Pre-paid postage in to post box instead of post office

[daisyhars]

Long story but im hoping someone can help ...

I'm from Leicester but i went to the theatre in London where i lost my phone. It was found a few days later and the theatre worker said they'd post it back as long as i sent them a pre-paid label. I printed a "guaranteed by 1pm the next day label" :

Postage Cost
£8.85
Post by the end of
02.02.2022
Paid and printed from
Click & Drop

It also has a barcode on it and a QR code. Anyway, the person sending it back has put it in the postbox instead of taking it to a post office.
Will it still find its way to me?

I'm really appreciative of any help you can give me regarding this!
Daisy

[Snaggletooth]

Special Deliveries have a separate pipeline to the normal mail. Your item will be added to that pipeline if someone spots the error and moves it across. Otherwise it might travel all the way in the normal mail.

A bigger problem may be that mobile phone = lithium battery = special handling required under the Dangerous Goods Act.

[daisyhars]

yikes ... have a feeling this phone may be gone forever! although its so duct taped up maybe they wont know its a mobile phone?

[yellowbelly]

yikes ... have a feeling this phone may be gone forever! although its so duct taped up maybe they wont know its a mobile phone?

The duct tape may not help, not sure if all parcels are x-rayed (one of our mail centre colleagues might know),
but if they are it might have been pulled out for investigation, and from the RM website, it may have fallen foul of the packaging requirement:

Lithium ion / polymer batteries - contained in / connected to equipment / devices >>
(for example rechargeable batteries/cells found in portable electronics such as laptops, mobile phones, iPads, camcorders, cordless power tools etc.)

International & UK destinations - Allowed in the mail, with restrictions and packaging guidelines below:

Damaged or recalled batteries or cells are not allowed.
Each package must contain no more than four cells or two batteries installed in or connected to equipment/devices.
The maximum net quantity of cells or batteries is 5kg per package.
Watt-hour rating must not exceed 20Wh per cell or 100Wh per battery.
Each cell and battery must be of a type proven to meet the requirements of each test in the UN Manual of Tests and Criteria, Part III, section 38.3.
Batteries are subject to these tests irrespective of whether the cells of which they are composed have been so tested.
Cells and batteries must be manufactured under a quality management programme as specified in the ICAO Technical Instructions for the Safe Transport of Dangerous Goods by Air.
Any person preparing or offering cells or batteries with or in equipment for transport must receive adequate instruction on the requirements commensurate with their responsibilities.
Cells and batteries must be protected against short circuit.
The equipment containing cells or batteries must be packed in strong rigid packaging and must be secured against movement within the outer packaging and packed to prevent accidental activation.
The sender's name and return address must be clearly visible on the outer packaging