Threatened by a customer

[PleasedButSticky]

Hi all

I've only been with RM a few weeks. I'm on a round this week and a customer has come up to me ,Mon and Tue, walking a mile up the road away from his home, just to ask me for his mail. He says he has ID but I've told him it's at the bottom of the trolley (which it pretty much is), he has wasted at least 10 minutes of my time a day complaining that he is not getting his mail because of the timer on his flats communal door (somehow that's RMs fault), he even follows me round getting in my way.

He then TOLD me to deliver to his block of flats at the start of my round because all the other posties do, I tried to explain to him that I don't have spare time on the round to do that but he just kept whining. He had been with me for 10 minutes at this point again following me, I said something like 'I'm sorry, I understand your problem but I don't have time to talk, please feel free to speak to my manager if you feel I am doing something wrong or if we can improve the service'.

He then became verbally abusive, I told him I didn't want any trouble, he replied "when I start making trouble for you you're going to know about it" he moved toward me and pointed in my face and said "you start delivering to my place first or you life is going to become very unpleasant".

I'm actually worried he's going to get violent tomorrow and I fight like a sedated sloth. Ironic thing is he walks a mile to harass me but the office is only half a mile away, I think he is just looking for trouble.

I'll speak to my manager tomorrow but can anyone offer advice in the meantime? Is there a hidden taser in my PDA? Any wrestling moves you can recommended?

[scrapsaturdays]

Tell the managers and insist the police are informed. If you don't feel safe to continue on this delivery it is RM responsibility to ensure your safety, therefore they need to move you.

[maisymoo04]

Al be down in the morning al point my fist in his face

[bustedflush]

Hi all

I've only been with RM a few weeks. I'm on a round this week and a customer has come up to me ,Mon and Tue, walking a mile up the road away from his home, just to ask me for his mail. He says he has ID but I've told him it's at the bottom of the trolley (which it pretty much is), he has wasted at least 10 minutes of my time a day complaining that he is not getting his mail because of the timer on his flats communal door (somehow that's RMs fault), he even follows me round getting in my way.

He then TOLD me to deliver to his block of flats at the start of my round because all the other posties do, I tried to explain to him that I don't have spare time on the round to do that but he just kept whining. He had been with me for 10 minutes at this point again following me, I said something like 'I'm sorry, I understand your problem but I don't have time to talk, please feel free to speak to my manager if you feel I am doing something wrong or if we can improve the service'.

He then became verbally abusive, I told him I didn't want any trouble, he replied "when I start making trouble for you you're going to know about it" he moved toward me and pointed in my face and said "you start delivering to my place first or you life is going to become very unpleasant".

I'm actually worried he's going to get violent tomorrow and I fight like a sedated sloth. Ironic thing is he walks a mile to harass me but the office is only half a mile away, I think he is just looking for trouble.

I'll speak to my manager tomorrow but can anyone offer advice in the meantime? Is there a hidden taser in my PDA? Any wrestling moves you can recommended?

Obviously he has a job which allows him to leave work for an hour and follow you about? OH! Don't tell me, another of the benefits-brigade? You need to report it to the manger, if you feel in ANY danger you have every right to refuse the whole area until this is addressed, and report it to your CWU rep too to cover your back. The same rules about aggressive dogs roaming apply to aggressive 'people' too.....

[PleasedButSticky]

Thanks all, In all seriousness I do feel like I will be in danger if I do the round tomorrow and I don't cut off to do this guys post as he demanded. I was about an hour late going along that stretch of road today so he must wait around for me, obviously a man with time on his hands whose main source of entertainment is bullying people I will report it to the manager in the morning, *hopefully* he will do something about it. It's a shame, it's a nice round other than him.

maisymoo, if your phone goes about 12:30 it'll be me requesting backup

[ploppy]

Inform your manager and union rep and point blank refuse to go out again on that walk until its sorted.You are not paid enough to have to put up with that shite.I thought those days were gone when on Giro days you were getting harassed by the workshy wannabe hardmen.

[bustedflush]

OK - a little idea. IF you see this tosspot approach, have your phone ready to audio record the exchange with him. It won't be obvious unlike filming as it will record from your pocket.

[spiderj]

Take your phone
When he approaches
Inform him you feel threatened
If he continues ask him to leave you alone
If he keeps going
Dial 999 and run
Try and be aware of any witnesses etc
Tell your manager first thing and rep if there's one there

Unfortunately this happens
Stay cool and remember its not worth a bruise or five

[venger]

Tell your manager and insist the police are involved.

[Ozzvaldo]

A couple of years ago I was pushed off my bike, threatened with further physical violence and told that I would be followed home from work and my house torched when I refused to hand over a giro to some scrote in the street.

He had "previous" and he got sentenced to 6 months in jail after I reported him to the police.

[monkeymutha]

If I was you I would not be doing that round tomorrow. Let the manager do it, and I bet they would go in pairs.

[NWpostie]

I would refuse to deliver there tomorrow, your safety is more important than a pay check, if they push it threaten to go sick with stress and the reasons will made in a grievance if necessary, INVOLVE your union.

[Himaggen]

• When providing information to your Manager, give all of the facts including time, what was actually said or done by the customer, the context of the incident (i.e. what happened just prior to the incident) and whether any witnesses were present. If there were any witnesses to the incident you should attempt to obtain their names, addresses and contact numbers if possible
• Once an incident has been brought to your manager's attention they will follow through your complaint and decide on an appropriate course of action
• Your manager will explain what actions they intend to take
• Some incidents may be distressing for you. You might want to discuss the incident with HELP employee assistance on 0800 6888 777.

[bigbazza]

Ideal world DROP him and shove his post down his throat.
In the real world get your manager to go out and see him.

[PleasedButSticky]

Thanks for all the replies and advice - much appreciated.

I told the manager this morning, he was quite blasé abut it, apparently this guy is very well known for harassing postmen, and the police have been involved before. But 'it's OK because he's never attacked anyone'. I told him he was aggressive and made threats, and the response was 'just ignore him'.

I was put on the same round again today, and not far from the start I noticed the same guy who threatened me, he was acting like he was waiting for a bus but watching me to see if I cut off my round to do as he had demanded, it was sunny out and he had a hood over his head and some glasses on, the guy is obviously not right in the head. Anyway, he didn't walk down to bother me where he usually does which is something.

I'll see how it goes, if I see this cretin again and he starts I'll just leg it and phone the police.