instance saw 28 sacks of ppi mail plus the usual 6 -8 sacks of the post offices own mail! Surely something should be done about this as most of this is more than likely being done to avoid being checked by revenue........and please don't answer by saying "put it all on check!" as I'd never fit it in with short amount of time we have to get in and out of the mail center before finishing! ..... that and the fact that my manager seem alergic to paying any kind of overtime!

Point is were rapidly approaching silly season and there is no way if this continues that I (we'll) be able to deal with this capacity of mail on top of the Xmas pressure mail that will inevitably follow in the coming weeks! So what to do ?? do we collect the Post offices mail as priority and leave behind 1st class PPI ? do we collect and say well if I'm full before the end thats my duty done and can't collect anymore and go and unload (coz theres no way the duty time will allow us to unload and go back to collect on last wave (see issue above with overtime payment too!))

So what do we do?? please take into account that the post offices (not just one all 3!) this PPI mail is being dropped of at are sub post offices that don't have sufficient room to store this amount of PPI mail! One of my post offices actually refused it once on the grounds that they didn't have the room to keep it without blocking up the shop and causing a fire hazzard all the customer did was take it to the next post office along the line!!!! surely if they have transportation to take it to a post office it would be much more effective to take it direct to the mail center a couple of miles further down the road!!!

Steve

[IcanthelpthewayIam]

if there is as much as 28 sacks of mail, then the businesses concerned will probably qualify for a free collection, i would get the post offices to advise the companies of this when dropping the ppi stuff off,

also there is a weight matrix for number of pouches/sacks for each type of van, if your in a combi, 28 sacks is probably over the limit, i would simply fill to limit, go empty van and return to where you were and fill again and continue on route, manager is going to have no come back if you then cut off at your time as long as you have previously advised him(and in front of your union rep) of the significantly larger volumes of mail being sent from the post office and in ability to complete the collection in time

[bogstandard]

You must have the facility to send mail to revenue protection at the MC. I collect ppi from subs and BO's and we red x the lot, that is stick them in a york with a red x label on it bound for the MC, in our area this goes direct to revenue protection.

On another note your TSO's should be contacting you collection hub/DO to inform them of the abnormal posting, anywhere that you collect from (firm or sub) must inform your office of any posting that exceeds their normal posting. i'm sure you'll get the "Oh its only just turned up mate" it is not unreasonable to tell them you will return and collect it if you have the time and spare capacity. Clearly 28 bags above the usual 6-8 is an abnormal posting, and alternative collection methods must be sought.
The reasons for this are
1 this will impact on the time you have available and,
2 the size of vehicle allocated is based on the "normal"volumes of mail collected.
The question you have to put to your manager is, do i fail one collection point or the remainder of the collection?
If the volume of mail is not impacting on your collection times you must have a shed load of gash time or you're rushing or carrying 2,3,4,5 however many bags in one go. Assuming you dont have gash time and you do the job correctly your collection WILL fail, and your manager must answer as to why. Get your union involved. You may have spare capacity in your OMV to accept the extra work but i'm guessing at one bag at a time you don't have the best part of 30 mins spare to clear the sub.

[ratchet]

If the volume of mail is not impacting on your collection times you must have a shed load of gash time or you're rushing or carrying 2,3,4,5 however many bags in one go.

I'm guessing at one bag at a time you don't have the best part of 30 mins spare to clear the sub.

I had no idea you were only supposed to carry one bag at a time ............. I usually carry at least 4

I'm not on a wind up - I have only been doing the job for about 9 months and was shown how to do the job by an experienced postie who collected several bags at a time.

[Lounge Lizard]

if there is as much as 28 sacks of mail, then the businesses concerned will probably qualify for a free collection, i would get the post offices to advise the companies of this when dropping the ppi stuff off,

also there is a weight matrix for number of pouches/sacks for each type of van, if your in a combi, 28 sacks is probably over the limit, i would simply fill to limit, go empty van and return to where you were and fill again and continue on route, manager is going to have no come back if you then cut off at your time as long as you have previously advised him(and in front of your union rep) of the significantly larger volumes of mail being sent from the post office and in ability to complete the collection in time

I've never heard of "a weight matrix for number of pouches/sacks for each type of van". Has anyone on here got the details ?

[rjack]

every van should have a sticker on the dash telling you how much you can load the van up with including passenger ratios ect.

[Lounge Lizard]

every van should have a sticker on the dash telling you how much you can load the van up with including passenger ratios ect.

Dozens of vans, never seen that. Maybe too busy watching the road ahead.

[2791dean]

Its amazing what royal mail managers will turn a blind eye to if it increases productivity! I had my run tested and while in test the tester clearly seen me carrying more than one bag at once and even helped at some pick up points! At the end of the test I asked him if we were doing the test again the next day properly. ......... to which there was no comment!

Steve

[llcoolh]

You have got an easy job mate. Everyone on deliveries ENVIES collection people.

[Godric]

Being a collections driver I've seen a lot of changes over the past 16 years in the job, PPI being one of them, I collect a lot of PPi from customers who have a collection but more and more people are not just happy with giving it at collection they are also dropping a hell of a lot into the Post offices I collect from ('m not the only one with this problem I bet!) were not just talking the odd bag here either! first post office of the second run last night for instance saw 28 sacks of ppi mail plus the usual 6 -8 sacks of the post offices own mail! Surely something should be done about this as most of this is more than likely being done to avoid being checked by revenue........and please don't answer by saying "put it all on check!" as I'd never fit it in with short amount of time we have to get in and out of the mail center before finishing! ..... that and the fact that my manager seem alergic to paying any kind of overtime!

Point is were rapidly approaching silly season and there is no way if this continues that I (we'll) be able to deal with this capacity of mail on top of the Xmas pressure mail that will inevitably follow in the coming weeks! So what to do ?? do we collect the Post offices mail as priority and leave behind 1st class PPI ? do we collect and say well if I'm full before the end thats my duty done and can't collect anymore and go and unload (coz theres no way the duty time will allow us to unload and go back to collect on last wave (see issue above with overtime payment too!))

So what do we do?? please take into account that the post offices (not just one all 3!) this PPI mail is being dropped of at are sub post offices that don't have sufficient room to store this amount of PPI mail! One of my post offices actually refused it once on the grounds that they didn't have the room to keep it without blocking up the shop and causing a fire hazzard all the customer did was take it to the next post office along the line!!!! surely if they have transportation to take it to a post office it would be much more effective to take it direct to the mail center a couple of miles further down the road!!!

Steve

that can't be right we are a parcel company delivering the occasional letter

[redrobber]

if there is as much as 28 sacks of mail, then the businesses concerned will probably qualify for a free collection, i would get the post offices to advise the companies of this when dropping the ppi stuff off,
also there is a weight matrix for number of pouches/sacks for each type of van, if your in a combi, 28 sacks is probably over the limit, i would simply fill to limit, go empty van and return to where you were and fill again and continue on route, manager is going to have no come back if you then cut off at your time as long as you have previously advised him(and in front of your union rep) of the significantly larger volumes of mail being sent from the post office and in ability to complete the collection in time

The point is, they probably don't want a free collection as at some point they would get red crossed for a random check. I reckon they could be free loading this stuff onto royal mail as could any other business who drops off at a post office.
Why royal mail carry on with this system is beyond me as it's wide open to abuse.

[2791dean]

Well said red robber my thoughts exactly, and add for the person who said earlier to red cross it is not just one company but several some don't even put details on the tags! So red crossing it off your own back won't win any prizes either it needs to be pulled at source and checked !

Steve

[SpacePhoenix]

I don't think you're even supposed to collect it if there isn't any docket to go with it. I remember we saw a video a while back during a wtl. Try contacting your local RP person

[PhilthyPhil]

The point is, they probably don't want a free collection as at some point they would get red crossed for a random check. I reckon they could be free loading this stuff onto royal mail as could any other business who drops off at a post office.
Why royal mail carry on with this system is beyond me as it's wide open to abuse.

The post office should not accept ppi unless it has a posting docket. Also the mail should be sent to RP. If anything ppi posted at a post office should receive more scrutiny than ppi we collect directly from firms

[2791dean]

Been through Dom with this, transport manager and all day they have the right to do so, dockets either in yellow pouch hanging from one of the sacks or given to pay office counter staff to hand to us.

There needs to be a better system for this as it is open to abuse on many levels, maybe ppi contracts shouldn't be given without a collection being given? ?

Steve