I Know, But How Can I Prove it?

This year I went with someone to a post office near my home, it wasn’t my usual post office but one that I hadn’t known was there for years, until it was pointed out to me. I was so glad I was told about this post office, because the one that was minutes from my home closed down, so it meant we all had to drive to the Town for the main post office. So, this ‘new’ post office was very handy indeed, it was only two minutes in the car.

The person I went with, I encouraged him to have the gift he was going to post to his Mum, to be sent Registered, Signed For, so it would be tracked all the way as his Mum lived hours away. The extra money was paid and I had peace of mind that it was safe, after all it was money inside her card.

His Mum’s important birthday came and went and it didn’t arrive. His Mum let him know. We had the proof of posting and the tracking numbers. Nothing became of it, and another person went with him to post it again, again it was sent Registered post Signed For. That didn’t arrive either. This was from the same post office.

For Father’s Day a wonderful jumper was sent Registered post Signed For, that didn’t arrive. He told us. That looked a bit bad on us who helped him, we got the blame for doing it wrong or for not bothering to send it at all. But up to three to four times, all gifts were sent from that handy post office, Registered Signed For. And each time they didn’t arrive.

Last Tuesday, I joined the queue and waited patiently until it was my turn and I sent £30 for my Nephew for his birthday, it was late already but better late than never, I did have other things on my mind than his birthday, with what was happening in the world, and I also post five hours later my claim form for my car accident, they did provide me with a first class pre-paid envelope, but as I always send everything Registered Signed for post, I paid the extra 76p so it would be tracked all the way to its important final destination.

Last Wednesday I informed my brother that “I had posted James’ birthday card and gift and that it should arrive, Wednesday.” My brother replied, “Thank you, the postman has already been and there wasn’t anything from you, will let you know when it has arrived.”

By last week Friday, the birthday card still hadn’t arrived, so I went back to the post office and told them, the post Mistress said, to me, “I can assure you it left the premises,  it is not here, give it until next week Friday the 24th it should arrive by then, as the post is heavy everywhere at the moment, with people in isolation, shopping on-line.” I thought no way, am I waiting until next week!

I kept my brother informed and he kept me informed. On Monday, I made a complaint to Royal Mail via email. And then yesterday I received an email from my Insurance company….. I could see it flashed briefly across my screen to let me know I’d received it, and I really hoped it was going to say, “Thank you we received your form”, But instead it said, “We still have not received your form back.” I was devastated, that form is very important, so I emailed my Insurance company and explained to them about the missing other card and their post from me. I again emailed Royal Mail and explained, “You need to track the person who is collecting the post from there, as it says the post is still there, and the police need to get involved, the missing post does not let you look good.”

When I was young, occasionally on the news it would be, that a post Person had been found out and the ten years plus that they did their job, it was kept at their home, nothing had been posted, and cheques, birthday cards, parcels, postal orders, gifts, and everything else that people had paid good money for and was expecting, would all be kept in this post person’s house! It does happen! I truly believe this is the case. All the misery they caused, with people thinking they haven’t really sent the letters or goods, or money, but the truth is not found out until years later, and some would have moved away, gone out of business or died!   

Many years ago, I watched a fascinating documentary experiment of letters that was sent as normal post and those that was sent Registered, signed Tracked post, all the Tracked post arrived and some of the normal post didn’t they were stolen. I’d thought all Tracked post was fool proof, that nothing could every go wrong. But I was wrong, for in hindsight, if the person knows what they are doing, they can fool the system. If a card is signed for there must be money inside, if something is sent Special Delivery there must be something very valuable inside and if anything is sent Registered Sign post, something important IS inside. So, its easy really, and to stop it been Tracked, leave the tracking codes at the post office, then there is no trace, no trail, nothing. It’s the perfect crime, for who is going to believe a Customer? Well this Customer is not going to take this lying down! The buck stops with me. I did think this morning while I was still in bed, maybe I could send five pretend letters, signed for of course, but put nothing inside, so when they open it all they would see is my note to them that I am on to them and the police is involved, and when they check the address, it would be to five different police stations! But that would give them a heads up. So, I decided against it, will let Royal Mail, hopefully sort it out.   

I am annoyed but will use it productivity. Watch this space.