'It's like a member of our family has died': Wimbledon dad takes on Royal Mail after daughter's beloved toy goes missing in the post

[TrueBlueTerrier]

http://www.yourlocalguardian.co.uk/news ... _the_post/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;?

A father from Wimbledon is taking on the might of the Royal Mail after his young daughter’s beloved soft toy went missing in the post.

‘Poppy’, a small Dalmatian soft toy, was supposed to be delivered to nine-year-old Livia Michaels at her home in Merton Hall Gardens on August 3, after it had accidentally been left at the house of a friend in Kent. However, despite being sent by recorded delivery, the package never arrived.


Livia’s father, Adrian Michaels, contacted the Royal Mail and was told that the package had been delivered at 8.55am and signed for by nine-year-old Livia.

Mr Michaels insists that he was in the house at this time and no package came, and says he was told by Royal Mail that it was impossible to find out who had been responsible for delivering Poppy as they were in the middle of changing over their electronic systems.

Mr Michaels said: “Livia is extremely distressed and crying frequently. It is honestly like a member of our family has died.

“Her big sister Anna picked Poppy out for her when either she was just born or just about to arrive. She’s slept with it almost every night since then. It’s been two weeks since she went missing, and she’s still having trouble sleeping.

“We just don’t know what to tell her. Now I’ve got a nine-year-old girl who’s wondering who in the world you can trust if you can’t trust the Royal Mail.”

Mr Michaels says he has spent the last two weeks desperately asking neighbours if they may have received the package by mistake, and a poster of missing Poppy is currently displayed on their front door.

Spokeswoman for the Royal Mail, Sally Hopkins, said: “Royal Mail would like to apologise to Mr Michaels as he did not on this occasion receive the high quality of service we are committed to deliver to our customers.


“We handle millions of items every day across the UK and every item of mail is important to us, and we regularly remind all our postmen and women of the correct delivery procedures.

“Mr Michaels should contact our customer service team so we can investigate fully and update him directly.”

Mr Michaels said he has been in contact with the Royal Mail several times, who have opened an investigation into what happened, and the family are still clinging onto the hope that Poppy will make it home.

Mr Michaels added: “We bought Livia a toy rabbit called Trevor in Covent Garden to try and make her feel better, but to be honest he’s a very poor substitute.

“My little girl is so upset. We just want our dog back

[thehobbit]

"Livia’s father, Adrian Michaels, contacted the Royal Mail and was told that the package had been delivered at 8.55am and signed for by nine-year-old Livia."



nine year olds signing for parcels now ??? ,

[aiden01]

"Livia’s father, Adrian Michaels, contacted the Royal Mail and was told that the package had been delivered at 8.55am and signed for by nine-year-old Livia."



nine year olds signing for parcels now ??? ,

why not see kids from 6yrs onwards running about with mobile phones

[Nondescript]

The kid has probably flushed it down the toilet or something and has said it didn't arrive to avoid getting into trouble. Either that or it was 'delivered' by a runner to one of their wheelie bins.

[enskied]

Get a grip.. If yhe beloved toy was so beloved..like a member of the family, why oh why was she lese behind ? Cameron at least was in a pub.

But, impossible to trace due to whae?
Boolocks...Office in melt down no one on their assigned duty..all hands everywhere more like.

[k979aaa]

If it was that special why not send it by special delivery you get what you pay for at the end of the day.

[aiden01]

If it was that special why not send it by special delivery you get what you pay for at the end of the day.

[DB1100]

It's a toy ffs,how the heck will that child cope with a real tragedy.

[sean38]

last seen in next doors dogs mouth running round the garden lol.as postman lobed it over the wrong back garden

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Homeward bound: Happy ending for Wimbledon family as beloved toy dog lost in the post makes it safely home

http://www.yourlocalguardian.co.uk/news ... fely_home/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;




A Wimbledon family are celebrating after a beloved soft toy that went missing in the post was returned to them safely.

The Wimbledon Guardian reported last week that ‘Poppy’, a small Dalmatian soft toy, had gone missing on its way home to nine-year-old Livia Michaels in Merton Hall Gardens.

August 17: 'It's like a member of our family has died': Wimbledon dad takes on Royal Mail after daughter's beloved toy goes missing in the post

The toy, a lifelong companion which had accidentally been left at a friend’s house in Kent, was supposed to be delivered on August 3. Despite being sent by recorded delivery, the toy did not arrive.


When Livia’s father, Adrian Michaels, originally contacted the Royal Mail, he said he was told their systems showed Poppy had been delivered on that day and signed for by Livia. He was also told it was impossible to find out who was responsible for the error or where Poppy actually was, as they were changing their electronic systems.

Mr Michaels, who had said his daughter was unable to sleep without Poppy and had been crying frequently, is now happy to say that Poppy made it safely home on Friday, August 19, after it emerged that she was incorrectly posted through the letterbox of a neighbour who had been away on holiday for three weeks.

Royal Mail now say they have spoken to the postman responsible for the mistake, and offered compensation and a Build-a-Bear voucher to the Michaels family.

Mr Michaels said: “Poppy is now on holiday with us in Sweden.



“We have been contacted several times by the Royal Mail chairman’s office. They have said they will be following up with the delivery person who did not follow their correct procedures and I believe that they will.

“Although the postal service originally made some bad mistakes and created a lot of distress in our house, Royal Mail has taken our complaints seriously and followed up as best they can.


“I would like to thank the Wimbledon Guardian for its initial story which I believe helped us, certainly stirred extra concern at the Royal Mail and speeded any offers of compensation.”

Livia said: “I am so relieved and pleased and happy that Poppy has come back. I know that I will sleep much better now.”

However, the ending may not be as happy for “poor substitute” toy Trevor the rabbit, who was bought after Poppy’s disappearance, as Mr Michaels said: “Livia says that Trevor is happy that he has got to meet Poppy, but he doesn’t know if he may be abandoned in the future or continue to receive lots of love.

“I saw him on the first night Poppy was back and he was looking a bit lost and alone on the sofa. But he is on holiday with us too and seems to be getting his share of attention.

“The Build-a-Bear voucher will certainly add to the mix, but to be honest I don’t see a third interloper breaking into the coveted night time schedule.”

Royal Mail spokesperson Sally Hopkins said: "Royal Mail is pleased that Poppy and Livia have been reunited and we have offered compensation to the Michaels family as an apology.

"We have spoken to the postman concerned and will again be reminding our postmen and women in Wimbledon of the correct delivery procedures to ensure this doesn't happen again."

[tiredm]

With one breath RM say it's impossible to identify the postman in question due to technological reasons. The next that they have spoken to the postman in question. lying is second nature to RM.