Record keeping
Discussion
There have been a number of threads which have debated issues relating to problems with despatch of documents to Govt depts and Agencies which are then subsequently claimed to have never been received / sent / lost / beamed into space by aliens. Equally a number of threads relating to HMG computer records being inaccurate when compared to the information which has been provided.
It seems to me that some sections of the powers that be are more prone to these problems than others.
Thus it has become my habit in any communication with DVLA, HMRC, UKPA *, County Council, to send all comunications in writing by Special Delivery, retaining proof of posting, and electronic proof of delivery.
There are a number of other situations where I haven't yet had to indulge in any such communication but would use this as good base practice, e.g. touches wood furiously thinking of anything related to Criminal justice.
So am I being paranoid? Ultra cautious? Sensible?
What do others do, and which are the proven unreliable departments?
It seems to me that some sections of the powers that be are more prone to these problems than others.
Thus it has become my habit in any communication with DVLA, HMRC, UKPA *, County Council, to send all comunications in writing by Special Delivery, retaining proof of posting, and electronic proof of delivery.
There are a number of other situations where I haven't yet had to indulge in any such communication but would use this as good base practice, e.g. touches wood furiously thinking of anything related to Criminal justice.
So am I being paranoid? Ultra cautious? Sensible?
What do others do, and which are the proven unreliable departments?
- * Note I include UKPA not because of them being unreliable, because in my dealings with the Passport Agency they have been 100% spot on, this is more due to the importance of the documents. However the other departments and agencies mentioned are a total shambles in my experience.
Flat in Fifth said:
There have been a number of threads which have debated issues relating to problems with despatch of documents to Govt depts and Agencies which are then subsequently claimed to have never been received / sent / lost / beamed into space by aliens. Equally a number of threads relating to HMG computer records being inaccurate when compared to the information which has been provided.
It seems to me that some sections of the powers that be are more prone to these problems than others.
Thus it has become my habit in any communication with DVLA, HMRC, UKPA *, County Council, to send all comunications in writing by Special Delivery, retaining proof of posting, and electronic proof of delivery.
There are a number of other situations where I haven't yet had to indulge in any such communication but would use this as good base practice, e.g. touches wood furiously thinking of anything related to Criminal justice.
So am I being paranoid? Ultra cautious? Sensible?
What do others do, and which are the proven unreliable departments?
Me too! [Hate "me toos", but there you go It seems to me that some sections of the powers that be are more prone to these problems than others.
Thus it has become my habit in any communication with DVLA, HMRC, UKPA *, County Council, to send all comunications in writing by Special Delivery, retaining proof of posting, and electronic proof of delivery.
There are a number of other situations where I haven't yet had to indulge in any such communication but would use this as good base practice, e.g. touches wood furiously thinking of anything related to Criminal justice.
So am I being paranoid? Ultra cautious? Sensible?
What do others do, and which are the proven unreliable departments?
- * Note I include UKPA not because of them being unreliable, because in my dealings with the Passport Agency they have been 100% spot on, this is more due to the importance of the documents. However the other departments and agencies mentioned are a total shambles in my experience.
.) I know I'm paraniod ... but am I paraniod enough? - StreakyWe recently sent out about 50 wedding invites. All first class post, normal envelopes, properly addressed. At least 1 didn't arrive. That's a 2% failure rate. I don't see why we can't assume the same failure rate with official communications as well.
Oh, and while I remember.... last week we received a package via Parcel Force. Although it was signed-for, my wife wasn't asked to sign when she answered the door. Later on I checked on the website and found that "someone" had signed in my name. My email to PF resulted in an apology and a promise of retraining for the driver. It just shows that even signed-for documents aren't immune from being lost and/or delivered without the correct process being followed.
In short, I guess there's no way of being sure something will arrive apart from taking it yourself
.
Oh, and while I remember.... last week we received a package via Parcel Force. Although it was signed-for, my wife wasn't asked to sign when she answered the door. Later on I checked on the website and found that "someone" had signed in my name. My email to PF resulted in an apology and a promise of retraining for the driver. It just shows that even signed-for documents aren't immune from being lost and/or delivered without the correct process being followed.
In short, I guess there's no way of being sure something will arrive apart from taking it yourself
.Peter Ward said:
In short, I guess there's no way of being sure something will arrive apart from taking it yourself .
And thereby hangs a tale..We had to supply some documents to HMRC by a particular date. Long story short there was no time to use any sort of mail, courier service, it was delivered by our accountant in person.
HMRC subsequently lost the paperwork. It all got very nasty.
In the end they just flexed their muscles and threatened a full inspection.
[Harry Wormwood talking to Matilda]
I'm Right, You're Wrong.
I'm Smart, You're Dumb.
I'm Big, You're Little.
And there's nothing you can do about it!
[/Harry Wormwood talking to Matilda]
FiF, how many times have I been on here arguing about the defence of S172 cases in relation to the utterly ludicrous, and I repeat ludicrous assertion that if an unknown clerk in some court office CLAIMS they sent out a citation or NIP, then it will be ASSUMED, once again I repeat ASSUMED in law that the accused was properly cited?
Worse still, the assumption that the perpetrator of the alleged offence receives same summons hinges exclusively on the DVLA records being accurate and up to date: my God, it doesn't get any more flawed than that!!
EVERYTHING I send now goes Recorded Delivery, nothing else comes anywhere near an acceptable format. This is particularly true when there is even the slightest chance that prosecution could become a likely scenario in the event of an error by who knows what or whom.
I have five vehicles in my custody between our private cars and the commercials in my business.
In the past year the DVLA have made no less then EIGHT procedural errors in the documentation process of these vehicles, affecting every vehicle.
All of these errors could have resulted in myself or another user being prosecuted if we would not have picked them up and complained to the DVLA.
The time taken to do so is non recoverable and increases each year: I cannot ever remember having to spend so much time correcting the errors of others that affect my life.
It's bloody disgraceful!
Worse still, the assumption that the perpetrator of the alleged offence receives same summons hinges exclusively on the DVLA records being accurate and up to date: my God, it doesn't get any more flawed than that!!
EVERYTHING I send now goes Recorded Delivery, nothing else comes anywhere near an acceptable format. This is particularly true when there is even the slightest chance that prosecution could become a likely scenario in the event of an error by who knows what or whom.
I have five vehicles in my custody between our private cars and the commercials in my business.
In the past year the DVLA have made no less then EIGHT procedural errors in the documentation process of these vehicles, affecting every vehicle.
All of these errors could have resulted in myself or another user being prosecuted if we would not have picked them up and complained to the DVLA.
The time taken to do so is non recoverable and increases each year: I cannot ever remember having to spend so much time correcting the errors of others that affect my life.
It's bloody disgraceful!
Peter Ward said:
We recently sent out about 50 wedding invites. All first class post, normal envelopes, properly addressed. At least 1 didn't arrive. That's a 2% failure rate. I don't see why we can't assume the same failure rate with official communications as well.
Oh, and while I remember.... last week we received a package via Parcel Force. Although it was signed-for, my wife wasn't asked to sign when she answered the door. Later on I checked on the website and found that "someone" had signed in my name. My email to PF resulted in an apology and a promise of retraining for the driver. It just shows that even signed-for documents aren't immune from being lost and/or delivered without the correct process being followed.
In short, I guess there's no way of being sure something will arrive apart from taking it yourself.
Agreed. Oh, and while I remember.... last week we received a package via Parcel Force. Although it was signed-for, my wife wasn't asked to sign when she answered the door. Later on I checked on the website and found that "someone" had signed in my name. My email to PF resulted in an apology and a promise of retraining for the driver. It just shows that even signed-for documents aren't immune from being lost and/or delivered without the correct process being followed.
In short, I guess there's no way of being sure something will arrive apart from taking it yourself
.I recently received a Royal Mail 'Signed For' which was just shoved through the letter box.
I also recently sent around 200 letters through 'Signed For' though my business. When I went online to check them at least half had no details on them. When I rang up to check this I was told that it does take some time to update the system so that in some cases I would have to wait up to 3 weeks to check...
So much for a guarantee, if you have to wait three weeks...
Even then however around half had no details of when they were delivered or who signed for them and it indicates for me to telephone them manually.
The only thing I have to add is that if you have a fax machine, then this is a useful way forward in some cases. This was not only do you know that t he document has been received immediately, when it is successful the receiving fax sends a 'completed' signal back to your fax machine. That way you can print off a list of the dates, times and telephone numbers of all the faxes the machine has made and use this as proof that the fax has been received.
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