As far as i am aware DTN should always be attempted as per the agreement unless you believe there is a risk to the security of the parcel. In our office no one has been taken down the conduct route for parcels that go missing when delivering to the neighbour. Royal mail just have to take it on the chin, after all it's their rules.
Time to knock on neighbours doors is obviously a whole different conversation in how long the duty takes.
Royal Mail standard
In June this year (2014), we issued a national guideline with the CWU that Delivery to Neighbour is now a Royal Mail standard. This means where no opt out exists and it's safe and secure, Delivery to Neighbour must be attempted every time a customer is not in.
I Wrote-During Covid-Which is still relevant now
It's good to get these types of threads, the ridiculous my manager said bollox, so we can reassure ourselves that while the world is falling apart, Royal Mail managers are still being the low-life C***S they have always been. My BFF Clash The daily grind of having to argue your case with an intellectual pigmy of a line manager is physically and emotionally draining.
I deliver to a council estate full of flats and tower blocks which house all sorts of people including smackheads, scuzzers and down and outs from all nationalities. I won't take anything to a neighbour on there. The other half of my delivery is to shared student houses. Same again!
Disgraceful that DTN is now mandatory. Postman's local knowledge is handy but what if you unknowingly give a parcel for someone to a neighbour who they are in dispute with? If that person says they don't have it, will the Postman be held liable? Should the police get involved, who carries the blame?
It reminded me of the time when there was a note pinned to a door telling me to leave any packets with the neighbour. On chapping their door they said that they would take it in but that they weren't happy about it as they weren't asked. The fellow told me that the neighbour had had a 40" TV delivered and that it lay in his hallway for a fortnight until they returned from holiday!
Yes,I went to one on my walk and the neighbour pointed to a double bed mattress in his hallway...."Yes I'll take it,but that's his as well,been here a week"
Royal Mail standard
In June this year (2014), we issued a national guideline with the CWU that Delivery to Neighbour is now a Royal Mail standard. This means where no opt out exists and it's safe and secure, Delivery to Neighbour must be attempted every time a customer is not in.
What should I do if I don’t think the mail is safe and secure?
The national guideline we agreed with the CWU states postmen and women 'will continue to have the sole responsibility to decide if, when, and where, it is appropriate to deliver to a neighbour'.
‘However, alternative delivery addresses should always be attempted except where the delivery OPG has reviewed or risk-assessed the alternative neighbour delivery options and has significant concerns over either their own safety, or the security of the item.’