Royal Mail not collecting

[944fan]

I had to post some blood samples to a private clinic, taken via finger pin prick. They supplied the envelopes which were pre stamped Tracked 24.

The post box at the end of my road says last collection Monday to Friday 9:00AM. I posted them at 6:15 on Thursday morning. I then used the online tracking and for days it kept saying number not recognised. It eventually appeared yesterday saying it had been scanned at a hub and shows this morning as being delivered today.

I posted some others Monday morning from the same post box this morning that have been delivered today as well.

It seems to me that RM didn't bother doing a pick up from that box on Thursday or Friday of last week.

I am waiting for the lab to get back to me but I assume the samples sent last week are no good.

Is there any point complaining to RM about this? The Tracked 24 service is guaranteed I believe but obviously I can't prove that I post it on Thursday.

[Vixpy1]

I thought you had to take tracked items to the post office to send?

[trickywoo]

Vixpy1 said:

I thought you had to take tracked items to the post office to send?

This.

The post office don't go through 'ordinary' mail from boxes to see whats to be tracked.

It should get delivered anyway but you won't obviously know where it is.

[Robbo 27]

Vixpy1 said:

I thought you had to take tracked items to the post office to send?

thats my experience too, I also made the mistake of using the automated machines in the main post office. Gave me a tracking number, which I passed to my customer. The parcel never arrived and the tracking number was never recognised. I had to repay the customer £700, Post Office couldnt give a damn when i asked for compensation because the tracking number from their machine didnt connect with their central system.

Always give the parcel to a person over the counter.

[944fan]

trickywoo said:

Vixpy1 said:

I thought you had to take tracked items to the post office to send?

This.

The post office don't go through 'ordinary' mail from boxes to see whats to be tracked.

It should get delivered anyway but you won't obviously know where it is.

Instructions said to post in it any post box.

[ApOrbital]

Never knew you could send blood even a pin prick via mail.

[trickywoo]

944fan said:

Instructions said to post in it any post box.

Seems odd as Tracked 24 is a business service.

For each shipment you’ll need:

A barcoded label on each item, a paper collection manifest and electronic pre-advice.

The Tracked 24 service allows business to send 1000+ (think this is the minimum) items a year and they tend to get collected from the business.

Can't see it working by putting it in any post box but could be wrong.

[944fan]

trickywoo said:

944fan said:

Instructions said to post in it any post box.

Seems odd as Tracked 24 is a business service.

For each shipment you’ll need:

A barcoded label on each item, a paper collection manifest and electronic pre-advice.

The Tracked 24 service allows business to send 1000+ (think this is the minimum) items a year and they tend to get collected from the business.

Can't see it working by putting it in any post box but could be wrong.

The envelope had the bar-coded label already on it.

The three I sent on Tuesday worked fine. They send me the kit, I do the blood, I post it back. The ones I sent on Tuesday were delivered this morning so within 24 hours so it does work. It seems to ones posted on Thursday weren't picked up till late on Monday and were delivered at the same time.

I think the process works but the problem is the post box say collections Monday to Friday 9:00AM and they must have not bothered at the end of last week.

[Pickled]

It would unlikely that the box wasn't opened, every post box has a barcode inside that has to be scanned by the postie, and can't be scanned earlier than the listed time.

[trickywoo]

944fan said:

The envelope had the bar-coded label already on it.

The three I sent on Tuesday worked fine. They send me the kit, I do the blood, I post it back. The ones I sent on Tuesday were delivered this morning so within 24 hours so it does work. It seems to ones posted on Thursday weren't picked up till late on Monday and were delivered at the same time.

I think the process works but the problem is the post box say collections Monday to Friday 9:00AM and they must have not bothered at the end of last week.

Fair dos. Its a while since I worked at the post office so tech must have moved on. Can't see how it pays them to offer tracking via the normal mail but it is at least progress.

I'm pretty sure there is a legal requirement to collect from boxes as advertised so worth reporting if you have the time.

[944fan]

trickywoo said:

Fair dos. Its a while since I worked at the post office so tech must have moved on. Can't see how it pays them to offer tracking via the normal mail but it is at least progress.

I'm pretty sure there is a legal requirement to collect from boxes as advertised so worth reporting if you have the time.

Yeah I will complain. The samples are ruined and they can't do much about that, will just have to re do them. Hopefully there shouldn't be a charge from the lab as I have notified them and they can not spend the time analysing and producing the report which is ultimately what I am paying for.

[944fan]

Complaint sent. Await the usual fob off from them.

[944fan]

They responded saying the post box was emptied as planned - they would say that though.

Have gone back and asked them in that case why has it taken 4 business days to deliver a tracked 24 item. Especially when the others were delivered in that schedule.