Anger over Christmas post tampering

[theflyingpostman]

http://www.hemeltoday.co.uk/news/Anger- ... 3633336.jp

By Jonathan Matfin

ANGRY Hemel Hempstead residents claim dozens of letters, cards and parcels were tampered with in the mail over Christmas.
According to several people, post was received across the town during the festive season that had been opened or had items missing.

In the latest wave of complaints, Pamela Spencer, of Gadebridge, said she received an envelope before Christmas that was empty – it should have contained a card and photos from a relative in France.

She said: "It was just an opened envelope.
"The corner had been torn right off – the stamps and all."

Mrs Spencer said she only knew who the envelope was from because her relative had written his address on the back.

Reginald Hollick, of Warners End, said he received Christmas cards on two separate occasions that had been 'completely opened', although nothing inside was missing.

Keith Print, also of Warners End, emailed hemeltoday to say he had received two parcels during the festive season that had both been opened.

Mandy Watson, from Woodhall Farm, said she had received two letters from her bank – one on Christmas Eve – that had been opened and placed in plastic bags used by Royal Mail for delivering damaged post.
In a more bizarre complaint, an elderly lady from Leverstock Green, who did not wish to be named, said she posted a membership form
with a cheque and stamped-addressed envelope to an RAF club in Lincolnshire over Christmas.

The pensioner said she received her own envelope back in the post just a day later – no membership card was inside and it was post-marked Hemel Hempstead.

Royal Mail spokesman Nick Martins said the company could only investigate allegations of tampered mail if it received complaints directly.

He said: "To pursue this you need to go through our customer services.
"If there is an issue then they might be able to target some sort of investigation."

He added: "Royal Mail takes the issue of the security and safety of the mail very seriously."
Residents with concerns about suspicious post are asked to call Royal Mail on 08457 740 740.

Have you had any problems with the post over Christmas? Click here to tell us your story.

[donut]

Here`s the answer great british public " SEAL THE BLOODY ENVELOPE " and don`t just push the flap
inside the envelope ........problem solved !!!

[DGP1]

I think most of the damage comes from the post being eaten by the sorting machines, I know I delivered a lot of damaged mail over the Christmas period all in little plastic bags.

[Spedley]

Another story using bad language. "Opened letter", if they want to accuse their postman of theft or whatever then do so but if they mean damaged then they should say that. Damaged in a plastic bag which says 'sorry, your item has been damaged' is not an opened letter.

Grrrrrr. Don't you just want to slap somebody sometimes.

[axeman]

delivered a mailsort item once that was not sealed the recipent came to the door 'this is open he said' so i tried to explain, he was trying my patientce so i told him to give it back and i take it and get it sealed 'officialy' think he got the mesage !!

[dvbuk55]

Here`s the answer great british public " SEAL THE BLOODY ENVELOPE " and don`t just push the flap
inside the envelope ........problem solved !!!

You would think sealing the envelope would be the answer wouldn't you - well I can honestly say I've had my doubts myself. Try taking a round robin of the mail you prep and then see how many birthday cards look like they've been tampered with before they get to you - I did once and was amazed at the ratio of mail that looked like it had been damaged/tampered with or listening to customers complaining about cards that hadn't arrived. I personally don't think the customer is a million miles away from the mark and I don't think it is the delivery staff.

[Thorby Bislam]

If it's in a damage bag, it's 'job done', a successful delivery.
If, or more accurately, when, I get damaged or open mail on my frame, I always put it in a damage bag
before delivery. Not because I'm a good boy (lol) but because it's my arse on the line.
If a householder complains about it, it'd come straight back to me

[not me]

yup i do the same.i usually keep a damaged bag in my pouch as well as occasionally the bands can catch the edge of an envelope when you remove them

[dvbuk55]

As far as I'm aware damaged mail should only be dealt with by the locker - sticky tape and damaged bags should be date stamped. Mind you that was in the past - maybe its different now.

[Lounge Lizard]

Here`s the answer great british public " SEAL THE BLOODY ENVELOPE " and don`t just push the flap
inside the envelope ........problem solved !!!

I remember when it was cheaper to post unsealed envelopes (3d) than sealed ones (4d). That though was before automated sorting machines and before accusations of tampering with mail.

[norbet colon]

If it's in a damage bag, it's 'job done', a successful delivery.
If, or more accurately, when, I get damaged or open mail on my frame, I always put it in a damage bag
before delivery. Not because I'm a good boy (lol) but because it's my arse on the line.
If a householder complains about it, it'd come straight back to me

straight into surcharge with me to be officially resealed , if you find anything amiss , also you don't know if it's a IB plant

[not me]

As far as I'm aware damaged mail should only be dealt with by the locker - sticky tape and damaged bags should be date stamped. Mind you that was in the past - maybe its different now.

not in our office.free for all

[dvbuk55]

Here`s the answer great british public " SEAL THE BLOODY ENVELOPE " and don`t just push the flap
inside the envelope ........problem solved !!!

I remember when it was cheaper to post unsealed envelopes (3d) than sealed ones (4d). That though was before automated sorting machines and before accusations of tampering with mail.

Was that before the war? I can barely remember d's.

[Lounge Lizard]

Here`s the answer great british public " SEAL THE BLOODY ENVELOPE " and don`t just push the flap
inside the envelope ........problem solved !!!

I remember when it was cheaper to post unsealed envelopes (3d) than sealed ones (4d). That though was before automated sorting machines and before accusations of tampering with mail.

Was that before the war? I can barely remember d's.

Depends which war ! My memory stretches back to childhood in the 1960s, and 3d (1.25p) for postcards and unsealed letters and 4d (1.67p) for sealed letters were the rates for a few years before first and second class post was introduced in 1968.

[dvbuk55]

Well I have to hold my hand up and say that I wasn't in England much during the sixties and early seventies and decimal coinage started whilst I was away and I remember being on a Birmingham railway platform getting a cup of tea and a ham roll and asking the attendant where my 10 bob note was and her pointing to a peculiar shaped coin - and I don't feel as though I've had any money since.