Postman took photo of me

[Ringringringringringringringbananaphone]

Posting here for traffic - does anyone know if postmen/women (for regular post office mail) are supposed to take pictures with people in? I find my regular postman super-creepy anyway (he calls me love/darling/sweetheart, all within the few seconds transaction of handing over the post, and he has made comments before about what a “beauty” my five year old is). So in general: super creepy.

But today, I swear he took a surreptitious photo of me as he was handing the post over , and I’m very weirded out. It would only have been of my boobs downward as he didn’t point the device at my face, but I’m sure he took a photo. He has done this once before, and left me questioning things in my mind, but he’s always just immediately on his way out of the gate so I haven’t had a chance to say anything to him. I will, next time!

But in the meantime can any posties or knowledgeable people tell me what’s normal/if it’s acceptable to take photos of people when delivering the post? I was thinking of contacting the sorting office, but then he would know it was me that made a complaint and he knows I’m a single parent with a 5 year old (or at least he probably assumes that, as he has never seen anyone else here). It’s really bothered me.

Put the tracking number into Royal Mail and you can see the photo he used?

This. What a nasty world we live in.

My postman calls me love or sweetheart. I think he’s lovely, it’s an extremely common thing to call people all across the UK. I find it weird you find it super creepy.

Your anecdote, whilst interesting is 100% irrelevant.

Did posters miss this "It would only have been of my boobs downward"

report it OP.

@Lifeomars Ugh the absolute nerve of these men, like I said some absolutely rancid ones out there!

They are indeed.
The OP has not been sexually harassed.

Nowadays it is absolutely normal for a photo to be taken that they never ask me. Just an hour ago DPD took a photo of me full length as I clutched the parcel as I chatted to the bloke about his next delivery. He never asked and I never made a song or dance either - It's normal!

It wasn't tracked post.

I was in a similar position to you (in my own with kids) and one of the postmen used to stare at my boobs every time he came to the door. I was very vulnerable at the time, recovering from an abusive relationship. Looking back on it now, I wish I’d reported him.

Some postmen are fucking dodgy - they should have enhanced DBS as they have contact with vulnerable members of the community.

@SoIinvictus eh ok then, thanks for your opinion I guess? 🙄

It's normal now all post is scanned and pictures taken when put in the post box letterbox handed to a person or at the doorway. It's the new system everything is tracked even if you think it's not. Probably had a parcel or something that was tracked and needed a picture and a barcoded letter that needed it's own scan. It's down to theft. Plus anyone can take a photo of anyone nowadays there's no law against it, as annoying as it is.

Postie here - it only lets you take a picture if there is something to take a picture of ie. Tracked, specials and some signed for items. You can't just take a picture for the sake of it. He would have taken the picture and then either had to hit the confirm button or occasionally the picture doesn't take so you have to take another one. Even if he did take a picture of you he has no access to it unless he's went out his way to take a note of the tracking numbers, which you have anyway on your parcels so will be able to see exactly what picture he's taken if you check the website or app.

If be used the same device to take the photo as he did to scan the parcels, then it won't be his phone, so I can't see that he took it for his own use, especially as it would be logged.

@EmmaEmerald

Definitely??

your Story keeps changing a bit. How was he able to take a photo of your boobs downwards if you were walking towards him across a garden? Presumably you weren’t close enough for him to be able to do that.

His scanner thing beeped therefore it wasn’t just normal post was it? What a lot of fuss over nothing.

Our postie takes a pic to show you are in just in case parcels were nicked . Does not ask .

Surely all photos with a scanner just go to some central place not for personal use..

I am sure if the OP - or indeed anyone else -- was overly worried about this they would submit an SAR to Royal Mail (other crap delivery companies are available) for information held on them, which will include the picture.

If they come back and say "what picture", you may have a point.

I just hide behind the door and reach my hand around and allow them to take a picture of my hand holding the parcel. 😂.
Good Lord, I'm beyond repulsive on camera and that is not an exaggeration.

Doesn't sound that odd, my postie remembers my kids names, rough ages and even schools plus other things about our lives and inquires about them often. He also once even came to our back door as I was getting out of the shower (naked) because he heard it running and new I wouldn't hear the front door (pretty awkward interaction).

Hes never crossed any lines outside of delivering mail in 12 years though hes just overtly friendly and tries to make sure you get your mail. Isn't it just very 'old school' to have a friendly relationship with the postman.

If I thought like this then every delivery driver round here must have a foot fetish because I swear they alway get a photo of my feet on the step with the package lol.

And how would the op know that, if she was in motion at the time?

As a photographer people often can't tell whats in a photo. Lense and framing all matter its not just point it where you think your face is.

Someone has once accused me of taking photos of their boobs because they thought the camera was pointing 'too low' only for me to show them the beautiful head shot they asked for.

I have boobs of my own, no need to get jollies of other peoples. God only knows what male photographers have to put up with.

Regardless of that though I thought they weren't meant to take photos of your face for package delivery. In the many years the many different companies around here have been doing photos non have snapped my face. Some even point out that they don't. As mentioned above its usually my feet but they can do hands too (depending on if the package is on the ground or in your hands).

None of that stuff sounds at all creepy to me.