please empty your brain below
Its on Royal Mail strike days like these that people suddenly remember the office fax, sitting in the corner under a protective layer of dust...

Alan | 23.10.09 - 8:10 a.m. | #

Were'nt the posties meant to be on strike yesterday (Thurs 22/10)? I got three items of mail - and not one pizza flyer...

EskimoPie | 23.10.09 - 8:46 a.m. | #

On a more serious point, these strikes could well see more post offices in the capital shut down. My nearest post office, at Dockhead in Bermondsey, was closed last year, despite fierce opposition from the community. I now have to go to the post office on Jamaica Road. When I do, I usually take sandwiches and something to read, as I end up queuing for half the day. Local MP Simon Hughes did some research into waiting times and found that, on average, people queued for 19 minutes.

Greg Watts | Homepage | 23.10.09 - 8:47 a.m. | #

Good plan DG...

NiC | Homepage | 23.10.09 - 9:16 a.m. | #

Our postie delivered more letters to us yesterday than we've had all week. Confused? I know I am.

E14resident | 23.10.09 - 9:33 a.m. | #

On a few occasions recently I've had letters delivered through my door with the 'insufficient postage' label on them. But as I haven't been in, the postie has obviously decided that he can't be bothered to take it back to the depot and has just left it for me anyway.


Clair | Homepage | 23.10.09 - 9:46 a.m. | #

Anyone got the address of the BNP headquarters?

IanVisits | Homepage | 23.10.09 - 9:50 a.m. | #

Sorting office staff were on strike yesterday, delivery and collection today. So, it'll be no post today, not yesterday.

And, one can always ask to see the 'insufficient postage' letter/packet before paying for it.

Blue Witch | Homepage | 23.10.09 - 10:04 a.m. | #

Oh - unless a delivery office is located on the same site as a mail centre, in which case, delivery staff struck (?!) with mail centre staff yesterday, so there will be deliveries today.

Confused? Just wait until next week...

Blue Witch | Homepage | 23.10.09 - 10:07 a.m. | #

We have three people doing our round at the moment, confused looking people in high-vis clothes who've obviously just been made redundant from a bank or something.

Seriously though, this is the best idea I've ever heard. (Well, maybe that's an exaggeration, but it's definitely the best idea I've heard this week and supports the general notion that you're a genius.) It needs a campaign setting up, or at the very least and most lazy, a facebook group.

Dan | Homepage | 23.10.09 - 10:09 a.m. | #

Likewise more mail yesterday than in the three weeks preceding. In fact, I had letters arrive yesterday which required action by 14th October, sent on the 7th...

Just over 2 weeks for first class is about right for RMCorp™ isn't it?...

Albert | 23.10.09 - 10:23 a.m. | #

Reminds me of a few years ago when Brian Souter was campaigning against the repeal of Clause 28. He sent out thousands of letters which included a freepost label so that you could return your letters of support to their headquarters.

Didn't take long for his opposition to realise that you could attach this label to pretty much anything, the cost of delivery would then have to be met by Souter's organisation.

Still not sure if my old washing machine actually made it.

GJB | 23.10.09 - 10:43 a.m. | #

"And, one can always ask to see the 'insufficient postage' letter/packet before paying for it."

You can definatly ask but on both occasions that I have visited the local sorting office, stood in a queue for ten minutes and then requested to see what I was being asked to pay for my request has been refused, so I told them they could keep it.

fishislandskin | 23.10.09 - 11:01 a.m. | #

It's a bit naughty, admittedly, but it's not illegal.

Well I reckon it is an offence under section 11 of the Fraud Act 2006 (obtaining services dishonestly). I don't think they fact that someone else may pay will cut any ice with the judge.

Anonymous | 23.10.09 - 11:10 a.m. | #

An excellent idea DG. Which we used to have in the UK before Roland Hill brought in his pesky pre-paid Penny Post.

Anonymous | 23.10.09 - 11:45 a.m. | #

What usually happens round here is that, at 1130, a card comes through the door with "We called at....(0715 inserted on dotted line), Sorry you were out" (when I'm in and they havent even rung the doobell). You then have to trek to the sorting office and stand in a line of 40 people with similar cards, which have all been written out in the sorting office beforehand so that the postie doesnt have to a) bother bringing your package out with him and b) the sorting office can get other people (ie you) to do their jobs for them.

This farce was embellished recently by the words "Gate locked" as the reason for non-delivery. Strange, as they managed to get through the gate to push the card through the letterbox to tell me that they couldnt get through the gate.

Lazy buggers. Seeing as how something like 9000 people or more applied for 3000 temporary sorting office jobs recently, I think all the strikers should be sacked and replaced with the people who obviously would quite happily do their jobs. Oh, and sack that smug git Crozier as well.

Exit Pursued by a Bear | 23.10.09 - 12:09 p.m. | #

500 empty unstamped envelopes on their way to the B.N.P.

adaptorplug | 23.10.09 - 12:12 p.m. | #

fishislandskin - the person on the counter may have been too lazy to go and get the insufficiently stamped item for you to see, but, if in this position again, do ask for the shift manager, and get them to sort it, becuase you do have the right to see it first.

Blue Witch | Homepage | 23.10.09 - 12:33 p.m. | #

Dg, I know your address. Now. Let me get an envelope ...

Geofftech | 23.10.09 - 12:43 p.m. | #

"fishislandskin - the person on the counter may have been too lazy to go and get the insufficiently stamped item for you to see, but, if in this position again, do ask for the shift manager, and get them to sort it, becuase you do have the right to see it first."

I did exactly what you suggest and was still told that I would not be allowed to see it until I had paid the fee, I also wrote a letter of complaint to Royal Mail and was told by them that it was at the discretion of the local office manager whether to allow me to see the article prior to making a payment. There was no way that I was going to pay for something that I may not have asked for or even wanted.

fishislandskin | 23.10.09 - 1:45 p.m. | #

Brilliant.

Cal | Homepage | 23.10.09 - 2:08 p.m. | #

"I also wrote a letter of complaint to Royal Mail and was told by them that it was at the discretion of the local office manager whether to allow me to see the article prior to making a payment."

This in an absolutely perfect example of WHY the Royal Mail needs to modernise. A national organisation CANNOT run on a case-by-case local office decision basis.

Actually, here, I suspect the complaints service are covering the arse of the local manager on a matter where he didn't actually have the right to refuse you the right to inspect an item before paying for it. The same rule of right to see before accepting applies to items on signed-for services.

Past militancy of the union has led to things being in the sorry state they are today, where 1970s management practices lose the taxpayer (also the customer) more money every day in 2009.

I've had 24 emails today from companies I've ordered from in the past assuring me they are using couriers to avoid postal delays. At least half of them usually use RM. RM staff are shooting themselves in the foot. There are plenty of people who'll take on their jobs, as recent recruitment of temporary staff has proved.

Blue Witch | Homepage | 23.10.09 - 5:04 p.m. | #

Brilliant post DG!

Which reinds me, I need to write to me mum. But I will put the right postage on, cos she's nice and has sent me a birthday pressie!

CornishCockney | 23.10.09 - 6:10 p.m. | #

so you are saying that none of the recipients are taxpayers? because in my mind, most of the people spending their $1 (or pound) to collect the mystery mail, will be taxpaying citizens? i do love the way you think though - evil and twisted - but all for the greater good! you can count me s a fan!

Ingrid | Homepage | 24.10.09 - 12:33 p.m. | #

One of these intended recipients wouldn't be a Lord, by any chance, name escapes me, might begin with an M?

Autolycus | Homepage | 24.10.09 - 10:18 p.m. | #

Brilliant idea!

Yes, the U.S. Post office did the same thing about returning packages with insufficient postage to me one Christmas. The joy I felt was multiplied by the 40 minute wait in line that I had to undertake twice!

That's when I switched to FedEx ground for shipping... where there is no line at all.

Jon | Homepage | 28.10.09 - 2:39 p.m. | #











TridentScan v2.10.0 | Privacy Policy