Is a postie asked about missing items?

[customersmith]

Unfortunately an item I sent has gone astray, this is very unusual for me, the packages I send although small enough to fit through a letterbox are sturdy and with some weight. I have my own suspicions about what has happened but absolutely no proof what so ever so it would be inappropriate to comment, but I'm going to anyway, right from the off I suspected this one was going to be trouble, nothing concrete but after a few years doing anything I think we all develop an instinct. My question regards the postie who delivered, or according to the customer, didn't deliver the item, is it standard procedure for that postie to be questioned? The customer waited over two weeks before reporting the item "I had to have" (his words) as missing, inexplicably he no longer speaks the Queens English fluently, nor can he now read it, as any attempts to communicate with him are futile. He managed to fill the order form in alright though. Going off the point here, so will the postie be questioned, and if they are and remember delivering the item (a long shot I know) would Royal Mail take any further action?

[wannabeek]

I have been asked about delivery of specific parcels before now, but always within a day or two of delivery.

I'm assuming that the item was not recorded signed for or tracked? The chances of the postie remembering a specific parcel are not good, especially more than two weeks after delivery. It'd be a challenge for me to recall which duty i was covering on a specific day 2 weeks ago, let alone what parcels went where.

I remember from my old ebaying days how some customers would suddenly stop communicating coherently when they were claiming something never arrived. I always had my suspicions, and to be honest I rarely thought it would be the postie to blame. There are rogues in the company, but to risk losing your job or even going to jail just for some old ebay toot? (not to say that's what you're selling, that describes my stuff!)

I can only suggest you follow procedure, as I used to. Put in a claim form using your proof of postage. If there is a rogue postman on delivery then you can be sure that this would not be the only item affected so it is important to register with the company every item which has not arrived.

I have also heard of cases where buyers fraudulently claimed that items were not arriving, again this was picked up on when a pattern of claims involving the same address were registered.

[SpacePhoenix]

When was it posted (and at what time)?

What service was used?

[customersmith]

Thank you for the advice, look's like this is going to play out as a loss. As mentioned I suspected problems and had thought about doing something to the packaging to try and make it really memorable, might give that a go next time. The item was sent 1st class standard tariff, I'd rather not go into anymore detail as there's an outside chance a member of staff handling claims could read the forum. They could possibly join the dots to any claim and that would be unfair as there is no evidence of wrongdoing by anybody.

[janitor]

I assume this wasn't sent by a tracked service, therefore which postie would RM talk to, this would have passed through many hands on its way, to it's intended destination, at which it may or may not have arrived. If it had been sent by a tracked service RM would at least know where it has or hasn't gone astray. In the 17 years I was a postie I was only once asked about a undelivered item, where the intended recipient didn't receive the item or recognise the signature, we retrieved said item, and discovered the intended recipient had given the sender the wrong name and address, and we had delivered it as addressed.

[customersmith]

You are right Janitor this was not tracked, the cost of sending recorded in an average year out weighs the potential compensation value because generally speaking Royal Mail don't loose much, we can't afford to loose anything really but if we do it's still more economical than using recorded. It is possible that the item had an incorrect address but packages are checked twice for correct details and have a return address. Just my opinion but I think the item was delivered just fine.

[LittleRunningNose]

"Just my opinion but I think the item was delivered just fine."

I am having exactly the same problem with one of my customers and know exactly what you mean....but proving it is impossible.