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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Postman signing or packages himself

30 replies

bumblebee50 · 11/12/2016 17:13

Our Postman has been opening our front door and putting packages in our hall - he doesn't even bother knocking so far as I know. If the package needs signed for he signs the name of whoever the parcel is addressed to. I know this because I looked up the tracking online and it wasn't a signature of anyone in the house. Well the other day he did the same but it was actually a parcel addressed to a neighbour - again he signed with my name. AIBU to think this is a bit ridiculous. Ok it technically saves us picking the parcel up from the sorting office but it just seems wrong.

OP posts:

CaraAspen · 11/12/2016 17:15

I think it's brilliant when the post has the initiative to do that. One can only sign in a squiggle anyway on the gadget thing.

LivingInMidnight · 11/12/2016 17:15

You could just lock your door.

CaraAspen · 11/12/2016 17:17

Or you could insist you go all the way to the sorting office next time you miss the post because you are out. Your choice.

BobbieDog · 11/12/2016 17:18

It is wrong as if the parcel went missing then royal mail wont help you if there was a signature for it at your address.

MinniesAndMickeysNeedCounting · 11/12/2016 17:19

When we moved to our current house, our postman on first meeting said he'd sign for things for us if we weren't home. I said no thanks because although I know he was only trying to help, if my parcel goes missing after he's signed for it and left it on door step, the company would say I'd signed, so I declined his offer but appreciated the offer. At least mine asked and certainly not opening my door.

mrscarrotironfoundersson · 11/12/2016 17:22

I'm very jealous. Its obviously much easier for you to go during working hours to the local post depot (local to home not work). Why not put a sign on the door saying you like the 30 minute commute to the depot and please don't do you any favours in the future?

ACubed · 11/12/2016 17:22

Yeah it's a tricky one isn't it! We've ordered a lot of xmas presents online and the couriers have been signing our names for them and leaving them in the recycling wheelie bin. I'm sort of happy the system has been working, but it's basically fraud, and if something went missing I'd be really annoyed. But then I know the poor couriers are under so much pressure at the minute and getting paid peanuts.

QuiteLikely5 · 11/12/2016 17:23

I know this is wrong on one level but on another level he is trying to be helpful.

I wouldn't report him but instead ask him to stop if you aren't happy about his actions

Original poster

bumblebee50 · 11/12/2016 17:24

I can sort of see his point doing this with my own parcels but I think it's a bit much to do the same with my neighbour's parcels as well.

OP posts:

Original poster

bumblebee50 · 11/12/2016 17:26

I wouldn't dream of reporting him or getting him into trouble - I know he's trying to be helpful but to be fair there's usually someone at home during the day and he doesn't even bother knocking.

OP posts:

WellErrr · 11/12/2016 17:29

Mine does this too. It's brilliant, a real win for common sense.

If you don't want him leaving the neighbours ones, just say. But really, unless your neighbours are dangerous or something, what does it matter?

jelliebelly · 11/12/2016 17:29

YABU to leave your front door unlocked

harderandharder2breathe · 11/12/2016 17:29

Lock your door

Otherwise yes he's trying to be helpful

littleostrich · 11/12/2016 17:32

I understand it's helpful on occasions but I don't think faking signatures is a good idea really. A few years ago I realised that one of my parcels hadn't arrived and when I looked at the tracking info, it said it had been delivered and signed for a few days before. The company emailed me a copy of the signature and it wasn't mine - turns out the driver had signed it after leaving my parcel in the shed. Except he'd also got the address wrong, so it was actually in someone else's shed. I managed to get it back, luckily.

Giselaw · 11/12/2016 17:34

He's leaving them inside your house precisely because of what the posters above pointed out - if he signed for it and it went missing from your porch, you'd be screwed. So he's signing for you and making sure the package is safe. I know this is a bit unbritish, but could you possibly muster up your courage and speak to him like the adult you are?

melj1213 · 11/12/2016 17:34

Why not put a sign on the door saying you like the 30 minute commute to the depot and please don't do you any favours in the future?

It's one thing if he does if for the OP's post when the postie puts it in their front porch, but if they're signing the OPs name for neighbours parcels, then if anything was to have happened to the parcel then it would be the OP left responsible as the one who signed for it ... or if the postie forgot to leave a card, or the card got chewed up by the neighbour's dog then the neighbour may not know where their parcel is and no way of getting anything back because it's officially been recieved and signed for.

The whole point of the signed for service is so that the sender has evidence that the recipient has recieved the thing they have sent (possibly expensive items/confidential paperwork), not that they have proof that the postie has just given it to any random person with an empty porch!

Lindy2 · 11/12/2016 17:34

Our postman does this. He's checked I'm happy with it and I am. I'd much rather he did that than have to drive to the sorting office to collect it.
We do however live somewhere where parcels are pretty safe on a doorstep and a neighbour will take a parcel in if we happen to be away.

Badbadtromance · 11/12/2016 17:35

Mine always signs for my parcels and I am grateful

GrumpyDullard · 11/12/2016 17:37

My DP is a postie and I know they aren't allowed to do this: it's a sackable offence. He might do it, I suppose, if he knew the customer well and they'd specifically asked him, but he'd have to be really sure they wouldn't grass him up. The ones who do it know they shouldn't but are just trying to be helpful: most people don't want to go to the sorting office if they can help it.

SquedgieBeckenheim · 11/12/2016 17:49

It's all well and good till something goes missing. Personally I ask if things can be left safely for me where I get the option, but I take that responsibility upon myself. If you haven't asked them to do this, they shouldn't.
I'd definitely complain about him signing your name to neighbours parcels! But I'd probably also say something to him if I could to tell him to stop leaving parcels without at least knocking first. I'd also be pissed off that he's just opening your door! (although that can be resolved by locking it....)

Graphista · 11/12/2016 18:11

How is op meant to talk to him sounds like they never see him!

"The whole point of the signed for service is so that the sender has evidence that the recipient has recieved the thing they have sent (possibly expensive items/confidential paperwork), not that they have proof that the postie has just given it to any random person with an empty porch!"

If a parcel is not delivered/received/found then the op has a major fight to prove that if the postie/courier had forged their signature.

Forgery is illegal anyway surely? As is interfering with the mail? Which a postie would know.

I would not be happy if my postie did this and I would complain if he did.

GreenTureen · 11/12/2016 18:17

My postie is another parent with kids in my dc's school. He knows there's no one in my house from 8am most mornings and i've had quite a few delivery's by RM lately. He keeps any large letters or parcels of ours, puts them in his own car and brings them to the school to give me at pick up time!

I'm sure that's completely against his rules etc but I think he's bloody brilliant, he's saved me a lot of hassle over the past few weeks!

Original poster

bumblebee50 · 11/12/2016 18:28

Just to be clear - I never see the Postman - I don't even know who he is. Secondly, I don't have a porch - he just opens the door and leaves the parcels in the hall. Good thing no one walks about the house naked - he might see more than he bargained for!

OP posts:

lemondropcake · 11/12/2016 22:10

I'm a postie and that is totally not on he could get the sack If caught.
he is probably trying to lighten his bag by getting rid of your parcel otherwise he will have to carry it around with him until he gets back to van. He is putting in your door because he knows that way you will get it and it's technically delivered to the customer.
he is sly and trying to make life easier for himself but it is illegal.
they are clamping down on parcels been put in bins as there are so many complaints from customers saying the bins have been emptied without knowing a parcel is in it or that they have gone missing.
I would lock your doors. Anyone could walk in your house.

Graphista · 11/12/2016 22:26

Crazy to leave your door unlocked like that especially this time of year.

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