HELP!!! PARCEL NOT DELIVERED

milsteven · Post by **milsteven** » 26 Feb 2019, 09:16

I sent a parcel 2nd class signed for on the 15/02/2019 but unfortunately the cashier at the PO entered part of wrong post code!! SE instead of SG!! It seems to be going back and forth from Gatwick to the Home Counties sorting office. The address is correct on the parcel so I can't understand why it has been passed back again to Gatwick.
Will this ever get to correct address in Hertfordshire??

Post by **SpacePhoenix** » 26 Feb 2019, 10:15

What's the barcode number?

It's strange because I'm fairly sure that Gatwick MC doesn't cover the SE postcode area

Post by **Snaggletooth** » 26 Feb 2019, 10:50

Royal Mail staff won't see what the PO clerk typed in unless they go out of their way to check it on the tracking system - this is very unusual. It might happen if there is a problem with the destination address.

However, as SP says this does not explain the bouncing around to Gatwick, as they don't cover SE. Is your address covered by Gatwick, by any chance?

tabact · Post by **tabact** » 26 Feb 2019, 13:47

Snaggletooth wrote:Royal Mail staff won't see what the PO clerk typed in unless they go out of their way to check it on the tracking system - this is very unusual. It might happen if there is a problem with the destination address.

If it's a regular size parcel it will be sorted by machine at HCN. If the 2D barcode has an incorrect postcode it could cause a problem if the machine thinks it is an outwards packet rather than inwards and gives preference to the barcode over the written address. It doesn't explain going to Gatwick though unless that is the return address MC.

milsteven · Post by **milsteven** » 26 Feb 2019, 16:45

The postcode that the PO entered was SE4 9ES, the correct postcode should have been SG4 9ES!! so I'm not sure what's going on. It's a really important parcel, but I don't seem to be getting anywhere where I ring .

Post by **SpacePhoenix** » 26 Feb 2019, 18:00

Just googled both postcodes, looks like SE4 9ES doesn't exist. What's the first two letters of the postcode on the return address?

milsteven · Post by **milsteven** » 26 Feb 2019, 18:33

CV8 is my address, but not sure I put my house number on it :(
Surely they should still be able to deliver if the rest of address is correct??

tabact · Post by **tabact** » 26 Feb 2019, 20:05

The SE4 postcode is invalid so if processed by machine it would use the written address or it would be rejected to be sorted manually. Something weird is going on if it has ended up at Gatwick as it would have come into HCN from South Mids to then be sorted to Hitchin. The SE4 mistake should be irrelevant and unless something has happened to the labelling of the parcel there shouldn't be any reason for it not to be sent to Hitchin.
What is the barcode number you are using to get the information of it's progress?

milsteven · Post by **milsteven** » 27 Feb 2019, 06:37

GK845782542GB , but the extra info about where it's been has been given to me when I've phoned up. They have been able to see where it's been scanned in, which is now twice in Gatwick and once in Home Counties

tabact · Post by **tabact** » 27 Feb 2019, 08:57

milsteven wrote:GK845782542GB , but the extra info about where it's been has been given to me when I've phoned up. They have been able to see where it's been scanned in, which is now twice in Gatwick and once in Home Counties

I did wonder how you knew where a signed for packet had been. It's been through the machine at HCN because they don't scan parcels that are for local offices when sorted manually and it's obviously read the barcode so it shouldn't have been possible for it to be sent to Gatwick. The machine may have rejected the packet to be sorted manually due to the conflicting information between the barcode and the written address, at that stage something has indicated it should be sent to Gatwick. A label from another packet may have got stuck to yours when being sent to HCN. It shouldn't take more than a couple of days to come back from Gatwick to HCN and then be delivered so if hasn't shown up there must be an issue with the labelling, particularly as it has gone to Gatwick twice. It doesn't help you now but at least the barcode will identify your parcel as yours if it ends up being sent to the returns centre in Belfast.

milsteven · Post by **milsteven** » 27 Feb 2019, 10:42

How can I get the parcel back if it ever reaches Belfast??

tabact · Post by **tabact** » 27 Feb 2019, 11:10

As long as returns can identify a return address to send it to you should get it back. You've got your postcode on it and the barcode will flag up on the tracking systems. If customer services also have your name and address and it doesn't make it to Hitchin it should eventually get back to you. Unfortunately it sounds like it has got stuck in a loop between the mail centres for some reason. Gatwick serves the BN & RH postcodes so SG wouldn't be sent there for local delivery. Mistakes can be made but to go twice there must be a problem with the address on the parcel. Unfortunately all you can do is keep contacting customer services to see where it last was.

Post by **TrueBlueTerrier** » 27 Feb 2019, 11:16

I think you now need to contact the official Royal Mail customer services

There are 3 ways:

1/ Twitter @royalmailhelp
2/ Phone 03457 740 740.
3/ Web form https://personal.custhelp.com/app/webforms/claim" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; -
(help page for the web form) https://personal.help.royalmail.com/app ... l/a_id/325" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

The more details you can give the better the chance of recovery.