TO BE UTTERLY RAGING WITH POSTAL SERVICE

[slimbabe]

I my friend in U.S.A $30.00 in a card to pay for a book which she got for me. This was after sending her a sterling cheque (which her bank wanted $20.00 to cash] I paid £7 for international signed for postage. This was 5 weeks ago. The card arrived today, the envelope had been opened and taped and $10.00 was missing. I have explained this to my friend, who was very gracious. However, I feel like a complete fool. I will try to claim the cash back - but I am not holding out much hope. I also tried to get US travellers cheques here that she could cash without me being present but couldn't get them anywhere. I know it's only a small amount of money but it's so infuriating - any suggestions

I don't think cash is covered by the 'signed for' compensation - but check. Have you not got a Paypal account? You can send money in seconds to someone else wherever they are.

Does she have a Paypal account? Could you pay her through that?

The US postal service is a nightmare. Mainly because many people dont actually have letterboxes. Items go to a central collection point, and quite often go missing.

I sent a necklace last year that I had sold. It was sent insured and to be signed for.

It never arrived.

Why is it the postal services fault? I would have thought it was you taking a risk sending cash through the post. Lets be honest that is very risky in itself. But as per usual the post get the blame. wouldnt a better way have been to do a bank transfer. If you didn't pay for the right type of postal insurance you will not get your money back as you took the risk. sorry but thatsthe way it is.

I don't know anyone in the US who doesn't have a letterbox. What an absolutely stupid thing to say.

you were completely mad for sending cash in the post.

a US banker's draft would have been more appropriate.

A stupid thing to say? You clearly know better than me then, but I just happen to sell items to the US on a very frequent basis and also have many friends in the US too. I have stayed there numerous times, and none of my friends have letterboxes. They collect their mail from the nearest depot.

I presume squeakytoy meant that door letterboxes are not used in the US. The boxes are at the end of the drive, or perhaps in a central area for apartments/townhouses.

tjacksonpfc - why is it the postal services fault - em - lets see - they advised me on the safest way to send cash - i placed the envelope in good faith in their care - i paid for the service - neither my friend nor i opened the envelope, took the cash and resealed it.

squeaky - thanks for the support - agree they are a nightmare

Tee2072 squeaky is correct many do not have letterboxes, they are either mail boxes in the garden or collection points in the community.

tee is from the US.

Slimbabe the post office would have advised you not to send money through the post to do it via a bankers draft. common sense says if you send cash through the post you are asking for trouble. As there is always the chance it could get lost in the post. My dp is a postie and his bank card got delivered to the wrong address and we had our bank account emptied through it. theres no way would i send cash through the post its just to risky.

Why did you not just electronically transfer the money? You have paid loads for unsafe postage when you can have sent it virtually instantly over the internet.

International bank transfer. I think it costs 10 quid, but the money goes straight into their account. You have to get their account number and a few other details from them before you do it.

You sent cash by post. Your error.