to not want Royal Mail to leave my post with neighbours

[wiggofan]

Got a leaflet this morning saying that from late Sept mail too big for the letter box will be left with a neighbour rather than returned to delivery office, unless I opt out of the scheme. I went to the website to opt out and will be sent a sticker to put by the letter box, couldn't find what it'll say - "miserable antisocial git lives here" maybe??
If I'm at home on a week day I'm either off sick or have escaped from noisy office to get on with work in peace, either way I don't want to be disturbed. If I'm expecting a parcel I put a note on the door asking postman to leave in garage. If I get an unexpected parcel would much prefer to collect it from the delivery office which is close by rather than trying to catch neighbour in. The person next door often works nights so I'd hate him to be woken up to take a parcel for me.
I can understand nominating a designated neighbour, with their agreement, but this seems a bit random, not sure what Royal Mail class as a neighbour.

[ObiWan]

But it's fine, because you can (as you've said) opt out very easily.

[corlan]

The funny part is you are asked to give a reason why you are opting out. I couldn't resist and wrote 'My neighbour is a pain in the ass'.

I would love to have the job of going through all the reasons why people have opted out .

[wiggofan]

Yes, perhaps I'm BU, but would have preferred to be given a choice to opt in rather than opt out.
And I don't really want to have a sticker by my letter box.

[MrsBovary]

Some final approval was needed, I think the leaflet mentioned?

I do agree, for similar reasons, I work from home and don't want to be disturbed. I will opt out if need be, but don't really want to put a sticker on the door either

[Dildobaggins]

It's all part of a cunning plan to get Britain to talk to their neighbours.

[twofingerstoGideon]

I want a sticker that says 'Leave it with a neighbour - but not the old cow at number 92 please.'

Suspect many of my other neighbours would like a similar sticker.

Number 92 is a legend in our road...

[WelshMaenad]

My postie has been doing this for years, my neighbour works away and I rack up loads of parcels for him sometimes. Are they not meant to? It works perfectly, but then we're a small street and we all get on.

[catsrus]

the bastards took away our postie in some stupid restructuring, he knew everyone's names and who to leave stuff with, he'd even pop back later if he thought I was out walking the dogs. He was brilliant, now we have a series of different people who don't even bother to say hello when you see them in the street .

[MrsGuyOfGisbourne]

What a cheek expecting you to opt out! And to give a reason! Far better to elave a sticker you can put on your door if you want, opting in.
I get all delveiries sent to Dh work, and if we have a letter that need to be sgned for, our lovely postie just scrawls on it that he has signed for it for us and puts it thru the letterbox

[Emandlu]

I am forever taking parcels for a 3 house radius here. I thought this was standard procedure, is it not?

[wiggofan]

emandlu - not official policy yet but some posties use their initiative, they could get into trouble if there was a problem. Our regular postman leaves parcel in garage even when I don't leave a note asking him to, but he's taking a risk as someone could pinch it.

[NiniLegsInTheAir]

Really not happy about this as don't trust our neighbours with parcels (one mysteriously went missing despite RM red card saying it was left with them) - but at the same time don't want a BIG sticker (and it about 5" by 2" in size) on my letterbox, it kinda screams 'we don't trust them next door'.

A system like this is fine if you live in the burbs with nice neighbours, but not so good in an area with a transient population like where we live.

[Paiviaso]

YABU.

[wiggofan]

Nini - what does the sticker say? I might let Royal Mail know if not happy with it, still a pilot project AFAIK and perhaps they'll change things.
I've always hated stickers on doors, "no junk mail" etc.

[UdderlyBanal]

I live in the burbs with nice neighbours and think it's a fabulous idea. We all do it already! We both work from home - DH in all day or out all day; me in and out each day - and we find being in for the postie one of the great advantages. Of course, if it is a major video conference call, you can't just bugger off but answering the door for the postie, and later on for the neighbours is far less annoying than the interruptions you get in an office! Plus, we know our neighbours much better through our regular exchanges of mail. Bring it on!

[ItsAllGoingToBeFine]

I got one of these leaflets too nd was really surprised this is a new thing. I've lived in loads of places and the posties have always left parcel with neighbours/in safe place. Returning to sorting office was only if something needed a signature (sometimes, they usually just sign it themselves)

[Halbanoo]

We opted out of the scheme. I kinda wish the sticker was a snarky warning about my lack of willingness to participate but it's a very boring "Please return undelivered parcels to the central office" or something like that.

My neighbors are never, ever around and I wouldn't expect them to receive my own parcels. I don't want the responsibility of having theirs either (have had too many bad experiences in the past of neighbors blaming each other for lost parcels)

It's easy enough (at least around here) to reschedule a parcel delivery if you miss the postman one day.

[firawla]

I think its a good idea, and atleast you do have the option to opt out so not too big a deal really.
For me having it left with a neighbour is much more convenient than trekking off the the depo and trying to balance large parcel on top of the buggy while walking back, which is quite a fair distance - would be an hour or more round trip including queuing up and everything, so such a pain. luckily our postmen seem to leave with neighbours already even without this sceheme

[Emandlu]

Thanks wiggofan though that does surprise me - in my last 3 houses the posties have left mail with me on a regular basis. Still no-one has complained as far as I know.

[Bellyjaby]

I'm like twofingers, I don't mind my mail being left at any neighbour except number 46. And there's no way in hell I'm taking number 46's mail in either.

I don't like this sticker by the letter box thing though, I don't want to stick things on my door. I currently have a large note in my window instructing royal mail and couriers not to leave my stuff with 46 and not to ask me to take in 46's stuff. I'd rather stick with that!

[Naysa]

My dad's a postman and any post that doesn't get delivered has to be carried round and he says that some days his bag is very heavy. If he is doing a big route then there are "drop points" eg a shop where the post is picked up from so there is not too much post to carry. If people aren't home then his bag stays full and he might have to go to the drop point more than once, making his job harder. You have to opt out of it rather than in because it's supposedly there to make the postperson's job easier :) x

[Astr0naut]

catsrus, us too. I see her out and about, but on a completely different route now. She was ace. We rarely get the same one twice now.

I'm quite happy for the neighbours to have my post though. In fact, the old postie used to leave more important stuff there.

[WildWorld2004]

Theres only 2 neighbours in my street who i would and have done it for.

One of my neighbours took round a parcel of mine that had been delivered to theres & a card wasnt even left. They could easily have kept it & i wouldnt have known,

I would opt out too.

[SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius]

Am I the only one who wants to know why her at No92 is a legend? [nosy]

[wiggofan]

What if it was a student house like the one opposite us, or any multi occupancy house? Loads in our area as near university. Its impossible to keep track of who's living there as lots of sleepovers, anyone could accept a parcel then deny all knowledge.