Lost Birthday cards - who to contact

[mfsmith20]

Hi all, just want to get your perspective on this. I've been living in Tooting Bec (london) for a good 18months, but recently have suffered at the hands of the system...

We are experiencing extremely slow deliveries and sometimes items just fail to turn up at all. This has mainly affected such obvious items like Birthday cards, a few women's magazines etc. My girlfriend had a few cards not turn up in early December, and before that the year before. The most recent was a week ago (it irked me because my mother made a special effort to send early so it would arrive in good time).

It must be noted that many of these cards were just that - cards. There was nothing of any worth inside (apart from the well wishes of our loved ones).

We are postcode SW17, and on Manville Rd if that helps to tie in with anyone else' experiences. We often find that the entire flat goes days (sometimes) without any post, then a deluge will follow.

I've sent a complaint to the Royal Mail complaining about the deliveries, and have received a stock "we are sorry" response. I don't really hold out much hope as my bday was on the 18th Jan, is there someone else I can contact? Local sorting office (Tooting) etc?
Thanks for any help,

Matt

[mazza111]

Is there anything about the flats like an entry system that's causing the problem? I would look at that first, then try to speak to the delivery office manager. The RM crew at twitter are pretty good too. Maybe drop them a line, especially if it's ongoing.

RM is going through some major changes at the moment, I don't know if that office is affected or not, hopefully someone in the know will know more

[mfsmith20]

Thanks for your help Mazza :)
I didn't make myself clear, sorry! it's a house with a few flats inside, so no entrypoint. Just a regular letterbox for the whole building.

I will try the Twitter method first and see if that brings anything. Then I'll contact the delivery office.
Regards, Matt

[TeeferTiger]

Thanks for your help Mazza :)
I didn't make myself clear, sorry! it's a house with a few flats inside, so no entrypoint. Just a regular letterbox for the whole building.

I will try the Twitter method first and see if that brings anything. Then I'll contact the delivery office.
Regards, Matt

And you're sure that none of your neighbours are light fingered?

Twitter RM are usually very good at responding, but you might just get the stock reply of "we're not aware of any issues in your area" and the same if you contact the D.O. Obviously if the senders have got missing items they can put in claims for lost items and if it's all for the same address with a pattern developing in the area then the Royal Mail Gestapo (aka IB) may look into it.

[mazza111]

May get the stock reply, but still always better to report it so they know there is a problem. Is there a possibility you could put your own postbox up to eliminate the possibility of neighbours nicking it?

[not me]

Thanks for your help Mazza :)
I didn't make myself clear, sorry! it's a house with a few flats inside, so no entrypoint. Just a regular letterbox for the whole building.

I will try the Twitter method first and see if that brings anything. Then I'll contact the delivery office.
Regards, Matt

well if you are concerned about mail integerity,wouldnt this be the first thing to sort?

[Caniel]

Thanks for your help Mazza :)
I didn't make myself clear, sorry! it's a house with a few flats inside, so no entrypoint. Just a regular letterbox for the whole building.

I will try the Twitter method first and see if that brings anything. Then I'll contact the delivery office.
Regards, Matt

well if you are concerned about mail integerity,wouldnt this be the first thing to sort?

I would have to agree, quick to blame Royal Mail but it's far more likely that the other occupants of the house might be taking your mail. Put a separate wall box up for your mail and clearly mark it and the front door of the house.

For example if say your flat is number 3 make sure your box has "Flat 3" on it and put a note clearly on the front door of the house near the letterbox and put "All mail for flat 3 in box". Also if your flat is in lets say house number 210 Elm street. You need to make sure ALL your mail is addressed "Flat 3, 210 Elm Street".

Far too often I have to deliver mail to houses converted into flats with just one letterbox on the front door, other times it will be a house that has individual boxes for all the flats only none or some of the letters are lacking the flat number.