Would you complain about this.. postman.. Royal Mail!

[DA1115]

Hi all, I’m not sure about this one.

Live in a fairly large village which has one postman that’s done his job for years so he must be doing something right.

I’ve noticed if you are expecting a tracked item. He will mark to as delivered before actually delivering the item.

For example. I’m at home, I get a text on my phone to say such and such has been delivered. It was a large parcel so no way it’s coming through the letter box, I look out the front, I look my back gate and no parcel. I spot the postman up the road. Half hour later it turns up. I question it and he says that he marks all items as delivered as he reaches each street to save time.

What if I wasn’t in? What if he decided to leave it on my front step (he often does this), what if it got lost or stolen? But he had marked it as delivered before it was in my hands! Aibu to think this is wrong?

The same has happened a few times since. Fortunately I have been in each time. But what if I wasn’t? Would he mark it as delivered then take t back to the sorting office?

Aibu to complain or just leave it be?

Mention it. Nicely.

YABU.

Just ask him not to do it first and explain why.
See if he does as asked before complaining.

I have mentioned it to him but didn’t get much response. I had something important in one (and expensive). It was marked as delivered before it reached my door. Surely that isn’t right? What if I wasn’t in (I was waiting for the parcel) what if it got broke during delivery. But because it had been marked as delivered it would have been seen as my fault even if I hadn’t received it. Stolen?

The same postman leaves parcels on my step for the world to see. It’s a quiet village but there has been thefts.

the other postman (the one who delivers larger items on his van first thing) doesn’t risk things like this.

I think you're right to complain, for all the reasons you mention. You should put all these reasons in your complaint.

If there have been thefts in the area, it's already possible that someone is having problems getting this sorted and has ended up out of pocket.

The same postman leaves parcels on my step for the world to see

Well you've answered your own question about what he'd have done if you weren't in!

I would complain before you have an issue. Our postie used to sign for recorded delivery/special delivery items in spite of being asked not to. On one occasion a package was damaged and piece of jewellery was missing. As far as seller was concerned I had signed for it without noting it was damaged and item missing - and it would have been very obvious, think empty jiffy bag. Post office didn't want to know as they had a signature (squiggly line) and insisted if not me then someone else in the house must have signed for it, even though I live alone. Ended up almost £50 out of pocket. Since this I complain every time with photo of item in our outside post box and clearly not delivered in person.

Yanbu and you would be right to complain.

You know he can change it back to undelivered on his manifest right?

Don’t complain. Just say to him can you not mark my parcels as delivered until they actually are, fine to do the rest of the street. If he’s been doing it years and has never had a complaint he may not realise it’s causing you inconvenience! For everyone saying complain, do they not realise sometimes there are serious repercussions such as somebody losing their job over a simple thing such as marking your parcel as delivered when it hasn’t been. What’s happened to speaking to each other first

I don't think you're particularly being unreasonable op BUT my postman will always leave things for me even if it means signing on my behalf and I am SO grateful to him. He's saved me hours and hours of going to the local sorting office. I think mention it to him rather than complaining to the post office if you're going to do anything.

To save time he could mark them all delivered at end of the street, no?
Agree with those who suggest you just speak to your postie directly.

Did you read the comment below?

You know he can change it back to undelivered on his manifest right?