Dundee East Royal Mail depot has come under fire again after a Douglas woman’s monthly bus ticket went missing, leaving her in a three-way tussle with Royal Mail, UK Mail and National Express bus company.
The woman, who asked not to be named, said there are continuing problems with her deliveries, including receiving other people’s mail, her own mail being “stored up” and items including utility bills going missing. She contacted The Courier to ask if any other readers continued to have problems in Dundee East.
“I live in the area covered by this delivery office and problems with the delivery of my post continue,” she said. “I first reported problems in August last year as, at this point, I’d been receiving other people’s mail for some time and I’d grown tired of hand delivering items to the correct recipient.
“I was also aware that items posted to me by family in England, using the correct address, packaging and posting, were significantly delayed compared to when similar items were sent to my work address, which is in a different area of Dundee.
“Items of my mail had begun to go missing at this point. Since then I’ve been back in touch with Royal Mail on at least two separate occasions, in writing and by phone, including in October and also today.
“Items that have gone missing include gas and electricity bills, a credit card bill and statement, festive greetings cards and most recently, my monthly bus ticket, which I pay for in advance of its arrival via direct debit.”
The woman said she believed mail was being “stored up” by the sorting office.
She explained, “At least once a week I don’t receive any mail at all for three or four days. Then, when the post does come, there is such a large amount the front door is difficult to open when I get home from work.
“Only last week I received mail for two gentlemen I’ve never heard of, both of whom reside at completely different addresses to myself and each other. When I spoke to Royal Mail customer services today, they gave me yet another reference number and explained that their mail security team would be writing to me.
“When I asked about my missing bus ticket, I was told I must obtain proof of posting from the sender before I can claim compensation from Royal Mail.
“However, when I contacted the ticket issuer, they explained that they are unable to provide me with proof of posting for two reasons: They send too much mail to get proof of posting for each item and, although Royal Mail ultimately puts my bus ticket through my letterbox (or rather does not), it’s actually a private firm called UK Mail that picks up their post from Birmingham and distributes it onwards.
“At best, the bus ticket issuer could email me proof of when my ticket was issued but not proof of posting. I’m now stuck in the middle between Royal Mail, UK Mail and National Express, all of whom are willing to take no responsibility whatsoever.”
A Royal Mail spokeswoman said, “Royal Mail is investigating this complaint and monitoring the mail for this customer. All mail received in Dundee East Delivery Office is being delivered on a daily basis.”