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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To put in a complaint about the postman.

68 replies

Februaryblooms · 22/03/2019 13:49

Not the biggest problem in the world but has become a nuisance.

One of the local postman has taken to dumping a load of the multiple neighbours post through our letterbox on a regular basis. This is no doubt due to laziness as he can't be bothered to sort through the mail and walk the short distance to access the other flats round the back through a large gated (but always open) pathway. I've caught him in the act three times and addressed it each time, he apologies but continues to do this when he thinks we're not home and seems to be annoyed that I pull him up on it.

Our door is clearly numbered and he can't plead ignorance, for example we are (for the sake of the thread) number 135 and he's posting letters for 131, 138, 140 etc.

I've just caught him coming up the drive with a handful of post ready to insert it in the letterbox, again. I opened the door as he reached it at which point he looks at the post, puts all of it back in his bag bar one letter addressed to myself and hastily hands it over before walking off with a face like a slapped arse.

I don't want to get somebody in bother for something so trivial but if he's doing this with other people's post I suspect he may be doing the same with ours, and I'm expecting some important referral letters for DS.

AIBU to go into royal mail when im passing on monday and lodge a formal complaint?

OP posts:

BeefTomato · 22/03/2019 14:42

I think skin colour is fine February, but if that makes you uncomfortable then maybe you can mention the dates that he's done it, because they will have the dates each postie works on record.

Ohtherewearethen · 22/03/2019 14:42

The bosses shoukd know who does which route and when so just giving your postcode should be enough to identify him.

PCohle · 22/03/2019 14:43

I think if you set out a list of specific dates he was working on that might be enough?

Greendaffy · 22/03/2019 14:44

If you give the dates of the wrong deliveries, the Delivery Office will know which postie was on that walk on that particular day.

Original poster

Februaryblooms · 22/03/2019 14:45

Unfortunately I haven't made notes of the dates I caught him at it, I should've waited for him to do it today instead of catching him beforehand again then I could've had proof of who he was. Grr

OP posts:

RosesandFootball · 22/03/2019 14:45

Complain on Twitter by tweeting them, they cannot be more helpful any time I've complained. It definitely fed down as my postman knocked on the door to apologise even though it wasn't him that was the problem, it was his holiday cover

Original poster

Februaryblooms · 22/03/2019 14:46

There's been so many occasions the post has been chucked in our letterbox it was impossible to keep count. It's been going on for well over a year but I've only caught him in the act a handful of times.

I suspect he's the only one who does it but can't provide evidence unfortunately

OP posts:

cookiemonster3 · 22/03/2019 14:47

Absolutely complain.

I complained once when I had to order a copy of my child's birth certificate and the postman screwed it up and stuffed it into the letter box so it was almost ruined then again when a certain postman posts mail through my window after trying my doors. If it doesn't fit in my letter he will attempt to open the doors then it they are locked he posts the package through a window. DH and I have spent ages trying to discover which bloody window because it invariably falls down and gets lost behind the curtain or sofa or even the damn fish tank that can't be moved!

HogMother · 22/03/2019 14:51

It doesn’t matter after you didn’t catch him today, you know it’s the man that worked today. That will be enough to determine who it was. “The postie from today has previously done this...”

Hahaha88 · 22/03/2019 14:52

Definitely nbu. I too would report but if you can't give specific dates so they only bollax the right guy I'd wait a bit til you can.
I wouldn't put the post back in the letter box, yes it's unfair you have to post them to your neighbours but I'd be worried it's an important letter which your neighbours need asap. I would consider putting a note on the door about where the post should be going too.

VeraWangTwang · 22/03/2019 14:54

If you don't know the dates just explain the history and say you caught him trying to do it again today

TheInvestigator · 22/03/2019 14:58

I'm having a fight with my postman because my neighbour keeps giving out my number instead of hers for all the crap she signs up for (think local theatre, community centre, etc) so I keep getting post with her name but my number on it. He knows my name and he knows her name but he says he needs to deliver it to the address on the envelope or on the brochure sticker.

So they really do need to deliver to the correct place and postman have been charged and convicted for dumping letters where they shouldn't be dumped so yeah, make a complain. I'd be really furious if I were your neighbour. Private information is sent through the post!

PCohle · 22/03/2019 15:01

If you can't ID him by date I don't think giving a physical description of him that references skin colour would be awful? Eg. Dark hair, 50s, white, glasses.

I mean, I would also feel awkward about it and I'm totally willing to have my view challenged by any POC on the thread.

burritofan · 22/03/2019 15:02

my neighbour keeps giving out my number instead of hers for all the crap she signs up for (think local theatre, community centre, etc) so I keep getting post with her name but my number on it.
I don't want to derail the thread (OP, definitely complain; does the postie have any other identifying features if you're uncofmortable using skin colour - tall/short, haircut, accent, whatever?), but I do want to know more about this CF neighbour situation! Do you give her the post? Or recycle it?

TheInvestigator · 22/03/2019 15:09

burritofan

It's happened so much that I've stopped taking it over and just recycle it. I've told her and the husband that I will keep everything for a week and then it's in the bin so if they're expecting something they need to come and get it. He just apologises and says sorry. She doesn't say anything. I only bought the house 3 years ago and apparently she wanted it for their son, but the vendor picked me. I didn't move in for several months as the house hadnt been touched since the 80's so needed a lot of work and that's when the post started. I'm thinking it was some sort if adverse possession plan or something, but they literally stand in silence when I ask why.
It all came to a head last year when they were due money and she gave my number so an envelope arrived which apparently contained a cheque for £8000. I kept the envelope for a week then recycled. They came round 3 weeks later and weren't happy.

TheInvestigator · 22/03/2019 15:11

Just a note; we don't have a pavement on our road (in the country on a twisty road with just a few houses) so going to their house involves walking along a twisty country road with no pavement, or driving up to their house. I'm not doing either!

SchadenfreudePersonified · 22/03/2019 15:12

They can't just post it somewhere "near enough", they aren't Hermes

burritofan · 22/03/2019 15:14

TheInvestigator Thank you for indulging me, that was even better than I'd hoped! £8,000! WTF is wrong with people?? And I thought my neighbours with their "Please take all parcels to any of our neighbours, they're all lovely" front-door (without consulting any of us allegedly lovely neighbours - I'm not) were annoying.

SchadenfreudePersonified · 22/03/2019 15:25

he says he needs to deliver it to the address on the envelope or on the brochure sticker

Unfortunately (from your perspective) this is correct. Address takes priority over name.

OP - not sure why you are reluctant to mention his colour, as this is descriptive, not insulting, but I do agree with other posters that it would be better to say (ADDRESS) and (DATE) and that this is the umpteenth time it's happened, you have repeatedly asked him not to do it, and he has just as repeatedly ignored your request. Givine the route details and date is just a lot more professional than saying "the one with the ear-ring and the tattoo of the Spice Girls on his left arm" or whatever, and it takes personality out of it altogether an just sticks to the facts re the offence (and he IS breaking the law).

Investigator

£8,000? - Sweet!

Smotheroffive · 22/03/2019 15:29

AFAIK,deliberately misdirecting post is illegal, and an offence.

He could lose his job, which he obviously does take seriously and is a bloody liability to the mail system.. It wont just be your post he doesn't give a damn about OP.

He shouldn't be handling peoples post,there is all manner of potential risks he poses to keeping mail secure

Verynice · 22/03/2019 15:30

Just say he was the postman doing the rounds today - 22/3/19. Referencing his colour is perfectly fine if say for e.g. there are 2 black and one white posties, then say he's a white man, 30's, beard etc.

Smotheroffive · 22/03/2019 15:30

*doesn't take seriously

TimeIhadaNameChange · 22/03/2019 15:30

TheInvestigator - I'd put "Not at this address, return to sender" and put it back into the post. Don't even warn them you're going to do it. Might it be worth checking your credit rating as well?

TimeIhadaNameChange · 22/03/2019 15:31

I'd write that on the envelopes and then post, I meant to say.

Smotheroffive · 22/03/2019 15:31

He's black, caucasian, or whatever, its just an accurate description.

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