Special Delivery to a P O BOX

[Terryk]

We collect our PO BOX mail from the local delivery office and there seems to have been a change to the way incoming special delivery items are handled. Up until a couple of months ago if someone checked the tracking before we had picked it up they got a message saying the item had been delivered to the PO BOX and was awaiting collection. Now it says Royal Mail had tried to deliver the item and left a card and quoted a time from anything between 5.30 and 6.45am.(Be really handy if we got our post at 5.30am!) We collect our mail around 7.30 but it can sometimes take up until 10am before the system updates to say we have signed for the items. In the meantime we get phonecalls moaning we apparently weren't in and when will we go and collect it etc etc.

Has there been a change and why can't we go back to the old message which was far more accurate and would stop these phone calls!

[TeeferTiger]

It's down to the new PDA system. Updates automatically with the time of scanning rather than the time the delivery card was signed.

It has to be scanned as available for collection. However, I'm sure there's an option (been a while since I've worked the room of doom) for customer retention. I'm not sure whether that's only to be used when a Keepsafe is in place though.

I think technically, they're using the right method as we cannot attempt delivery because you don't live in your PO Box (obviously) so they have to mark it as undelivered, available for collection.

Technically, it's the same method as before, just updates quicker. The old method should've seen it scanned to a "walk" but that would've have provided as much info to the sender (the customer). The new method provides a better audit trail.

[IcanthelpthewayIam]

Nothing has changed pdas not used for scanning out specials still the old guns used to allocate them to appropriate walk or box, pda only used to get custs signature on collection from callers office, there probably someone new in the locker and not been shown how to allocate to a po box, just have a chat next time your in, probably doesnt know he is doing something wrong

[Stormproof]

Soon you won't even beable to collect your mail at 7.30am because none of us will be at work at that time
Don't understand why people are moaning about you not receiving the 'Specials' early, the final time for a Special is 1pm not 10am unless they are before 9am Specials.

[Terryk]

Thanks for all the replies. It isnt so much they are moaning we havent got the item by the guaranteed time, they are more worried because they think RM have tried to deliver it but we weren't in and wonder how long it will take us to be bothered to go and collect it. They don't realise we go twice a day to collect mail anyway.

[Lounge Lizard]

All the P O Boxes on my round have their mail delivered, rather than collecting it from the office, but that's probably more likely on a rural duty.

[Terryk]

Depends really. We are on a rural round but prefer our mail earlier rather than later.

[feduppostie]

can only speak for my office but all specials that are addressed to a po box are allocated onto a 'B' code ( which stands for box) this basically means it has been allocated for delivery but only confirmed once the person has picked it up - it sounds like the system you were used to in the past - and is the correct way to allocate special deliveries to a po box

could you ring the delivery office and ask if there is anyone new involved in the special deliveries and/or explain your problem currently? ( ask to speak to a manager who is in charge of special deliveries)

it may be a quiet word in an ear is all it needs

obviously different offices have different amounts of po boxes ( mine has loads) so it may just be someone new to the duty who doesn't know the procedure or it may be a new system - either way once you have flagged it up it should be sorted for you

hope this helps!

[LDV 350]

It must vary from region to region we have been told to scan the items as undelivered and ready for collection

[not me]

It must vary from region to region we have been told to scan the items as undelivered and ready for collection

thats wrong
its nothing to do with regional
thats a fail for audit
on the intranet there are barcodes specifically for dealing with SD's that arent going on delivery
as you have seen by the OP's post it can cause issues
if a company pays for a PO box or the SD is being retained then it should be allocated and scanned as such
the A,B,c etc barcodes are for specific uses
anything outwith that remit should have its own barcode on the browser