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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

aibu or is Royal Mail

28 replies

busymum1 · 05/08/2013 11:14

I have lived in a new build house for nearly 7 years over that time more and more post has gone missing. In the last three weeks alone I have had 7 letters posted to me that I have not received these, important letters have included urgent hospital appointments letters from housing association, dd and ds's new school letters of important information as they are both changing schools. I have phoned today to log another complaint and the woman who spoke to me has said it is the fault of the land registry for the way our
door numbering works. One block of flats has
numbers 1-16 and the next has numbers 1-6
then there are houses as well.

She said that I should take more responsibility. I have put various signs in the road explaining the door numbering and even spoken to the postman on various occasions and also the local sorting offices to explain how numbers work.

The woman is adamant that the error lies at my door and not royal mails as I should make more effort to ensure I receive my mail.

Aibu in thinking that this is there error and not mine?

OP posts:
lovecupboards · 05/08/2013 11:28

Hard to say without seeing the layout of the buildings and associated signage but it would be 'their' error, not 'there' error Wink

Original poster
busymum1 · 05/08/2013 11:31

Point taken but writing on an iPhone with a cracked screen so hard to see what I am
typing. Properties numbered 1-8 but 1&2 are blocks of flats with numbers 1-16 & 1-6 Royal Mail decided door numbering as they said technically 8 front doors but now get confused by as an example three number 6's although technically they are block 1 flat 6 block 2 flat 6 or house 6.

OP posts:
Amarena · 05/08/2013 11:36

Very helpful reply lovecupboards Hmm

OP, how utterly frustrating and yes, unreasonable of the Royal Mail. It sounds like you have done everything you can, the onus is on THEM to deliver mail surely? I would put your complaint in writing to them, and add in a part about the telling off you've received. Is it also worth going to the local sorting office and seeing if you can speak to a manager there in person?

lovecupboards · 05/08/2013 11:39

I get the gist of it now, actually I used to live in a similar setup also new build (seems common to put blocks of flats in with houses to meet housing density rules). We had a few letters go missing but not to the extent you do. I would blame royal mail to be honest as this setup isn't that uncommon, but since they have no competition there isn't much you can do except maybe have your mail held at the sorting office and collect it (which might still go wrong) or get a PO box.

Original poster
busymum1 · 05/08/2013 11:42

Thank you Amarena I have spoken to sorting office many times and we get a good delivery a few times then it goes back to poor service. We used to have a really good postman however the sorting office moved him to another part of the city and since then service has got worse and worse.

OP posts:
lizzzyyliveson · 05/08/2013 11:58

Would it help to give your house a name? At least that would focus the posties attention on the fact that they are looking for a house not a block of flats.

Original poster
busymum1 · 05/08/2013 12:01

How does that work having a house name do you put name & number or only one or the other? If only the name do you have to do it through land registry? Is there a cost?

OP posts:
sparkle12mar08 · 05/08/2013 12:02

We used to live on a road where there was a Flat X in House Y, and a House X. Post got mixed up all the bloody time sadly no matter how much we complained, and we got very friendly with our opposite number so to speak. No solutions I'm afriad, but every sympathy!

Original poster
busymum1 · 05/08/2013 12:03

My opposite neighbour is very good at bringing post here if he receives it however he does not have any of it either Hmm

OP posts:
MelanieCheeks · 05/08/2013 12:06

We are in a similar position - we contacted the council. Whoever looks after the roads has the responsibility for ensuring that signage is clear. And it's not just the Royal Mail - taxi drivers, other courier firms, takeaway delivery people will all have the same difficulties if it isn't clear. So I'd say it's NOT down to Royal Mail to solve this problem.

Original poster
busymum1 · 05/08/2013 12:11

Melaniecheeks ok so is it my fault?

I accept maybe not fully Royal Mail however they chose the door numbering with the housing association.

OP posts:
SoupDragon · 05/08/2013 12:20

Do the blocks of flats have names? eg I used to live at something like 4 Willow Court, Bottomly Lane and never had post for, say, 4 Bottomly Lane.

It's not your fault but neither is it the fault of Royal Mail that the signage is, apparently, crap.

ComposHat · 05/08/2013 12:34

As others have said, without seeing the flats and the numbering, it is impossible to say.

I live in a tenement in Edinburgh and the flat can be numbered in one of two ways.

Edinburgh style: 6 (3F2) Any Road (3F2 stands for Third floor flat Two Flats are numbered from their closeness to the stair)

Glasgow Style: 6/15 Any Road (6 being the building number 15 the flat number, this is easier to understand and is used on companies' websites etc, but quite often you'll get the post 15/6 Any Road.)

To add to the confusion, householders us a a mix of numbering systems on the doors too, so Flat 4 will be next door to 1F2. I really wouldn't fancy being a postie round our way.

Anyway the point of this tale is... most people in tenements put their surname on their flat door as a failsafe. Have you tried that op? It would be even more effective if you got together with your neighbours and all agreed to do the same.

Original poster
busymum1 · 05/08/2013 12:35

No property has any names there is a sign on both blocks saying flats 1-16 block 1 and flats 1-6 block 2 as well as a sign on wall next to block one saying 1&2 are flats with arrows showing their location and 3-8 are houses with an arrow too.

OP posts:
Original poster
busymum1 · 05/08/2013 12:37

Blocks 1& 2 have post boxes in communal hallways with number and surname on. I would not want to put my surname on a sign outside of my house but even if I did the postman never comes here which is the problem.

OP posts:
holidaysarenice · 05/08/2013 12:38

Get friendly with the neighbours and call yourself house 8 instead of just 8 or number 8 flat 6 etc

ComposHat · 05/08/2013 12:41

Ahh I can see the confusion occurs. Do you have a letter box in your flat door or are there communal pigeon holes in the stair?

If you have your own letterbox, try the surname on the door and possibly ask the person in the other block to try the same, if you're on nattering terms, as I bet they are having the same problems as you.

SoupDragon · 05/08/2013 12:41

No property has any names there is a sign on both blocks saying flats 1-16 block 1

I think it would ease confusion if they had names as the addresses would be clearer. I imagine the council would have to do this though.

Are others having the same level of problems that you are?

ComposHat · 05/08/2013 12:42

Sorry OP crosspost.

Original poster
busymum1 · 05/08/2013 12:56

ComposHat I live in a house not a flat. Block 1 gets the majority of post as postman sees 1-16 and shoves it all in there. All those postboxes have surnames on as well as flat numbers yet these are ignored.

It was suggested a couple of years ago to name the blocks of flats but as the majority of properties are in block 1 and they were told they would have to pay they rejected the idea.

I always give my name as house x then the road name but it makes no difference.

Guess I am just going to have to accept I am not destined to receive my post. Hmm

OP posts:
LRDYaDumayuShtoTiKrasiviy · 05/08/2013 13:02

I can't quite get my head around the layout, but I don't see why you can't just unilaterally decide to name your own house?

I think royal mail are being twittish, btw. I used to live in a block of flats on a street, so my address was 20 [flat name], [street name], and there was also a 20 [street name]. We occasionally had mix-ups when there was a new postie, as the block of flats had no name written up on it, but they always worked it out pretty soon and took it as their responsibility to know.

Surely that is your job if you're a postie? Eg., if you have to go down a random long lane to get to number 1, you go, and if you have 20a and 20b, you notice they have separate doors?

Original poster
busymum1 · 05/08/2013 13:06

Hard to explain layout it's a crescent so all buildings joined together in order block 1, 2, then houses 3-8 all
on the same side of the road.

OP posts:
MelanieCheeks · 05/08/2013 13:10

busymum I wasn't implying anyone was at fault - but the situation does need dealt with, and Royal Mail are only one of the groups of people who have to face the confusing numbering. Getting to know the regular postman is useful, but it can be a different person delivering the mail each week. Have you spoken to the council? They will listen if you imagine potentially life-threatening scenarios such as an ambulance not being able to find the address.

CaterpillarCara · 05/08/2013 13:19

Name your house, details how here:
www.telegraph.co.uk/property/propertyadvice/4209325/Property-advice-How-to-change-the-name-of-your-house.html

Original poster
busymum1 · 05/08/2013 13:26

Thank You all. I have just read the article about adding a name and may look into it.

A manager has just phoned back and they will be adding a trace on my address for the next six weeks so then they can see if post is going astray through the postman or before it gets to the delivery office.

OP posts:
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