A group of 33 neighbours have submitted a joint complaint to Royal Mail over reports important letters are taking weeks to arrive, or don’t come at all.
Tom Abbey moved to Cherry Avenue in Paddock Wood seven weeks ago and went four weeks without getting any post.
Tom Abbey submitted a joint complaint on behalf of Paddock Wood residents facing postal delays. Picture: Tom Abbey
The dad-to-be said his pregnant partner had been waiting on important test results via a letter because Pembury Hospital does not have an online portal.
He said: “We have a baby on the way and it’s been a turbulent pregnancy. Blood tests do not arrive and we have no visibility on test results.
“We received our first post delivery in four weeks on Wednesday (September 24), containing a few missed hospital appointments, late birthday cards and a driver’s licence.”
Given that Tom’s parcel’s from Evri and Yodel are timely, Tom decided to send a survey to neighbours to see the extent of the postal problems.
In response, 33 people shared their experiences of delays, outlining missed medical appointments, the arrival of bank cards and PIN numbers together, and the absence of important bills.
It appears the problem has been caused, in part at least, by staffing issues and a Royal Mail spokesperson apologised to residents affected and said new posties would begin training in the coming weeks.
Kerrie Chamberlain of Pear Drive, Paddock Wood, received a referral to the Evelina Children’s hospital on September 24 – the letter was dated almost a month before from August 21.
She said: “It’s been an overall nightmare. I think it’s awful because this development has been here for years. Why is there no postman?”
When she moved in she registered her new address with Royal Mail and even paid £40 for a redirection service from her old home in Sherwood, Tunbridge Wells.
Despite this, after five weeks of living there she had only received one postal delivery, despite expecting birthday cards and important medical letters.
“It’s a lot of money to pay if you only receive one delivery in that time,” she said.
Since moving on August 12, Kerrie says she has spent six-and-a-half hours on the phone to Royal Mail over missing post, adding: “It is wasting everyone’s time.”
Another resident, of Hawthorn Way, who does not wish to be named, explained the situation had been “really bad” as she was left waiting on the court agreement from her divorce.
She went three-and-a half weeks without getting any post and said: “It’s not good enough.
“My main concern was receiving my divorce settlement. I had things I was committed to paying and I was waiting and waiting on this letter.”
Like other residents on the estate, other couriers including DPD and Amazon are able to deliver without any issues.
Mike Martin meeting with Royal Mail to understand why they have been failing to meet their targets. Picture: Mike Martin
Tom, 36, has since contacted his MP, Mike Martin (Lib Dem), and says Royal Mail needs a “clear and obvious” plan on how this can change and is calling for a full investigation.
In July, MPs Mr Martin, Laura Trott and Tom Tugendhat (both Con) called for a new Royal Mail scheme to be scrapped after customers reported experiencing the worst rate of on-time deliveries.
The pilot scheme delivers first-class letters every day from Monday to Saturday, and second-class mail every other day from Monday to Friday.
It began in May at 37 delivery offices across the UK, including in Tenterden and Tonbridge.
In February last year, KentOnline reported that Fliss Batty from Paddock Wood had "lost all faith" in Royal Mail after receiving a letter about an upcoming operation the day after the surgery took place.
Speaking over a year later, Fliss said: "It improved for a while but quickly fell back into old ways,
"We've not even seen a postie for about a fortnight, let alone had deliveries."
Husband Karel Batty added: "I have several letters pending from the NHS, hard copies of test results, follow-up appointments and several small items sent in regular envelopes from Ebay.
"I have no idea if they will ever be delivered."
Mr Martin told KentOnline: "I met with a Royal Mail exec last week to understand why they have been failing to meet their targets, and they conceded that the postal service has recently faced terrible problems with leadership and recruitment.
Sevenoaks MP Laura Trott has joined Mr Martin and Mr Tugendhat in raising concerns over the new scheme. Picture: @LauraTrott/Facebook
“Royal Mail has agreed to address problems in the TN area and I’ll be sending them a brief of constituent issues.
“I invite anyone who’s experienced problems with the postal service to write in and I'll make sure their case is put in front of Royal Mail".
A Royal Mail spokesperson said: “We are aware of service issues in Paddock Wood and apologise to the residents affected.
“Our team in Tonbridge has been working hard to improve service locally and, following a recent recruitment campaign, our new posties will begin training in the coming weeks.”
