Wrong sorting office and wrong postcode.

purpleparrotuk · Post by **purpleparrotuk** » 12 Sep 2016, 21:34

Sent an expensive via special delivery on Saturday. Should have arrived by 1.00 today. I was advised Item had not been received. I checked the tracking and it says your item is progressing though the network. I then phoned up Royal Mail. They said the tracking said it had "arrived out if course" at Tyneside, it was meant be in Sheffield. What makes it worse is that the local post office has put the incorrect postcode on my special delivery slip. It's still a DN postcode but the next digit is wrong. I double checked the address when I wrote it on so I am convinced it was a post office error

Anyhow, even if the postcode was incorrect how did it end up over 2 hours away from them correct office. That last tracking was Sunday when it says Tyneside are sending to Sheffield, no scanning since.

I have asked if I can call the sorting offices up but I have been told they can't help because they are so big. I have also been told I can't claim because of the wrong postcode. That is not my fault though. This is also nothing to do with it going to Tyneside and getting lost. I am worried sick now that the buyer will ask for a refund and I will be out of pocket big time. Surely I have a right to claim after we have waited the allotted time?

Postie45 · Post by **Postie45** » 12 Sep 2016, 21:54

If the start of the postcode was correct then it should have gotten to the correct area, have you checked if that incorrect postcode is in fact an actual postcode in the area where you wanted it to go ?
Whats the latest status on the tracking ? its likely that it will be delivered tomorrow. You probably have a claim to get the postage cost back, if its out of course then thats usually a Royal mail fault in the system, ie someone put it in a wrong bag or something like that on its journey.

purpleparrotuk · Post by **purpleparrotuk** » 12 Sep 2016, 21:57

Postie45 wrote:If the start of the postcode was correct then it should have gotten to the correct area, have you checked if that incorrect postcode is in fact an actual postcode in the area where you wanted it to go ?
Whats the latest status on the tracking ? its likely that it will be delivered tomorrow. You probably have a claim to get the postage cost back, the wrong postcode could be a problem with that though if you mention it to customer services.

The postcode should be DN4. It says DN5 on the receipt. There are only 6 houses in The DN5 postcode so it does exist but not enough houses for the house number that was on my slip.

Date Time Status Track point
11/09/16 10:18 ON ITS WAY TOSHEFFIELD MAIL CENTRE (DN) TYNESIDE MAIL CENTRE
11/09/16 10:18 ARRIVEDOUT OF COURSE TYNESIDE MAIL CENTRE
10/09/16 16:35 ON ITS WAY TOSHEFFIELD MAIL CENTRE (DN) HOME COUNTIES NORTH MC
10/09/16 14:26 ITEM COLLECTED HOME COUNTIES NORTH MC
10/09/16 09:08 SENT AT POST OFFICE 111 Stanbridge R LU

Postie45 · Post by **Postie45** » 12 Sep 2016, 22:03

yeah looks like its headed back where it was supposed to go, looks like human error at some point. Special deliveries are treated very carefully so its unusual that they wont arrive by the specified time, someone probably will get in trouble for this.
I dont want to stick my neck out and guarantee it will be delivered tomorrow but id be amazed if it wasnt. From this evidence you should be able to claim your postage back as the advertised service wasnt provided.

purpleparrotuk · Post by **purpleparrotuk** » 12 Sep 2016, 22:10

Postie45 wrote:yeah looks like its headed back where it was supposed to go, looks like human error at some point. Special deliveries are treated very carefully so its unusual that they wont arrive by the specified time, someone probably will get in trouble for this.
I dont want to stick my neck out and guarantee it will be delivered tomorrow but id be amazed if it wasnt. From this evidence you should be able to claim your postage back as the advertised service wasnt provided.

Thanks. I'm more bothered about the item than the postage. It's £500 if it's gone missing. I was told by 1 person I can't claim for the missing item because of the postcode on the slip. That got nothing to do with it ending up in Tyneside though. If it doesn't get delivered its that problem that has obviously caused it.

Postie45 · Post by **Postie45** » 12 Sep 2016, 22:12

who told you that ? its not true if the item goes permanently missing as you should have filled in a return address on the package, so even if it couldnt be delivered it would be returned. So if it does go missing you should be covered whether the posted address was correct or not.

purpleparrotuk · Post by **purpleparrotuk** » 12 Sep 2016, 22:20

Postie45 wrote:who told you that ? its not true if the item goes permanently missing as you should have filled in a return address on the package, so even if it couldnt be delivered it would be returned. So if it does go missing you should be covered whether the posted address was correct or not.

Thanks, yes I wrote my return address on the back. It was th Royal Mail complaints line that told me that. Fingers crossed it gets there this week though.

Appreciate your advice

Post by **Snaggletooth** » 13 Sep 2016, 06:43

An incorrect or incomplete address / postcode on a Special Delivery item will invalidate a claim for late delivery but will not invalidate a claim for loss or damage. It looks like your item will be delivered today, so you are unlikely to have to claim for loss.

The problem you will have regarding a claim for lateness is the mistake on the receipt, as that is the primary evidence of the address you put on there. Once the parcel has arrived, I would apologise to the buyer and ask politely if the parcel was addressed correctly. If so, ask them to send a photo of the front of the parcel for your claim against Royal Mail. Then submit a P58inland claim form.