Forgotten item - how do I get it back to me?

[SeriousFaffing]

Calling all problem solvers.

We have accidentally left an item on a visit to Jodrell Bank. We don’t live close and I don’t know anyone who will be visiting in the foreseeable future, so thinking I was being clever, I told Jodrell Bank that I’d send them a pre addressed postal bag and arrange a collection with Royal Mail - I’ve arranged collections with Royal Mail previously, they bring a printed label if you can’t print it yourself. The item is not heavy, nor is it very big.

I’ve sent the pre-addressed postal bag, it has arrived with them, but now I have realised that I cannot arrange a collection with Royal Mail, or seemingly any other courier for that matter to collect from Jodrell Bank because their online systems won’t recognise the address.

How do they even get letters or deliveries? But, more importantly, how do I get my item back? Please may I ask if anyone has any ideas?

Assuming it is pre-paid, can’t someone who works at Jodrell Bank drop it off at a post office for you?

@SlipperyLizard thanks for your reply. Sigh, I think that’s what I’m going to have to do, isn’t it. I didn’t want to inconvenience them but also, selfishly, I also didn’t add a pre-paid postage label, assuming that I could book a collection with the label brought 🤦‍♀️

Not sure what I was hoping for, maybe that there would be some magical unicorn courier that could teleport it to me.

Can't you buy a label online with the post office, send them the label and they can print and take it?

Then you send a thank you card

Have you called them to make sure they have the item? Could you offer to pay for the postage over the phone? They might do it as a gesture of goodwill if you speak to them.

Yes, I’d send a prepaid label (you could email it to them if they will print it there?). I don’t think someone dropping it in a postbox is a massive inconvenience, I’m sure they’ll be happy to help.

You need the power of mumsnet. Edit your post to ask who lives in the area and liaise with the bank to arrange a collection.

@DidntTryHardEnough great point about the thank you card, will be doing that.

I didn’t know that you could just buy Royal Mail labels online (sorry Post Office, I do use them when I can…). I’ll check out RM’s website, thank you.

@Wallawallakoala they definitely have it. They’ve been waiting for me to get my bum into gear to send the postal bag. I should have checked all this beforehand, too confident 🤦‍♀️

@SlipperyLizard daft question, but can you send small parcels in a normal postbox (if it will fit)? I was thinking it would need to go in one of those parcel post boxes, which I don’t see often.

@whitecarmcr I like your style, but I think this would go too much against my internal need to not inconvenience others.

Yes @SeriousFaffing if it will fit in, you can post it - but if it is valuable you won’t have proof of postage, for that you’d need for it to be dropped at a PO.

Is it not this address
Jodrell Bank Centre for Engagement
The University of Manchester
Bomish Lane
Lower Withington
SK11 9DW

It’s about 40 minutes from me if no one is closer.

What did you leave?

Have you actually spoken to them to ask what would work best for them?

Just ask them what their address is? They must have one.

To the commenters who asked, they do have an address (the one that is referenced within a comment above is correct) however, I can only select from two residential addresses on that road in a drop down menu. I’ve tried editing one of those addresses to what I need, but the system it won’t let me proceed with that.

I’ve emailed them with my issue, just waiting for a response.