to think this is a bit mad of the Post Office

[5Foot5]

I came home yesterday to find a card through the door to say the postman had tried to deliver a parcel, it was too big so it had been returned to the sorting office. Fine, nothing unexpected there.

It said that to collect I would have to present the card itself and proof of identity, e.g. driving license. Again, all usual stuff and I know from previous occasions that they do always ask for ID now so I have always used my driving license.

Now the card also said that someone else could collect the parcel on my behalf but they would have to bring my proof of ID. DD said she had time on her hands today and offered to go get it for me. Great. I took my driving license out of my wallet and left it with the card for her to show.

When I got home tonight she had my parcel but she said it had taken two attempts. Apparently my driving licence is no longer acceptable because it is the old style without a picture and they now require photo ID. So DD came home, got my passport and used that. This time they gave her the passport.

AIBU to think this is a bit mad because:

1. It definitely did not specify photo ID on the card.

1. It wasn't even me presenting the photo ID it was DD. Why did they need to see a photo of me when they were prepared to give it to someone who clearly isn't me?

1. At least my driving license has my name and address on which is the same as the delivery address, my passport just has my name.

[5Foot5]

They gave her the parcel

[JennyHolzersGhost]

I've never seen the photo ID request either. Sounds like she happened upon a jobsworth to me OP!

[PitchFork]

yanbu
apart from the fact that I would never give someone else my id.
thankfully my corner shop is a pick up location.

[DappledThings]

I had a provisional licence for 13 years. Every time I used it to collect a parcel they would claim it wasn't acceptable and had to be a full one. This was despite me pointing out it had allowed me to board domestic flights.

It took me writing to the central CS team and bringing the email with me that confirmed it was acceptable before my local PO would grudgingly admit that my inability to parallel park had no bearing on my proving my identity

[glueandstick]

A stand in postie wouldn't give my husband a parcel because he was in the garage. Apparently he could have been anyone (washing a bike. I would love to meet a thief washing a bike first!) so he had to walk in the house, close the door, post man knocked on door and he answered it.

Utterly utterly bizarre.

But a favourite story. Still makes me smile.

[ghostyslovesheep]

I always use my debit card - never needed photo ID

[bookgirl1982]

A bank card is acceptable id, and they don't have photos!

[5Foot5]

That's true the card also said a debit or credit card could be used and that would only have a name on it not even an address.

It just seems particularly bizarre that they demand a photo of me when it Is someone else collecting the parcel.

[leccybill]

I've always just used a bank card too.

[marsybum]

My dd was once told they couldn't give her the parcel in her name unless she showed a passport, driving licence or debit/credit card - we don't holiday abroad and she was 10 at the time... After speaking to the customer service centre they confirmed her birth certificate was acceptable....

[OiWithThePoodlesAlready]

I had exactly the same with my dd1 when she was a baby Marsy. It was maddening.

I once got a missed parcel card so went out to the sorting office and collected an envelope. Normal size, normal stamp, no reason I could see that is wasn't just put through the letter box. It was very strange.

I love the postie I have now. I live in a flat and he carries my shopping up for me when he sees me at the bottom of the stairs with the baby.

[Viiolettheorgangrinder]

Bloody stupid. If that's the rule,why doesn't the postie ask for id when he rings your doorbell?

[Meadows76]

Your driving license is not acceptable because paper licenses are no longer valid. Nothing to do with having a photo or address on it.

[RhodaBorrocks]

My Mum collects stuff for me. I just give her my credit card as I don't use it on a day-to-day basis.

My local sorting office also accepts my work lanyard. It has my picture on it but I often receive post under my nickname whilst I use my full name professionally (my NN is a standalone name, think along the lines of NN being Bella with full name being Annabelle).

Like Jenny said, probably a jobsworth !

glue that happened on Eastenders this week - someone asked Mas the postie if they had any post and he was all like "I can't give it to you in the street, I'll get into trouble!"

[Thecatmademedoit]

The old style paper licenses are still valid. The counterpart paper license is not.

[incogKNEEto]

Viiolett the reason the postie doesn't need to ask for ID at the door is because the Royal Mail contract of service is to deliver to the delivery point at each address (this is considered to be valid ID if post is delivered through letterbox/to a person in the house) not to the individual people there, and can you imagine how late you would get your post each day if they had to ask everyone to show ID before they handed over the parcels and Rhoda they aren't allowed to hand over post in the street because the same contract applies.