Advice please - broken letterbox

[Diescu1]

Hi there - just wanted your advice about something. Yesterday while I was out (unusual for me as I normally work from home) a book was delivered with such force that it tore the envelope and broke the bottom of the letterbox. I think it also made a mark down the back of the book, although I can't be sure that this wasn't there already as the book's second hand. I really don't think there's a particular issue with my letterbox size as the package measured about 12 inches or so by 9 and a half and there's no draught excluder or any other paraphernalia. I'm going to have to replace the letterbox myself and feel inclined to ask Royal Mail to pay, but I do appreciate that the postie was probably trying to save me a visit to the sorting office rather than vandalise the door (!) and don't want to get him into trouble. Can someone tell me what will happen if I do make a complaint?
Thanks

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Unless he has a history of it, 1 incident shouldn't get him in trouble. I broke 1 letter box when I first started but wasn't aware. As far as I know RM paid for it to be replaced/repaired.

[IcanthelpthewayIam]

on average we open anywhere between 200 and 600 letter boxes a day, multiply that up to around 150,000 letter boxes per year, every now and then one will break, be it because its cheap and nasty or because we have tried to force something too large through it, its an occupational hazard, Royal Mail know this and as long as he is not breaking one every other day he will be ok and probably at worse just be told off

[theboropostie]

I broke one years ago and RM paid for it and I didn't get bollocked too much

[Diescu1]

Thank you so much for your replies! He's a nice chap so I would hate to get him into trouble. Glad it's treated as one of those things. I was going to ask him about it when he delivered the post today while I was working at home, but I'm afraid I bottled it - and it might have been my imagination but I think he beat a fairly hasty retreat after delivering today's mail!
Is it best to try and contact the local office (if they can be contacted directly these days)? Or do you have to go via the RM website? I live in SE London if that's relevant.
Thanks so much again for your help.

[clashcityrocker]

I live in SE London if that's relevant.

Susan?

[NewPostieUK]

Thank you so much for your replies! He's a nice chap so I would hate to get him into trouble..

So just let it go. Why bother complaining?

Just buy yourself a new letterbox. Make sure it good quality and the correct size.

[IcanthelpthewayIam]

Is it best to try and contact the local office (if they can be contacted directly these days)? Or do you have to go via the RM website? I live in SE London if that's relevant.

Calling the local office will only get the postie into trouble and wont fix your door as the office manager does not have the ability to arrange to get the letter box fixed, best thing is to call customer services on 08457 740 740 to sort the situation out you should be able to get it fixed by calling them

[TeeferTiger]

And it was definitely RM who delivered the item? I've been blamed for a cat flap being broken when a) I hadn't delivered anything that day and b) it was HDNL...