RM recruits ‘address detectives’ as it prepares for Xmas

Post by **TrueBlueTerrier** » 02 Dec 2008, 16:23

Royal Mail recruits ‘address detectives’ as it prepares for festive postcode challenge

02/12/2008

Royal Mail has taken on more than 3,800 "address detectives" as it prepares to handle more than 300 million poorly addressed and written Christmas card and letters during the busy festive period.

Royal Mail expects to deliver more than two billion items over the festive period but estimates more than 300 million cards and letters will not be able to be read by its automated sorting machinery either because the postcode has not been included, the item has been poorly addressed or the handwriting style is difficult to read.

But more than 3,800 "address detectives" have been recruited for the festive season to support the 1,100-strong team who will decipher the addresses of items that cannot be read automatically so that the letters can still be processed by the sorting machinery rather than by hand.

Roy Allen, General Manager of the address detectives, said: "Mail volumes almost double on peak days in December and it is important that people properly address their Christmas cards and use the postcode. Letters and cards that have clearly written addresses and a postcode can be read by our machines and handled 20 times faster than by hand.

"Photographs of items that do not go through our sorting machinery, either because they do not have a postcode, or are poorly addressed, are called up on computer screens by our address detectives who use their skills to decipher the intended location and code the envelope so that it can still be sorted automatically rather than by hand."

He added: "Many of millions of items of mail handled by Royal Mail every year are incorrectly or poorly addressed but are still delivered to the right recipients thanks to the hard work, local knowledge and dedication of postmen and women across the UK.

"But people who take care with their addressing, and use the postcode, will help Royal Mail at its busiest time of the year."

To help people fully address their Christmas cards and letters, Royal Mail is encouraging people to find or check postcodes online, free of charge, by visiting www.royalmail.com.

Postcodes can also be checked by calling 08457 111 222.

To ensure people enjoy their Christmas cards for longer, Royal Mail is reminding customers to post their festive greetings well before the latest recommending last posting dates of Thursday 18 December for 2nd Class, 20 December for 1st Class, and 23 December for Special Delivery items.

Ends

Issued by Royal Mail:
148 Old Street
London
EC1V 9HQ
www.royalmail.com

Notes to editors:
The address detectives are employed in four sites during the festive period: Plymouth, Stockport, Stoke and Doxford.

DGP1 · Post by **DGP1** » 02 Dec 2008, 16:29

Have all the MDEC keyers been upgraded to detective level

Post by **rhino49** » 02 Dec 2008, 17:01

Wouldn't have needed them if they hadn't made so many full time experienced staff redundant or driven them out of the business. So many walks now never have a regular postie who knew where all the wrongly addressed and poorly written letters and cards were supposed to go. They did a job that no machine will ever do. How about hiring a few detectives to find out who stole the soul of Royal Mail. I have a couple of suspects already

MEL · Post by **MEL** » 02 Dec 2008, 17:07

id be embarrased (even more so lol) to tell ne1 what job i did if i was the general manager of address detectives

Post by **dvbuk55** » 02 Dec 2008, 18:47

I have to say that even though it is a few years since I delivered, I would scour the phone directory for the address, even cards with Jim and Doris with just a street name I would take out with me and ask the customers if they knew a neighbour with those names. It is a great shame that the "deads" at this time of year multiply by 5 fold. In truth I would not be bothered to find an address nowadays, the service is such that any effort of that kind would be totally wasted.

not me · Post by **not me** » 02 Dec 2008, 19:18

dvbuk55 wrote:I have to say that even though it is a few years since I delivered, I would scour the phone directory for the address, even cards with Jim and Doris with just a street name I would take out with me and ask the customers if they knew a neighbour with those names. It is a great shame that the "deads" at this time of year multiply by 5 fold. In truth I would not be bothered to find an address nowadays, the service is such that any effort of that kind would be totally wasted.

tbh nowadays the folks on delivery just dont have the itme.
its just not what it used to be

Post by **dvbuk55** » 02 Dec 2008, 19:39

custard wrote:
dvbuk55 wrote:I have to say that even though it is a few years since I delivered, I would scour the phone directory for the address, even cards with Jim and Doris with just a street name I would take out with me and ask the customers if they knew a neighbour with those names. It is a great shame that the "deads" at this time of year multiply by 5 fold. In truth I would not be bothered to find an address nowadays, the service is such that any effort of that kind would be totally wasted.

tbh nowadays the folks on delivery just dont have the itme.
its just not what it used to be

I used to scour the phone directory at home with a written list - nothing elaborate, just skim through whilst watching TV - black and white in those days with "I Love Lucy" - just joking it's only about 6/7 years ago

Post by **trythat** » 02 Dec 2008, 19:46

dvbuk55 wrote:I have to say that even though it is a few years since I delivered, I would scour the phone directory for the address, even cards with Jim and Doris with just a street name I would take out with me and ask the customers if they knew a neighbour with those names. It is a great shame that the "deads" at this time of year multiply by 5 fold. In truth I would not be bothered to find an address nowadays, the service is such that any effort of that kind would be totally wasted.

We've been told more than once, not to leave mail on the fitting, if we don't know where to deliver, then dead box it, was told this last Christmas too. You gotta be on yer toes regarding willful delay, now a days.

Post by **dvbuk55** » 02 Dec 2008, 20:07

trythat wrote:
dvbuk55 wrote:I have to say that even though it is a few years since I delivered, I would scour the phone directory for the address, even cards with Jim and Doris with just a street name I would take out with me and ask the customers if they knew a neighbour with those names. It is a great shame that the "deads" at this time of year multiply by 5 fold. In truth I would not be bothered to find an address nowadays, the service is such that any effort of that kind would be totally wasted.
We've been told more than once, not to leave mail on the fitting, if we don't know where to deliver, then dead box it, was told this last Christmas too. You gotta be on yer toes regarding willful delay, now a days.

Even now mail is endorsed F/E and a date in order for a chance to discover who it belongs to.