Postmen demanding your full name, for signed for items

[widewind]

Though I would post here as this is where most of you postmen go. I know this is not royal mail, so don't worry.

Not long ago I had an item delivered to my door that is signed for. Normally the postman comes to my door and says they have a signed for item. I then sign for it and that’s how it should be. Always has been

A bad postman who does know me as he has delivered before, gave me a knock and had an item that needed to be signed for. Well fine except he demanded that I give him my full name. He claims this is a new thing. Well it's not to me as I have not heard anything about it or is that correct. I said, I would not do that and something I had never been asked before. He said well just give me your first name initial then. I said no as their is no legal requirement for me to give that and for privacy reasons. It ended up an a argument with the post man. He refused to give me my item, because I would not tell him my full name.

I had to call and make a complaint. Royal mail did agree on the phone that this was a bad service that I should of not had and that they scan in the name or something, on the item. Anyway I have to wait for proper response.

I want to make clear that for privacy reason, that royal mail staff don't have a legal right to demand someone’s full name to receive a signed for item. A signature is required and that’s it. You can refuse to deliver if the customer won’t sign for it. So long as it's delivered to the right address it's meant to, this is not needed.

Considering I am the only one who opens the door anyway, there is no need to ask for full names and not something the customer has to provide.

This is like something from Nazi Germany where you have to confirm you details before the postman gives you your items.

[DGP1]

There might have been a lot of people claiming they didn't sign for things in that office, although some managers issue these instructions without knowing the rules.

[freelunch]

The postman is providing a service for the customer sending the 'signed for' item.
He records the name of the recipient and obtains their signature.
This isn't always the name on the address label.

[widewind]

I had the response to the complaint today and it was quite poor. Basically they said that, the postman followed correct procedures and they do need to take an initial and surname.

Well I am not happy about this, so called up again and am now escalating it. The lady at royal mail agreed about the confusion. I asked her where it said, on the website or where it says, royal mail staff can demand details like that. She could not and agreed this needs to be answered correctly, as I am being given conflicting advice. From others at RM.

If this was correct, then their would be some leaflet or be on the website for customers to see it. Royal mail don't seem to be very organised or know the rules correctly. No wonder there is so many complaints about them and in a mess.

Just to clarify, I had no issue signing for the item but demanding my full name when it's never been asked before. Btw the name on 99% of my mail just shows my surname. Like Mr Bloggs. that is all postman at most, could of confirmed.

Anyone who can link to where it says above?

I may be contacting the regulators about this and maybe even BBC watchdog if this is not sorted and confirmed, denied correctly.
.

[IcanthelpthewayIam]

The correct procedure is to take the name of the person signing for the item, it always has been, what has changed though was in the past you signed a pod sheet (the old paper method) and the person doing the signing printed their own name in, but more usually than not did not bother with a first name or only gave an initial, now we use a PDA to record the signature and details, on the PDA the postman is the one who types in the name of the person receiving the item, this has also been lax but now with more and more ebay disputes and claims it is being reinforced to posties to do the job correctly and take the full name of the person signing for the item.

I want to make clear that for privacy reason, that royal mail staff don't have a legal right to demand someone’s full name to receive a signed for item. A signature is required and that’s it. You can refuse to deliver if the customer won’t sign for it. So long as it's delivered to the right address it's meant to, this is not needed.

Actually they do need your full name so as the customer knows who signed for the item, read the below page note it says the name of the person signing for the item not just the surname

http://www.royalmail.com/personal/help- ... n-delivery" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;


You are quite correct we cannot insist on you giving a name, however if you are not willing to give us your name the postie should simply return the item to sender as being refused, he should not get into any sort of argument, the customer is the sneer and they have paid us to record the name of the person signing for the item at the address, they have chosen to send the item by a service like this, Royal Mail offers a variety of services for sending mail and if a customer chooses to insist on using a service that requires a signature that is the customers prerogative just as it's exactly your prerogative to give your name and sign for it or not (also worth noting that we do not verify names so if you want to say your name is Mickey Mouse then that's what gets typed in, we don't ask for proof of name or even signature)

[eric the viking]

At parcelforce if there is not a first name or an initial then it is flagged as a signature failure and we get told off.

[White Van]

At parcelforce if there is not a first name or an initial then it is flagged as a signature failure and we get told off.

Yep, Surname and first initial (ask someone for their first name because we all have to think about our first initial) followed by the .. if it's to a neighbour.

Maybe this is why the customer is a bit worried, surname and initial are recorded for tracking purposes and I'm happy to tell people that their signature isn't recorded on a database somewhere for comparison.

[SpacePhoenix]

and I'm happy to tell people that their signature isn't recorded on a database somewhere for comparison.

I think it does get stored on a database for a while can't remember if it was RM's tracking page, PFs tracking page or both but I remember an option on one to view the signature provided

[eric the viking]

and I'm happy to tell people that their signature isn't recorded on a database somewhere for comparison.

I think it does get stored on a database for a while can't remember if it was RM's tracking page, PFs tracking page or both but I remember an option on one to view the signature provided

Dont miss quote me . I said no such thing.

[widewind]

I spoke with RM escalations today and some of what was said.


I was told it's up to the desecration of the postman what they ask for. I have put my concerns, what I said above, across and and they are getting back to me but he did agree that just giving my surname, should not be an issue. Especially if it’s on the mail like that.

Was told it's not about rules, regulations. Problem with that is, without the policies rules, how does anyone know what is excepted and what is not? This is going to cause more issues like I had in future. Policies should be across the board and not up to individual postmen, or the sorting office manager. Unless exceptions are agreed.

That link zx135 posted, does note explicitly say, you need to give your full name. It shown an example and the escalations pointed that out but it still does not say, we need your full name.

I found this page and again, nothing to say, that RM won't deliver if you don't provide a full name for signed for items
http://www.royalmail.com/personal/help- ... -something" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;.

I pointed out that asking for someone’s name, will not stop fraud or stop the scams online. Asking for a full name, does not prove anything. The service you are paying for, is a signature to the address the item is posted to.

Anyway have to wait another few weeks for them to get back about what they can do and the issues raised.


When I used to sign the old paper thing RM used, I never had a problem. It would say example,
Mr Bloggs and printed name, Mr Bloggs. Was never an issue.

[coxie]

You'd be surprised how many people sign for something then deny getting it. The postman do this to cover themselves and so the customer who sent the item can see who signed for it. Don't make a big deal out of it just tell him a fake name if you don't want him knowing your real name. In most other walks of life if you sign for something you print your name too, so why should signing for a parcel be any different. Remember the customer is the person who sent the item not the person receiving it, it bewilders me why you'd go to such lengths to get the postie in trouble when he didn't do anything wrong other than keep the mail secure.

[widewind]

As I said above, that very same postman had delivered signed for items, many times before and never demanded my full name. So am not getting him in to trouble and clearly when royal mail seem to make up the rules as the go along. Or when it suits them.

Since RM have been privatised, they have got steadily worse and think they can do what they like. Seen so many complaints about them.

In most other walks of life I have dealt with, I have not had to do that. I receive items delivered by my Hermes and I always sign like, Mr Bloggs. They don't demand I give my full name or initial. Especially when it’s not addressed to me on the packet like that. I don't see what RM problem is when the name on the item addressed to me, says My surname only.

If items sent to my address just has a surname on, then by rights that is all they should be asking. If any other names are not on their, then why expect customers to tell them that?

But in future, I will make up a name. Lets see if the useless RM kick up a fuss about that.

Another thing, a name is nothing more than a legal fiction.

[TrueBlueTerrier]

The force is heavy on this one padawan.

What I think is happening is that the poor old postie is the one caught in the middle. There is probably a jobs worth manager insisting on full details for every scan, indeed he may be a new manager in the office, and yourself who is aggrieved by the change in process.

There is no excuse for bad manners, but you'll appreciate that there is a lot of stress passed down from above with targets for this, targets for that, you must deliver by, you must achieve 95% delivery of all packets, delivering to neighbours, being disciplined for minor infractions or even just plain simple mistakes. I think you may just have had a bad day at the same time and this is the result.

Be a little empathetic when you next interact with them and I' think the service will return to normal. One things for sure posties don't change systems that work, managers do seem to adopt a different approach sometimes.

[White Van]

The force is heavy on this one padawan.

What I think is happening is that the poor old postie is the one caught in the middle. There is probably a jobs worth manager insisting on full details for every scan, indeed he may be a new manager in the office, and yourself who is aggrieved by the change in process.

There is no excuse for bad manners, but you'll appreciate that there is a lot of stress passed down from above with targets for this, targets for that, you must deliver by, you must achieve 95% delivery of all packets, delivering to neighbours, being disciplined for minor infractions or even just plain simple mistakes. I think you may just have had a bad day at the same time and this is the result.

Be a little empathetic when you next interact with them and I' think the service will return to normal. One things for sure posties don't change systems that work, managers do seem to adopt a different approach sometimes.

Are they signing on behalf of an address or a person?

[coxie]

My manager always says get the name of the person signing so there's no comebacks and if they claim they didn't get it you can say who signed for it.