Royal Mail Deliveries (Signature)

OverlyAnxious

Hi,

I'm having a real problem with Royal Mail and wondered if anyone has found a way around it.

I'm housebound and cannot get to any shop at all.  This means I'm reliant on a relative bringing a few groceries once a week (can't use supermarket delivery for reasons below) and for everything else, I have to order online to be delivered.

Problem is, I'm often not able to get to the door quickly or manage the social interaction of a delivery person.  This means that items requiring a signature are not delivered, they end up being returned to the delivery depot, which of course, I cannot get to either.

I have to wait for a relative to bring my shopping, they can then collect the 'red card' from myself, and then collect the parcel during the following week, and bring the parcel to me with the next weeks shopping.  So it takes up to 2 weeks for me to receive items requiring a signature.

Wherever possible I choose a standard delivery option, or message the seller to ask that they post via a standard service, but this is often missed or ignored.  Even for some very cheap items sellers put them as Special Delivery which almost ensures that I won't get the item...not very 'special' for me!!

I've fitted an easily readable sign to my post box, asking for all items to be left in it, and signed for on my behalf if necessary, but this hasn't helped.  I'm not able to fit a large coded post box in my current rented place.  (That's what I intend to do if I could ever move somewhere more suitable).

Obviously I understand they are responsible for the items until delivery, but as I have no way to sign for the items, let alone go anywhere to collect them, I am more than happy to waive their responsibility to make sure I get the deliveries in a suitable timeframe.  

I can't contact Royal Mail directly as they only have phone contact, no email or webchat.

Just wondered if anyone else has the same issue and has found any way to resolve it?

Thanks

Sandy_123

Wow @OverlyAnxious I just did research on it to try find an email address or a live chat, your right they don't have either, even been told its a
legal requirement under the E-Commerce Regulations. 

I really have no suggestions until they come into the 21st century 

ShirleyW

Try to speak to the local postman if you can.  Maybe stay by the door if you know he or she will call at a particular time.
Speak to them personally about it and explain your difficulties. 

Or maybe leave them a letter pinned to the door.

I have 2 local postmen who go out of their way to help.

OverlyAnxious

ShirleyW said:

Or maybe leave them a letter pinned to the door.

I have got a very clear typed & printed note attached to the post box but sadly that still hasn't helped. 

I'm not able to speak even on the rare occasions that I can get to the door unfortunately.

Kimmy87

Royal Mail have a contact form (under email us) 
https://personal.help.royalmail.com/app/contact#category-tree-after

They are also on Twitter:
https://mobile.twitter.com/RoyalMailHelp 

OverlyAnxious

Purrrrrrr said:

What about A RING doorbell so you can speak and ask the person to leave it or wait for you to open the door?  

As said above, I'm not able to speak.

OverlyAnxious

Kimmy87 said:

Royal Mail have a contact form (under email us) 
https://personal.help.royalmail.com/app/contact#category-tree-after

Could you post a screenshot the contact form?  I've tried all sorts of things through that contact page over the last few days but haven't found a contact form so far.

Kimmy87

If you navigate by:
Selecting Complaints and Claims, I would like to make a complaint
Scrolling down to "Still need help, click here to get in touch" and select that option. 
"Email us Send message now" will then be one of the choices. 
Which leads to the Contact Us form. 

OverlyAnxious

Kimmy87 said:

If you navigate by:
Selecting Complaints and Claims, I would like to make a complaint
Scrolling down to "Still need help, click here to get in touch" and select that option. 
"Email us Send message now" will then be one of the choices. 
Which leads to the Contact Us form. 

That's great, thanks very much!  It's a shame they make it so difficult to find.

Hannah_Alumni

Hello @OverlyAnxious

I think getting in touch with Royal Mail would be the first step. The next would be if you have a neighbour that you trusted who would be able to help? Around Christmas we take in a lot of parcels for neighbours as my family mostly work from home and our household is put down as trusted to leave with and sign for. 

OverlyAnxious

Hannah_Scope said:

The next would be if you have a neighbour that you trusted who would be able to help? Around Christmas we take in a lot of parcels for neighbours as my family mostly work from home and our household is put down as trusted to leave with and sign for. 

Sadly my social issues mean I was never able to get friendly with any neighbours.  I wish I could as they may be able to offer some practical help as well.  Though I'd feel guilty for that as I'm not sure I could offer them anything in return nowadays.  

I'll wait and see what comes back from the RM contact form. 

pep22

Hello...

Please may I ask if you found a solution to this issue?  as I have almost exactly the same problem.

I am disabled / chronically ill (EDS, MCAS,  POTS,  fibro, anxiety, and various other illnesses).  I am completely housebound, with no transport. 

I get no help or support from anyone (no friends or family to ask for help).

My neighbours are unkind, ableist and unfriendly,  so I cant ask for anything to be left with them.

I have a parcel box and cctv, so my porch area is safe, but the postman still refuses to leave anything that needs a signature. 

I live in a rural area, so there is very little chance of theft.  

I have a laminated note stuck on the front door, explaining my situation and asking that all parcels be left in the parcel box... but they still take things away... including my medication deliveries... and often when i've run out. 

I have tried asking companies directly not to use signed for methods... because I am unable to get to the door...   Royal Mail now has a tracked 24 or tracked 48 service (without a signature) available, but sadly my requests are often ignored. 

I suffer from delayed sleep phase disorder aswell as having physical disabilities,  so I tend to sleep for half of the daytime, instead of at night, so I cannot physically get to the front door until about 3pm. 

I have tried contacting royal mail about this but they were not helpful. 

They said it might be possible to leave signed for items if i got a lockable parcel box, with a code on it... but I cannot afford it. 

I  really wish I had a helpful empathetic postman, who was willing to sign on my behalf. 

If they could manage without signatures throughout lockdown, and sign on behalf of literally everyone, then I don't understand why they cannot continue to sign for disabled housebound people.  

pep22

I should add that its happened again today, this time with an amazon delivery AND my pain medication from lloyds direct, which I've run out of.   

The Postman banged on door and woke me up, but I couldnt physically get there to answer so he's left a red card.    Its so frustrating and upsetting because he just ignores my laminated note every time. 

Out of desperation, I tried ringing Lloyds to ask for my items to be re sent via tracked 24 or 48 without needing a signature,   but after 35 minutes of being  kept on hold I gave up.   Also sent several messages via their chat about 2 hours ago...  but no response as yet.   

OverlyAnxious

pep22 said:

Hello...

Please may I ask if you found a solution to this issue?  as I have almost exactly the same problem.

Hi Pep,

I'm sorry to hear you're in a similar situation.

I have not found a solution to it.  I did get an email reply from Royal Mail about a week ago, but it was just the usual 'words' without any substance.  I was not given any instruction on what I could do at all.

It has happened to me again twice in the last week, with items that I did not know would need a signature until they were already sent.  I asked the seller to change the postage option but it was too late by then.

I must admit that Amazon and other couriers usually follow the instructions on my printed note.  It's mostly Royal Mail that I have the trouble with myself.  You can also add delivery instructions to Amazon orders if not done already.