Postman didn't ring doorbell

Ellie49 · Post by **Ellie49** » 16 Dec 2016, 12:29

This has just happened and I'm furious! This was a redirected parcel that I nearly missed. I have a doorbell. Luckily for me I actually heard the sound of envelopes dropping in the hall and went to pick them up. I saw the blue card, opened the front door and saw the postman further up the street. I ran towards her, waving the card, and she passed me my parcel. When I asked why they hadn't rung the doorbell I was informed, quite aggressively, that she had. She wouldn't come back with me (three houses) so we could see if the doorbell was working or not (it was, I tried it before going back inside). I was as upset about a slanging match in the street as I was about nearly missing my parcel. Why not just admit she'd only knocked and not rang the doorbell? Why not ring the doorbell?

Post by **TrueBlueTerrier** » 16 Dec 2016, 12:54

Because there is no sensible reason why a postie would want to carry a parcel round with them when someone is in.

I too have been accused of not ringing and I 100% always do. Its amazing how many people do miss a knock or bell going, it happens at least once a week for me.

Ellie49 · Post by **Ellie49** » 16 Dec 2016, 12:59

The thing is, I probably wouldn't have heard a knock but I would definitely have heard the doorbell - loud Westminster chime. I think she just knocked so why not just say so? I could have understood that and been ok about it.

fishtank · Post by **fishtank** » 16 Dec 2016, 13:53

If you would have been fine with her "just knocking" you wouldn't really be posting on this forum, I find a little sign on the door asking people politely to ring the doorbell usually helps, personally I do both at the same time because I can't rely on a doorbell working, believe it or not this tends to annoy customers as well. I've even been aggressively told I knock too loudly, go figure.

Destiny · Post by **Destiny** » 16 Dec 2016, 15:01

So you heard paper landing on the floor but couldn't hear the door being knocked?

Ellie49 · Post by **Ellie49** » 16 Dec 2016, 15:04

I'd just left the kitchen and gone into the front room. The doorbell is loud enough to be heard all over the house, which is why I had it installed - and why I know it wasn't rung.

WOBBLY · Post by **WOBBLY** » 16 Dec 2016, 16:45

Constantly get this, drives me insane.

Heres what happens when we have a parcel/recorded etc that needs the recipients attention.

1) Get mail and parcel,
2) Ring bell and/or knock at the door, (I do both, for which I also get complaints for, damned if we do damned if we don't!)
3) Wait for reply and if we're lucky handover item and/or get signature.

If no answer after 1 minute knock/ring again, if still no answer then....(If the parcel requires it) try both neighbours either side and if no answer there,

4) Get P739 (while you were out card) from pocket/bag
5) Write out P739 card, including all name/address/tracking details and post.
6) Endorse the item
7) Return parcel back to pouch/van to be carried till the end of the duty.
8) Carry parcel from van to office
9) Book item in back in at office.

See how much hassle it is for us not getting rid of a parcel, this can sometimes take over 5 minutes! This is why a postie will ALWAYS knock.

Ellie49 · Post by **Ellie49** » 16 Dec 2016, 17:02

Yes, I understand all that. Please also understand that when you have taken a day off work specially and you almost miss getting the parcel it drives the recipient mad!
There was no attempt to leave the parcel with either neighbour - I've just checked after reading what you said. Perhaps she was in a hurry having lots of deliveries to do? I don't know, only that she knocked (I assume) didn't ring the bell, didn't try neighbours, was still near enough for me to race after and get my parcel - small and light, by the way, just too big to go in the letterbox.
Not my usual postie, by the way - he leaves any parcels tucked out of sight in the front porch. Before you say anything - I accept full responsibility if anything were to go missing that had been left there.

WOBBLY · Post by **WOBBLY** » 16 Dec 2016, 17:11

Ellie49 wrote:Yes, I understand all that. Please also understand that when you have taken a day off work specially and you almost miss getting the parcel it drives the recipient mad!
There was no attempt to leave the parcel with either neighbour - I've just checked after reading what you said. Perhaps she was in a hurry having lots of deliveries to do? I don't know, only that she knocked (I assume) didn't ring the bell, didn't try neighbours, was still near enough for me to race after and get my parcel - small and light, by the way, just too big to go in the letterbox.
Not my usual postie, by the way - he leaves any parcels tucked out of sight in the front porch. Before you say anything - I accept full responsibility if anything were to go missing that had been left there.

Only certain parcels are 'delivered to neighbours', however the postie is not obliged to do this! There may be a chance the bell push didn't work (I've had this several times) and for what ever reason you haven't heard her knock. Posties will ALWAYS try to deliver parcels as we gain nothing other than lost time and grief for not attempting, not to mention we could potentially lose our job if caught!

Oh an re- leaving parcels, its not allowed (Unless its a tracked 'safe place' item that has the safe place clearly written on the parcel) and it is the posties responsibility if it goes missing, regardless what you say!

Ellie49 · Post by **Ellie49** » 16 Dec 2016, 17:16

Well, I think that's dreadful if it's a designated safe place (and mine is). I certainly wouldn't blame the postie but I'm starting to see why one would be defensive about a doorbell being rung or not.

Sir Henry · Post by **Sir Henry** » 16 Dec 2016, 17:17

If the postie didn't think you were in after arranging a redelivery (which they had obviously already attempted once on the first occasion if you get my drift) i can understand them not going out their way to bother your neighbours or themselves during the very busy Xmas period. OK they could have rang the bell but as has been said the number of occasions I've wasted my time ringing bells that don't work or only work when the householder demonstrates by pressing the bell with enough force to push it through a brick wall that I knock. Sometimes I forget exactly what I have done in the long drawn out process of juggling a parcel from hand to hand whilst writing out a card and altering the entry on the PDA. It's Xmas. Charity, forgiveness and goodwill to posties who are probably working long passed their contracted time and days off to ensure the post goes out to every address.
Merry Xmas to you.

WOBBLY · Post by **WOBBLY** » 16 Dec 2016, 17:26

Ellie49 wrote:Well, I think that's dreadful if it's a designated safe place (and mine is). I certainly wouldn't blame the postie but I'm starting to see why one would be defensive about a doorbell being rung or not.

The customer is the sender. Its up to them if anything is allowed to be left, not up to you

Hypothetically you've had a parcel go missing. You're telling me that you're not going to chase it up? Doubtful and when you do its the postie who becomes liable!

South_London_Postie · Post by **South_London_Postie** » 20 Dec 2016, 22:13

Writing one of those "blue cards" out takes 5x longer than ringing the doorbell. I can assure you the postie does not write them out Without trying to deliver. She may not have noticed you even had a door bell what with juggling loads of mail and parcels on a limited time struggling to scan your parcel in the freezing cold and unfamiliar with the area ? I think it was a misunderstanding and maybe should explain why you felt fustrated when you next see her. Who knows maybe you can turn the relationship into a positive one and ensure the bell is rang every time in future. Running down the road to "have a go" at someone will never get you the response you are looking for. I hope that helps you to see the other side of the coin , Merry Xmas :)

nsw1985 · Post by **nsw1985** » 24 Jan 2022, 13:16

I seem to be having the same issue with the postman in my area. After a few missed parcels and knowing full well that someone has been home I decided to check my cameras and ring doorbell and found that the postman was only using the door knocker.

We have two front doors, outside door and porch door and mostly are sat in the back room of the house, there is no way we can hear the door knock. The one day I was in, and I got the ring motion notification and saw it was the postman, so I ran to the door and asked him if he didn’t mind using the doorbell. He said he outright refuses to use all Ring doorbells because he doesn’t want to be recorded. I explained that as soon as he steps onto my drive, he is being recorded by the Ring doorbell and the other two cameras that I have on the front of the house. He asked me to delete all footage?!

I explained that the missed parcels were medication that is needed quite urgently and I can’t keep running to the local collection centre the next day to get them, his reply was for me to leave the porch window open so he can put the parcels through there. The window is over 6ft high surely anything dropped from that height can be damaged.

One of the days I was sat in a meeting and I spoke over the app asking the postman to leave the parcel behind the garden gate, he looked at the bell and totally ignored me.

Apparently, another person in the area has put in a complaint against him and he said Royal Mail support him not using the doorbell.

I’m starting to get really annoyed with this and would like to know if anything can be done?

yellowbelly · Post by **yellowbelly** » 24 Jan 2022, 16:45

nsw1985 - Wouldn't like to comment on your specific issue but here are a few observations I've had from using
these and which may go someway to explaining the concerns your post person has about the Ring doorbell:

1. Some customers (when present in the house) leave the Ring forwarded to their mobile which is either
switched off or in another room, leading to post person getting frustrated because they are aware that
there is someone in the house (lights on, noise in house, windows open, car in driveway etc.) and
nobody is coming to the door.

2. Ring doorbells with no connected power supply and the batteries are flat.

3. Ring doorbell is answered by someone who is away from the house and they ask the post
person to leave an item in a location which the post person considers unsafe or not protected
from the weather or the item cannot be left in a safe place eg. Special Delivery item,
even though the recipient says 'It'll be alright' - ultimately it is the post persons
responsibility to deliver the parcel safely. The post person has no evidence that the recipient
has said 'It'll be alright' should anything go wrong and it can become a disciplinary matter.

ROYALMAILCHAT